UNIT 10 DISASTER RESISTANT HOUSE

CONSTRUCTION
Structure

10.0 Learning Outcome

, 10.1 Introduction
10.2 Guidelines for Disaster Resistaillt Construction
10.3 Traditional Disaster Resistant Construction Techniques
10.4 Stone and Brick Buildings
10.5 Damage to Reinforced Concrete Cement Buildings
10.6 Building Codes and Standards
10.7 Recent Advances in Housing Technology
10.8 Agencies involved in Disaster Resistant Construction
10.9 Conclusion
10.10 Key Concepts
10.11 References and Further Reading
10.12 Activities

10.0 LEARNING OUTCOME

After reading this Unit, you will be able to:
'!"
e Discuss the various types of modern and traditional disaster resistant construction techniques to
withstand earthq~~akes

o Examine the damage that could be caused to Reinforced Concrete Buildings; 'and

e Thsow light on the important building codes.

A large portion of the wealth of any nation is invested in its built-up environment viz,, housing,
infrastructure, industrial and commercial facilities. The quality of this built-up environment,
expressed in terms of durability, safety and functionality, is a determining factor for the quality
of life and economic development of the society, and the competitiveness of its industry and
services. Extensive loss of this wealth is caused by natural disasters that strike periodically. A
natural disasler is an event of nature that causes sudden destruction, damaging the economy
and social structure on a massive scale. The calarnity results in a huge financial burden in
terms of relief and rescue operations. All-round decline in production, unemployment, indebtedness
as well as increased cost of goods and services are the other debilitating results of natural disasters.
This Unit deals with the traditional as well as modern disaster resistant construction techniques
to meet the aftermath of disasters. It examines the issue of damage to Reinforced Concrete
Cement (RCC) buildings by underlying the necessity of adherence to building codes and
standards. Some recent advances in housing technology are also highlighfed.
 130 Rehabilitation, Rcconstrucfion and Recovery

10.2 GUIDELINES FOR DISASTER N3SISTANT

With its vast territory, large population and unique geo-climatic conditions, India is periodically
exposed to natural catastrophes.' Even today, natural hazards such as floods, cyclones, droughts
and earthquakes are frequent phenomena in the country. While the vulnerability varies from
region to region, a large part of the country is exposed to such natural hazards, which often
turn into disasters causing significant disruption to socio-economic life of com~nunitiesleading
to a huge loss of life and property.

Concerned with the impact of natural disasters, the governments at the central and state levels
are gradually evolving strategies, policies and programmes for natural disaster mitigation,
preparedness and prevention. In response to the UN General Assembly Resolution declaring
1990 - 2000 as the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction, the Government of
India has been taking several initiatives for strengthening disaster reduction strategies. An
Expert Committee was also set up in July 1994, after the Yokohama Conference, to examine
disaster related issues and evolve suitable strategies. It is important to note that disaster
resistant construction forms one of the core issues being addressed at the disaster mitigation
and prevention policy levels. This aspect was dealt with in detail in the Report prepared by the
Expert Committee.

For earthquake resistant construction, it is better to avoid hillside slopes and areas having
sensitive and clayey soil. It sho~ildbe preferable to have several blocks on terraces rather than
one large block with footings at different clusters. The building as a whole should be kept
almost symmetrical. Simple rectangular shapes behave better in an earthquake than shapes
with multiple projections. Separation of a large building into several blocks is required for
symmetry and rectangularity of each block. Restricting the width of openings, using bond
beains and taking recourse to steel or wooden dowels as well as RCC band at plinth, lintel and
roof levels are good disaster resistant techniques for buildings.

