New Buildings In Certain Zones To Be Required To Be Quake-proof

[george]

New buildings in certain zones to be required to be quake-proof

BANGKOK: -- The Cabinet has approved a proposal of the Public Works and Town and Country Planning Department to require new buildings in areas, which could be affected by quakes, to have system to reduce effects from earthquakes.

Thossaporn Nuch-anong, director of the Environment Technology Division of the Mineral Resources Department, said the Office of the Council of State is considering the draft directive following the Cabinet approval.

The directive, once implemented, would require new buildings to be designed with system to prevent the tremors from affecting the structures of the buildings, he said.

The areas, which could be affected, are groups into three zones. The first zone is the area with soft soil, which could be affected from remote quakes, such as Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan and Samut Sakhon.

The second zone comprises of 11 provinces on a fault, which are Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Kanchanaburi, Lampang, Lamphun, Tak, Nan, Phrae, Phayao, and Kanchanaburi.

The third zone is seven southern provinces, which are Krabi, Chumphon, Phuket, Surat Thani, Phang Nga, Ranong and Songkhla.

-- The Nation 2007-09-14

[Ricardo]

But haven't there already been similar laws, for many years past, at least up here in Chiang Mai ?

Or did they forget to tell this government department ?

[lazeeboy]

But haven't there already been similar laws, for many years past, at least up here in Chiang Mai ?

Or did they forget to tell this government department ?

put the building costs up ,like there gonna follow this ruling ,give the surveyor a backhander and save some money........

[John K]

I live on the 4th floor in a corner apartment of a 2 year old triangular shaped building. Over the past few months cracks have developed in the walls. Last week I noticed when it rains heavy water now runs down the inside wall. I am not too concerned as it is in the bathroom, and I am sure some is from settling. However it is a bit alarming that even the smallest earthquake from the fault that runs almost under the new airport would have serious consequences.

[cclub75]

At last, they start to aknowledge that there could be a BIG problem.

It started obviously in december 2004, with the powerfull earthquake that struck Indonesia.

In a tower of 30 floors, near Lad Prao, I felt it. Awfull cracking sounds everywhere. It was panic mode, everybody went down stair on this sunday morning.

Opposite of the street, another tower... was quiet. No reaction.

But in other parts of the city, many people felt it too. I remember : even people in Chiang mai (further 700 km in the north !).

What is the pattern ? Is there a pattern ? Linked to building structures ? Or the ground and or the location ?

My point is : it's time for scientists to study this amazing fact : how come an earthquake can be felt in Bangkok, 2000 km away from the epicenter ?

The last tremor in Indonesia (last week) was felt also. And it was much less powerfull than the 2004 big earthquake.

So what could happen in Bangkok if there is a stronger earthquake one day, in Indonesia ?

Edited September 15, 2007 by cclub75

[geriatrickid]

Talk about a misleading headline;

New buildings in certain zones to be required to be quake-proof

vs.

to require new buildings..... to have system to reduce effects from earthquakes....

Cripes it is not the same. Reducing the impact from a minor tremor is as simple as the use of additional flexible support and constructing with leeway for support structure deformations. Unfortunately, until there is a culture of respect for existing building codes this is a pipe dream. There isn't even have a reliable life safety code program for tourist hotels and hospitals and they want to babble about earthquake resistance.

Nothing can withstand a cataclysmic earthquake but a structure employing a floating coil system upon which the building sits can withstand a substantive earthquake. One of the foremost experts in this construction is Dr. Avtar Pall of Pall Dynamics Ltd. and his damper system is probably the most renowned because it is a relatively low cost concept that delivers the best in protection. His dampers are used in most of the quake resistant Canadian structures built in the last decade. Boeing picked his system for its Seattle buildings. This guy is an icon and is uber excellent, but I doubt anyone from Thailand will be calling this world renowned gentleman anytime soon. If you want to know more;

http://www.palldynamics.com/Index.htm

http://www.bcee.concordia.ca/index.php

(after php type /Pall's_friction_dampers otherwise the link doesn't post - sorry.)

You just can't go out and say hey let's build in the necessary ground energy dissipators and force dampers. You need engineers and architects with the experience. Is the Thai government going to waive the visa requirements and waive the import taxes to allow this expertise and technology to be brought in?

Edited September 16, 2007 by geriatrickid

[UnknownPoster]

Just another rule to be ignored/exploited by the building inspector...after he gets paid off, of course

[John K]

I am not sue if this falls in the 60-20-20 but the possibility that it is more than ‘This sounds good to say now because Indonesia is having a case of earthquake diarrhea and our new airport was falling apart all by itself’ or there is a genuine concern. I do recall a story a few months back that said they don’t even teach engineers how to design a earthquake resistant building.

