Earthquakes
are considered to be the most dangerous natural disaster that causes mass
destruction. In the past, we have seen many countries committing suicide due to
this natural disaster as a massive death as well as mass destruction of
properties. To protect your family from such devastating situations, you should
buy an earthquake resistant apartment or house.
You
will be surprised to know that earthquakes are the most vulnerable buildings in
our country. In December 2014, the Supreme Court of India passed clear
instructions on earthquake safety through a PIL. It states that all
multi-storied buildings over five storey's should have an engraved metal plate
mentioning the building's anti-earthquake range. But despite this, real estate
developers have failed to maintain a high level of transparency in this regard.
Therefore,
if you want to buy earthquake-resistant flats, you need to be cautious. In this
regard, here, we have shared some useful tips.
Check the location - About 54 percent of the land in India is at
high risk of earthquake. The National Center for Seismology has divided the
entire country into five zones, namely, zones 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. While Zone 5
areas are susceptible to high-intensity earthquakes, areas under Zone 1 are the
safest. The entire northeastern region, the Himalayan region and the eastern
and western parts of India are located in a high seismic zone. Therefore, if
you live in these areas, make sure that your house or apartment is designed to
withstand earthquakes with a minimum force of 7.
Inspect the structure of the house- Despite the strict provisions by the
government for the construction of earthquake resistant houses; most buildings
in India do not follow the prescribed techniques for earthquake resistant
construction. To find out if your house is earthquake resistant, it is best to
hire a civil engineer.
Look for an earthquake-resistant
foundation - An
anti-earthquake house is one that has a solid foundation. Ideally, the
foundation of the building should be raised above the earth to resist ground
forces. The foundation must include a bolt. And, the foundation should be built
on a flexible pad made of steel, rubber and lead. This ensures that during an
earthquake, isolators vibrate while the structure remains stable.
Find out if the house is made of
earthquake-resistant material or not —
usually houses are made of stacked bricks that are laid with mortar. But such
construction does not ensure earthquake protection. Civil engineering experts
suggest that the most dangerous structures are constructions with concrete
blocks or unconfined bricks. Ideally, if your area is prone to earthquakes, the
walls of your house should be made of concrete and wood. And, if your area is
at high risk of earthquake, make sure the walls of your future house are
reinforced through additional concrete or steel slabs.
