Earthquake Recovery e-News | 29 August 2012

27 Aug 2012

This weekly update is being distributed throughout the Diocese and uploaded to our website (www.anglicanlife.org.nz/rebuild ) to keep people informed on matters of insurance, repairs, and building works.

From Gavin Holley, Chief Operations Officer
Diocese of Christchurch

The structural safety of buildings in the event of moderate to significant earthquakes has become a major issue following the Christchurch earthquakes. Buildings considered at risk of partial or complete collapse in a significant earthquake pose large risks to the safety of people.

The risk of earthquake-prone buildings (EPB) can be measured by comparing the assessed performance of each building to the performance required of a new building (New Building Standard or ‘NBS’). Buildings with less than one third of the capacity of a new building have at least 10 times the risk of serious damage or collapse when compared to a new building and are considered ‘earthquake prone’. In order to manage this risk attention would need to be paid to improving the strength of the at risk (EPB) buildings within the Diocese.

The Building Act requires each Territorial Authority (TA) to have a policy regarding earthquake prone buildings. Future TA policies are expected to require higher levels of earthquake strengthening, shorten the time in which strengthening is to be undertaken, and implement a more rigorous monitoring, reporting and compliance programme.

It is essential that a comprehensive review of the seismic safety of all Diocesan buildings be undertaken. A proposed EPB Programme is to be presented at Synod and will provide an overview of the estimated cost and timeline.

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