I am sorry the term earthquake proof it the wrong choice of words, earthquake resistant is more accurate.

[chownah]

Talk about a misleading headline;

New buildings in certain zones to be required to be quake-proof

vs.

to require new buildings..... to have system to reduce effects from earthquakes....

Cripes it is not the same. Reducing the impact from a minor tremor is as simple as the use of additional flexible support and constructing with leeway for support structure deformations. Unfortunately, until there is a culture of respect for existing building codes this is a pipe dream. There isn't even have a reliable life safety code program for tourist hotels and hospitals and they want to babble about earthquake resistance.

Nothing can withstand a cataclysmic earthquake but a structure employing a floating coil system upon which the building sits can withstand a substantive earthquake. One of the foremost experts in this construction is Dr. Avtar Pall of Pall Dynamics Ltd. and his damper system is probably the most renowned because it is a relatively low cost concept that delivers the best in protection. His dampers are used in most of the quake resistant Canadian structures built in the last decade. Boeing picked his system for its Seattle buildings. This guy is an icon and is uber excellent, but I doubt anyone from Thailand will be calling this world renowned gentleman anytime soon. If you want to know more;

http://www.palldynamics.com/Index.htm

http://www.bcee.concordia.ca/index.php

(after php type /Pall's_friction_dampers otherwise the link doesn't post - sorry.)

You just can't go out and say hey let's build in the necessary ground energy dissipators and force dampers. You need engineers and architects with the experience. Is the Thai government going to waive the visa requirements and waive the import taxes to allow this expertise and technology to be brought in?

Adding expense in constructing buildings is only done when justified. The history of seismic activity and the current understanding of the risks presented by the types of events recorded in those events and their probabilistic projection into the near future do not warrant the expense of full on seismic design and construction...at least not from what I've been able to find. I will admit that I don't have much information of seismic risk in Thailand but I have never seen or heard of any major damage caused by seismic activity in Thailand...tsunami excepted.

Chownah

Edited September 16, 2007 by chownah

[John K]

A friend of mine was in Bangkok in the 70's and he experienced a moderate earthquake. I don’t know if the US government site has that information archived on line or not. But the fact there is a fault that runs almost under the new airport just east of Bangkok, and that is the same fault that has been active further north and in the Gulf that was felt in Pattaya not to long ago. Considering all the activity in Indonesia there is no doubt in my mind stress points are being redistributed. What that will do to the fault in question is unknown by me, but certainly there is some effect.

[geriatrickid]

Chownah, you ask a good question. Here's the answer;

http://www.seismo.ethz.ch/gshap/eastasia/

map shows exposure for seismic activity exposure as well as faults.

More Background on the plan.

Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Minister Sittichai Pokai-udom has proposed a budget plan to Cabinet, asking for funding to support earthquake research in Thailand. The minister said recent studies indicate Bangkok lies in a high risk zone for earthquake disasters. Therefore research is necessary for proper analysis and forecasts.

The ICT Minister said currently, the earthquake fault in Burma, called Sagaeng, is a major point of study. Other minor faults in the country such as Srisawat and Jedi Sam-ong in Kanchanaburi province are also of concern, as they are capable of creating tremors measuring as high as 7.5 on the Richter scale, just 200 kilometers away from Bangkok. Likewise, the Andaman Fault can cause quakes of 8 on the Richter scale to an area 450 kilometers away from the city.

The sub-committee also asked the Interior Ministry to revise regulations on building constructions in the Bangkok area. They have asked that tall buildings be able to bear 6 point Richter quakes if disaster hits. A study on safe engineering will also be carrried out by the Engineering Faculty at every university.

- excerpted from TOC News 7-Jun-2007

Chulalongkorn University held the Thailand Seismic Hazard Workshop last January 16-19. The Uni brought in experts from the USGS. If you are interested here are all the workshop materials. http://earthquake.usgs.gov/research/hazmap...land/downloads/

Some decent maps.

(I also wanted to clarify that government slowness should not reflect upon the competency of Thai geoscience academics. As a community, they have been asking for changes for the past 2 decades, just like the rest of the geoscience communities in western countries. Trouble is the construction lobby always wins the arguments, just like in the west.)

Edited September 16, 2007 by geriatrickid

[cervin]

So much good information from you and others. Thank you ! Coming from California, I take this issue seriously.