In case of cyclones, structures should be erected in areas, which provide a protective shield
from high winds with natural firm level foundation. Flat roof arrangement should be avoided.
So should be the projecting elements like antennas and chimneys, eave projections, sunshades
etc. The construction should have adequate diagonal bracing, reinforced machinery, thicker
plate glass, and anchoring of purlins to gable ends. As far as flood resistant housing is concerned,
prohibited zones should be totally avoided. Layout of the buildings/ houses should be such that
they do not block free flow of water. Construction should be done on raised mounds.
Waterproofing treatment, adequate bracing, afforestation in catchment areas are required for
flood- prone areas. The Expert Committee Report covered the following issues:

Q Identification of various lmard-prone areas

Q Vulnerability and risk assessment'of buildings

Outlining the disaster damage scenarios

Technical guidelines for hazard resistant construction of buildings

6 Upgradation of hazard resistance of existing housing stock by retrofitting; and

r, Adoption of technical-legal regime,

 Disaster Resistant House Construction 131

10.3 TRADITIONAL DISASTER RESISTANT CONSTRUCTION

TECHNIQUES
Earthquakes are not new to India, as 55 per cent of the country is prone to seismic shocks.
. Thus, traditional earthquake resistant house construction techniques are as old as the earthquakes. .
Several earthquake-prone regions in the country have traditionally built houses that miniml'se
the damage to life and property and stand up well in the wake of the quake. The traditional
wisdom and attention to detail can be applied to modern material as well. These techniques are
based on the use of traditional material e.g., timber and bamboo for building houses.

Avoiding compression structures like domes, vaults and arches is *anotheroption. The structural
system needs to be tensile and the material should be flexible, as is the case with timber, steel
and bamboo. It also helps if the structure is constructed in a way that it vibrates as one unit
and sways together. Traditional constructions in India for example in the Northern Coast follow
this principle, as also the tall skyscrapers of Tokyo. Tradilionally built timber houses have
proved to be the most effective in keeping the damage at bay. It would, however, be incorrect
to say that the old-fashioned houses have survived just because of the material used. The
construction techniques too have determined the amount of damage.

Most new constructions with heavy roofs (slate tiles or .RCC) supported by weak walls
(random rubble in mud mortar) have proven deadly. Older houses at higher elevations have
timber roofs held together'by timber and tie-bands, horizontal timber beams spanning across the
entire building, connecting the entire structure and giving it the character of a cage. Such
houses have suffered little damage despite the mud and stone masonry.

Quake resistant houses should have tie-bands just above the level of the floor, the level of the
doors and windows, and another at the roof level. Corners are the most vulnerable and thus
ought to be strengthened. Elasticity of the structure can be enhanced with flexible steel rods
or wood batons at corners. Doors and windows should be few, small and sy~nmetricallyplaced
away from the corners. The house should be as light as possible. It should be noted that all
houses designed by the renowned architect Laurie Baker remained intact during the 1999
Charnoli earthquake. Baker had laid emphasis on the use of local construction material coupled
with traditional wisdom.

Some of the huge multi-storeyed building constructions in Garhwal Himalayas, known for high
seismic activity, employ earthquake resistant traditional architectural design, A few building
structures, five to six storeys high, have endured the ravages of time, weather and geo-activity
for hundreds of years, These constructions are locally kilown as 'Sumer', 'Chaukhat' or
'Kothi'. These structures have withstood a number of earthquakes, including the recent ones.
Let us now look at the nature of technology used in such constructions:

The Building Technology in 'Sumers'

.The Sumers are ascribed to the Rajput families of Rajasthan in India. They built the Sumers
to function as watchtowers and to provide for the defence of all the families living in an area,
rather than for the protection of a single family. Structures comparable to the 'Sumer', with
some variations have also been reported from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nepal, all in the
Himalayan - Karakorarn earthquake-prone zone. The indigenously devised building technology,
which is used to erect Sumers, makes use of locally available resources such as long thick
wooden logs, stones, slates and clay to specification. Typical. 'Sumers' stand 15-17 mts high
from the ground level and have 5-6 floors with 4 rooms on each floor. The ground area
covered by the Sumer is 86 sq.mt. A foundation trench 3 mts deep and 70 cms wide is first
dug and then refilled with well-dressed flat stones. This foundation is then raised above the
 132 Rehubilitation, Reconstrucfion and Recovery

ground in the fashion of a rectangular platform, to the height of 2.3 mts with the help of flat
stones, clay and stone fillings.

