Design and Build In Compliance to Structural Code: Preparing for Big One Earthquake

As stated here , the current fear for the coming of BIG ONE in the metro deserves further clarification.

If your house is designed and build following the NSCP(National Structural Code of the Philippines), then you should not fear that it will be destroyed when earthquake of that magnitude comes. Take note of the word design and build. Design is made by Architect and Engineer while Build is handed over to Contractor "building" the design made by the architects and structural engineer. These two words are necessary to claim that your house is fully compliant to code.

With due respect to some contractor, there are instances wherein although the house is designed according to code, non compliance by the contractor were committed just to save money. Thus, the client is advise to hire separate construction manager on site to assure the quality of construction is in compliant to design made by engineer who we can assumes to follow the code.

Whats happening lately is that people are looking at the map provided by PHIVOLCS and check their distance on it. For us, structural engineer, its just part of the equation. Why? In following structural code, we can design the structure whatever distance you are from the fault line. Thus, distance is really just part of the equation. What matters is the inclusion of the whole earthquake parameter in the design of the structure.

Whats alarming is that one person may be thinking seeing his house too far away from the fault line than others is already a safe reassurance. This is wrong. A house designed by structural engineer which is 10m away from the fault line is safer than a house built by non-engineers 20m away from the fault line. Thats the truth!