[Scott]

Some buildings??? Why not all buildings? At least why not all commercial buildings? I guess some people's lives aren't worth it.

[geriatrickid]

Some buildings??? Why not all buildings? At least why not all commercial buildings? I guess some people's lives aren't worth it.

In an ideal world with endless amounts of money it would be done. The reality is that some buildings just can't be reinforced or rebuilt. In other cases, it is not economically feasible, depending upon user density or existing use. It's a dilemma for sure, but western countries have a mishmash of local zoning laws in respect to sprinklers. Some buildings under 4 stories don't have sprinklers or have been grandfathered out of the requirement. Thailand won't be any different.

I'm curious though about the BKK subway system and it's quake protection. It was funded by the Japanese and I wonder what they did in that regard.

[John K]

Here is a quick search of earthquakes I just did. The center coordinates are inside Bangkok. As you can see a series of earthquakes including a 5.9 was just 205 km (124 miles) from Bangkok in April 1983. I used 250 km as a search radius.

http://neic.usgs.gov/neis/epic/epic_circ.html

Circle Search Earthquakes= 29 Circle

Center Point Latitude: 13.750N Longitude: 100.500E Radius: 250.000 km

CAT YEAR MO DA ORIG TIME LAT LONG DEP MAGNITUDE IEFM DTSVNWG DIST

PDE 1983 04 15 092358.83 14.91 99.09 10 5.30 mb GS .F . ....... 198

PDE 1983 04 15 113404.70 14.85 99.14 10 3.90 mb GS .. . ....... 190

PDE 1983 04 22 003737 14.93 99.02 10 5.90 mb GS .DFM ....... 205

PDE 1983 04 22 032140.50 14.93 99.08 33 5.20 mb GS .F . ....... 201

PDE 1983 04 23 093124.94 14.96 99.18 33 4.50 Ms GS .. . ....... 195

PDE 1983 04 23 134904.60 14.92 99.04 33 4.50 mb GS .. . ....... 203

PDE 1983 04 27 171609.20 14.96 99.06 33 4.60 mb GS .. . ....... 205

PDE 1983 07 17 174810.33 15.20 99.02 45 4.70 mb GS .F . ....... 226

PDE 1983 08 29 220957.21 14.92 99.15 33 4.20 mb GS .. . ....... 194

PDE 1983 10 14 064202.19 14.99 99.10 10 .. . ....... 204

PDE 1984 07 03 143112.04 14.90 98.99 33 .. . ....... 206

PDE 1984 09 03 160259.51 14.90 98.98 33 .. . ....... 207

PDE 1984 09 03 174226.01 14.83 99.03 33 .. . ....... 198

PDE 1985 01 31 232312.84 14.92 99.02 33 .. . ....... 205

PDE 1985 03 10 053438.82 14.91 99.03 33 .. . ....... 203

PDE 1985 08 04 202632.94 14.83 98.56 10 .. . ....... 240

PDE 1986 08 24 073936.10 14.84 99.16 10 .. . ....... 187

PDE 1988 03 16 040928.75 14.81 99.08 33 .. . ....... 192

PDE 1988 03 16 090437.61 14.89 99.09 33 .. . ....... 197

PDE 1989 12 14 172803.81 14.80 99.15 10 .. . ....... 186

PDE 1990 05 28 112336.79 14.84 98.96 33 4.10 mb GS .. . ....... 204

PDE 1990 11 03 145100.59 14.84 99.17 10 4.20 mb GS .F . ....... 186

PDE-W 2006 09 27 132742.33 11.70 99.96 29 4.10 mb GS .. . ..... 234

PDE-W 2006 09 27 155730.29 11.72 99.87 10 4.50 mb GS .. . ..... 234

PDE-W 2006 09 27 173835.36 11.79 100.00 18 4.20 mb GS .. . ....... 223

PDE-W 2006 09 27 174017.28 11.74 99.93 10 4.30 mb GS .. . ....... 229

PDE-W 2006 09 27 184602.07 11.82 100.14 10 4.30 mb GS .. . ....... 217

PDE-W 2006 09 28 094759.12 11.75 99.99 22 4.50 mb GS .. . ....... 227

PDE-W 2006 10 07 211226.37 11.74 100.18 10 4.90 mb GS .. . ....... 224

[somtaamgaiyang]

Surely Bangkok would undergo liquifaction if a proper quake did hit? The buildings might stay up, but wouldn't all the swamps turn into lakes?