The structure of the 'Sumer' rests upon this platform. To raise the walls, double wooden logs ,

are placed horizontally on the edge of the two parallel sides of the platform, which are opposite
to each other. The width.of the logs determines the thickness of the walls, which is 70 cins.
On the other two parallel sides, the wall is raised with well-dressed flat stones to the surface
level of the logs placed on the other two sides. The walls are further raised to 30 crns by
placing heavy, well-dressed flat stones upon the wooden logs on the two sides and by placing
another pair of wooden logs upon the stones on the other two opposite sides.

The four walls of the structure are thus raised using the wooden logs and dressed up flat stones
alternately, up to a height of about 17mt. The structure is further reinforced with the help of
wooden beams fixed alternately that run from the middle of the walls of one side to the other,
intersecting at the centre. This arrangement divides the 'Sumer' into 4 equal parts from within
and provides for joists supporting the floorboards in each floor of the building. On the fourth
and the fifth floors, the 'Sumer' has a balcony with a wooden railing running around on all four
sides. The fourth floor is also provided with a toilet-cum-bathroom on the balcony. Specially
designed wooden ladders provide access to the different floors, which are located within the
'Sumer'. The roof of the 'Sumer' is laid with slate stones. These type of structures have
proved to be quite resistant to earthquakes, and the design and technique behind them could
be used in the present context.

Technology used in 'Chaukhats'

The technology applied on the 'Chaukhats' or 'Kothi' is reininiscent of a machine stitch on a

fabric that keeps a piece of cloth in shape. In like manner, the technology makes use of wood
like a thread and keeps the entire structure intact against the ravages of weather and geo-
activity. Through-stones and flat-stones are used, and wood predominates the structures of
whatever dimensions they are. Pairs of thick wooden logs, beginning from the base of any two
opposite walls are used at every 30 inches alternately with heavy stones to raise the walls and
run through the entire length of all the walls.

At the right angle where any two walls meet, the edges of the pair of logs on one wall are
placed on the edge of the logs of the other and they are joined together by hammering thick
wooden nails through them. This has an effect of turning the structure into a single piece
construction. Any devices used for windows, doorways, ventilators or floor-joists are joined to
these well-secured pairs of logs, which further strengthen the structure. The use of pair of logs
gives to the wall a thickness of almost 70 crns. Such time-tested technologies for building quake
resistant houses are still available in the Himalayan region in India.-Let us now highlight some
quake resistant technologies used in other countries such as Nothern Peru.

Earthquake Resistant IIousing in Peru

In the Grauniad San Martin regions of Northern Peru, over two million people are vulnerable
to disasters including those caused by floods, landslides and earthquakes. Traditional 'Quincha'
building technology results in a flexible structure with an inherent earthquake resistance. It has
been used in parts of Peru for many centuries. Traditionally, a 'Quincha' house would have
a round pole set directly in the ground, filled in with smaller wooden poles and interwoven to I
form a matrix, whicli is then plastered with one or more layers of earth, The structures
performed well during earthquakes, but in May 1990, an earthquake struck the relatively
isolated Alto Mayo region of Northern Peru and destroyed 3000 houses. It was then decided
by the buiIders, householders and comlnunity organisations in Alto Mayo to introduce improved,
 Disaster. Resistant House Corzstr~lction 133

earthquake-resistant building technology called 'Quincha Mejorada'. Improved 'Quincha' has

the following characteristics over and above the traditional 'Quincha':

e concrete foundations for greater stability

@ Wooden columns tseated with tar or pitch to protect against humidity, concreted into the ground
with nails embedded in the wood at the base to give extra anchorage

@ Use of concrete wall bases to prevent humidity affecting the wood and the canes in the walls

o Careful jointing between columns and beans to improve structural integrity

o Canes woven in a vertical fashion to provide greater stability

o Lightweight metal sheet roofing to reduce danger of falling tiles

e Nailing roofing material to roof beams; tying of beams and columns with roof wires
o Incorporating roof eaves of sufficient width to ensure protection of walls from heavy rains

