Developers

3.2.2 Earthquake – Ground shaking from earthquakes can collapsebuildings and bridges, electric and phone service and sometimestrigger landslides, avalanches, flash floods, fires and hugedestructive ocean waves (tsunamis). Buildings with foundationsresting on unconsolidated landfill and other unstable soil, andtrailers and homes not tied to their foundations are at riskbecause they can be shaken off their mountings during anearthquake. When an earthquake occurs in a populated area, itmay cause deaths and injuries and extensive property damage.Most earthquake related injuries result from collapsing walls,flying glass, and falling objects as a result of the ground shaking,or people trying to move more than a few feet during the shaking.Much of the damage in earthquakes is predictable andpreventable.Earthquake Resistant DesignSoil Type and Condition: Bearing capacity is a factor. The VI doesnot have a soils map, however the bearing capacity may bedetermined by how other structures survived within the area.This affects the type and depth of footing that is designed.Building shape: Reasonably proportioned rectangular shapes,rather than long narrow buildings are best suited. Interior crosswalls help brace exterior walls against lateral forcesOpenings: Openings too close to corners weakens them.Maintain a distance of 25% of the height of the wall from thecorner, or a minimum distance of 1'-3”. Total length of openingshould be up to half the length of the wall between consecutivecross walls. The horizontal distance between two openings shouldbe at least one half the height of the shorter opening. For twostorey buildings, the vertical distance from an opening to onedirectly above it should be at least two feet, or at least one halfthe width of the smaller opening.16