In April 1991, a second tremor hit the region damaging a further 9600 homes. However, the
70 improved 'Quincha' houses that had been built since May, wilhstood the tremor so well that
a further 4000 odd houses have since been built along with several schools and co~nmunity
centres. Today, knowledge of this type of design as well as the building skills are so widespread
in the local coln~nunitiesthat the Intermediate Technology Developn~entGroup or ITDG, (An
international NGO, which works with poor around the world to develop appropriate and sustainable
technologies that will enhance the livelihoods, e.g., in countries of Latin America, South Africa,
East ~ f r i c aand South Asia) has been able to move on to 'Q~iincha' network.
1I

I Adobe brick is an inexpensive, readily available construction material used throughout Latin
, America, especially in rural areas. Unfortunately, these solid and rigid bricks tend ta crack and
+breakapart during an earthquake, causing walls to collapse and ceilings to cave in. Much cleat11
r, and injury could be avoided if structures were made Inore secure in this earthquake-prone

country. Researchers have designed a frame consisting of a grid of bamboo poles anchored at
the top and bottom that allows the walls and roof to react to the vibrations of an earthquake
as a unit, rather than breaking apart. The new design has been tested on a seismic table and
has proved capable of resisting a force equal to that of Peru's strongest earthquake. Several
prototype modeIs of schools, clinics and community centres have been built, and the new
I construction methods have been widely promoted. The improved construction teqhniques require
no special skills beyond those of an ordinary mason.

10.4 STONE AND BRICK BUILDINGS

As against the concrete buildings as well as the buildings that use 'Sumer' and 'Quincha' type
I of design, the stone and brick buildings have a bad track record. As we have mentioned in Unit
9 of this Course, they normally do not perform well duling an earthquake. It is important, thus,
to know why we should avoid using solely stone or brick buildings.

I Stone Masonry Buildings

Such buildings are most commonly used in the hills of Western U.P, Hirnachal Pradesh, and
Killari District of Malu-~rashtra.These are single or double storey buildings with inud mortar
I
or no mortar at all. The thickness of stonewalls is around 40 cm in two vertical layers. Tile
 134 Rehabilitatioiz, Reconstruction and Recovery ,

roof generally consists of tiled stone slates. Such buildings suffer maximum damage during any
calamity. The failure seems almost in the waiting in such buildings leading to heavy loss of
human life and livestock.

Typical Failure Pattern is as follows:

e Overturning of walls due to out of plane inertia forces

e Separation of the two leaves of stone walls

9 Collapse of roof due to very heavy self-weight

The Main Reasons of ~ailureare:

o No mortar.to weak mortar in stone walls

e No continuity at the joints of the walls in horizontalplane

0 Lack of through-stones between the outer and inner leaves of stone wall

0 Very heavy roof of stone slates

m Lack of interconnection in roofs and walls

Brick Masonry Buildings ...

Brick buildings, if not constructed in adherence to the norms of symmetry, interconnections and
reinforcement, perform rather badly during earthquakes.

Typical Failure Pattern is as follows:

Diagonal cracks through masonry units

I(

e Overturning of walls due to out of plane inertia forees .

e ~krticalcracks in walls due to plane bending action .

r

e Failure of wall connections

9 Collapse of roof

9 Unreinforced gable end masonry walls being unstable, the strutting action of purlins impos'es
additionalforce

The Main Reasons of Failure in Such Buildings are:

e Poor material workmanship

i

e Long walls
1
e Openings in walls to the extent of 50% of length
t
e Openings too close to the corners of walls
?
Lack of structural integrity

!
 Disaster Resistant House Construction

e Unsymmetrical plan of building

e Poor soil or bad foundation

110.5 DAMAGE TO REINFORCED CONCRETE CEMENT

BUILDINGS .
i
A significant number of the mid-rise buildings suffered dramatic failure generally from loss of
stability due to the soft ground storey during the January 26, 2001 Bhuj earthquake. Many
buildings had only two to four columns at the ground floor. The size of columns on the ground
floor varied from 230mrnX 230- to 230mrn ~ d o ~ r n rdepending
n, upon the storey height. The
frames had weak column-strong girder proportions. Typical deficiencies included insufficient
column ties, lack of cross ties, 90 degree rather than 135 degree hooks on the ties, splices with
inadequate length and confinement and no staggering. Even the G+10 (i.e., ground floor and
10 more floors) storey buildings had isolated footings without interconnecting foundation beams.

Some of the buildings were located on in-filled soil without carrying out detailed geo-technical
investigations. These buildings had used poor quality of concreting including no control on
water-cement ratio, poor compaction and little curing. Fortunately, from amongst over 3, 00,000
buildings in Ahmedabad, only a very small fraction collapsed or suffered any major damage.
The buildings that suffered damage were the newly constructed ones that had not followed any
building byelaws and codes.

No building can remain entirely free of damage during a high density earthquake. Nevertheless
all houses, big or small, can be made safer or quake resistant. Structures can be made to
withstand earthquakes of a particular magnitude by taking certain precautions. Buildings generally
collapse as a result of inertial forces. During an earthquake, the lower part of a building tends
to vibrate, as it is in direct contact with the ground. The forces of inertia, however, keep the
-upper portions static. This conflict of forces leads to collapse. The magnitude of these forces
is directly proportional to the weight of the building, the heavier the structure the greater is the
damage. If the structure is light, lesser number of people die in case of a collapse.

* It is necessary to provide horizontal reinforcement in walls for imparting bending strength in

the horizontal plane against plate action for out of plane inertia load, and for tying the perpendicular
walls together. It is provided in the form of following bands:

e Plinth b a d ;

Lintelband

e Roof band
'
e Gable band
A band is a reinforced concrete beam provided continuously through all-load bearing longitudinal
and transverse walls at a given level. It consists of 2 or 4 longitudinal steel bars with links or
stirrups embedded in 75 mm or 150mm thick concrete. The thickness of the band may be made
equal to the thickness oflor a multiple of masonry unit and its width may be made equal to the
thickness of the wall. The steel bars are located close to the wall faces, and full continuity is
provided at the corners and junctions. The diameter of the bars may vary from Xmrn to 16mm
depending upon the unsupported span of the walls.
 136 Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Recovely

10.6 BUILDING CODES AND STANDARDS

Building codes are standards and guidelines for constivction of buildings to ensu?e a minimum
level of safety for the occupants. An appropriate building code iucorporates a thorough
understanding of the forces that natural hazards impose on the area governed by the code.
. Building codes are only one of the tools for increasing the resilence of the built-up environment
in the face of natural hazards.. Land use planning, emergency management, natural resource
protection and infrastructure development policies play significant roles as well. Coordination
j of these activities can be achieved through comprehensive hazard mitigation planning.

It is never possible through any building standard to lay down foolproof regulations for protection
of infrastructure from earthquakes of all magnitudes. It is also not possible to build earthquake
proof buildings. However, the design approach adopted in the building codes is to ensure that
a building structure possesses:

Minimum strength to withstand minor earthquakes, which occur frequently, with some non-
structural damage

o Resistance to moderate-earthquakes, which occur once in ten years or so, with minor stxuctural
damage and some non~structuraldamage; and

a Withstanding capacity to a major earthquake, which is likely to occur once in a lifetime of the
structure, without complete collapse.

Actual forces that occur during earthquakes are much greater than those specified in any
building code. However, ductility (capability to undergo deformation), arising from inelastic
material behaviour and detailing of reinforcement and overstrength, arising from the additional
reserve strength in structures over and above the design strength are relied upon to account
for this difference in the actual and design loads. Critical facilities such as hospitals, telephone
exchanges, powerhouses, schools, community centres, water tanks, airports etc., are designed
for higher earthquake forces so that they must remain functional after the occurrence of
:'earthquake.- It may be noted that the cost of incorporating earthquake resistance features in
a new building may be merely about 15% to 25% of the civil costs of the building.

The building regulatory system plays an important role in ensuring the quality of the built-up
environment. But designing appropriate standards and mitigation programmes for natural hazards
reiukes a sound understanding of the distribution, magnitude and frequency of those hazards.
Also, it is equally essential to evolve an inspection mechanism that ensures adherence to the
code and plans. Enforcement is generally .the wehkest part of the system, often due to lack
of human and financial resources allocated to this function. It could also be due to political
interference in the regulatory system.

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has initiated several pre-disaster mitigation projects to
reduce the impact of natural disasters on life and property as well as bring down social
vulnerabilities. It has undertaken standardisation efforts in the area of earthquake engineering.
The HilnalaLan - Nagalushai region, Indo-Gangetic plain, Western India, Kutch and Kathiawar
regions in Gujarat are geologically unstable parts of the country. Hence, some devastating
earthquakes of the world have occurred here. Strong earthquakes have also visited a major
part of peninsular India. But these have been relatively few in number and of considerably
, lesser intensity. Table 10.1 indicates the frequency, intensity and damage caused by earthquakes
around the world in the past century. Taking cognisance of their frequency and intensity, it is,
thus, all the more important to follow the building codes and earthquake resistant designs more
rigorously,
 Disaster Resistant House Construction

Table 10.1
S.No. Date Place Magnitude Deaths
1 I I I

1) April 4, 1905 Kangra, India 8.6 19,000

2) August 17, 1906 Valparaiso, Chile 8.2 20,000

- -

3) December 28, 1908 Messina, Italy 7.2 100,OOO

1 January 13, 1915
I I I I

4) Avezzano, Italy 7.5 29,980

I I L I
1 5) 1 December 16, 1920 I Gansu, China 1 7.8 1 200,000 [
~ e ~ t e m b1,e r1923 Kanto, Japan 7.9 , 143,000

7) May 22, 1927 Tsinghai, China 7.9 200,000

8) December 25,1932 Gansu, China 76 70,000

pi'+
9) January 15, 1934 Bihar, India .- 8.1 10,700
3
.*
lo) May 30, 1935 Quetta, Pakistan 7.5 60,
m
1 11) I January 25, 1939 ' I Chillan, Chile ( 8.3 1 28,000 1
I 12) 1 December 26, 1939 I Erzincan, Turkey 1 7.8 1 30,000 I
13) October 5, 1948 Ashgabat, Turk 7.3 30,000
I I' I I

14) May 31, 1970 Peru 7.9 110,000

15) ~ebruary.4,
1976 Guatemala 7.5 23,000
- -

16) July 27, 1976 Tangshan, China 7.5 655,000

17) December 7, 1988 Spitak, Armenia 6.8 25,OOO

18) September 29, 1993 Latur, India 6.2 9,748

-

January 26,2001 Gujaral, India 7.7 20,023

--
19) - -
-
20) December 26,2003 Barn, Iran 6.6 26,200

21) December 26,2004 Sumatra, Indonesia 9.0 26,106

22) October 8, 2005 Near Muzaffarabad (PoK) 7.6 N.A.

Source: The United States ~ e o l o ~ i cSurvey

al Times, October 9, 2005),
(Cf The Hindctsta~~

Table 10.2
Worldwide Annual Frequency of Earthquakes

I ~ e s ~ r i ~ t Ii a nGreat 1 Major Strong

,-,., 1 oder rat el Light 1 in or 1very Minor 1\.
*r Annual 1 17 134 1319 13.00 130,000 ' 1,300.000 ' ,
Average :.-

Soukce: ibid. .
 138 Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Recovery

The damage caused by these major earthquakes has been very huge. In a bid to bring down
the loss of life and property after disasters, there is a need to systernatise and standardise the
earthquake resistant design and construction of structures taking into account seismic data
from studies of the past earthquakes. To serve this purpose, building standards have been
formulated in the field of design and construction of earthquake resistant structures as also in
the field of measurement and tests connected therewith by the Earthquake agineering Sectional ''

Committee, CED 39. Let us now look at some of these building standards:

e IS 1893 Standard- Deals with earthquake resistant design of structures and is applicable to
buildings, elevated structures, bridges and dams. It also provides a map, which divides the country
into five seismic zones, based on the seismic intensity

@ IS 4326: 1993- Provides for guidance in selection of materials, special features of design and
cons&uction for earthquake resistant buildings including masonry, timber and pre-fabricated
constructions. It intends to cover [he specified features of design and construction for e'arthquake
resistance of buildings of conventional types. The general principles to be observed in the
constructionof such quake resistant buildings as specified in this standard are lightness, continuity
of construction, avoiding / reinforcing projections and suspended parts, building configuration
strength in various directions, stable foundations, ductility of structure, connection to non-structural
parts and fire safety of structures

0 IS 13827: 1993- Deals with the design and construction aspects for improving earthquake
resistance of earthen houses, without the use of stabilisers such as lime, cement and asphalt. It
has been recommended that buildings should be light, single-storeyedand of a simple rectangular plan

e IS 13828: 1993- Covers the special features of design and construction for improvingearthquake
resistance of buildings of low strength masonry

e IS 13920: 1993- Includes the requirements for designing and detailing of monolithic reinforced
concrete buildings to give them adequate toughness and ductility to resist severe earthquake
shocks without collapse

0 IS 13935: 1993- Covers the selection of material and techniques to be used for repair and
seismic strengthening of damaged buildings during earthquakes, and retrofitting for upgradation
of seismic resistance of the existing buildings

Despite, the stipulated building codes and standards, their adherence is still a rarity in the
developing countries of South Asia. Lack of awareness on the part of community and inadequate
training of masons and builders in earthquake resistant techniques could be the reasons for this.
It is lamentable that no governmental or community monitoring mechanism exists - to oversee
the. implementation of the byelaws, legal provisions and sanctions.

We all have a very reactive approach to disasters. Crores and crores are spent on relief and
rehabilitation while not even 1/41hof this amount goes into preparedness and proactive measures.
,The recent Earthquake in Muzzafarabad in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) is an eye
opener. It has been the most devastating Earthquake of this century. It just seems that even
today, in this age of massive scientific advancement and Information Communication Technology
revolution, we are where we were centuries ago i.e., ever vulnerable to the wrath of nature.
I

10.7 RECENT ADVANCES IN HOUSING TECHNOLOGY

Let us move on to some of the technologies that are innovative and quake resistant. These "
[

need to be made use of in order to cope with disasters like the earthquakes and cyclones:
Disaster Resistant House Construction

Base Isolation Technology

Reducing the forces transmitted to the building from the ground by placing the building atop
a mechanical system of isolators, sliders and dampers is called 'base isolation technology'. This
dampens the violent movements of the earth during a seismic event. By using isolators and
dampers, the building is 'decoupled' from the ground motion of any earthquake and the
transmission of seismic energy to the building is dampened.

This is done by lowering the vibrational frequency, allowing the building to move or displace.
It is also done by lowering the shock acceleration of the seismic event; thus reducing the
tendency for the upper floors to move faster than the lower floors. In general, buildings that
have been isolated in this way are subjected to 113" to 115"' of the horizontal acceleration to
that of conventional structures during a seismic event. The isolator is a sandwich of alternating
layers of 1/4thinch steel plate and 1/4thinch rubber, which are vulcanised to form a single
integrated unit. It is able to displace horizontally in any direction by 24 inches from the centre.

Natural Disaster Resistant Housing

Over the years, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), in partnership with the
U.S. Department of Housing add Urban Development (HUD), has been funding major research
and empirical studies involving the NAHB Research Centre and universities around the country
to examine a variety of structural performance issues related to natural disasters. The research
findings are being used to guide the future use of existing and new construction technologies
and building systems. One of the Research Centre's activities is zeroing in on how well the
houses using Insulating Concrete Forms (ICFs) are able to resist natural hazards such as
hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, floods and fires. .

ICF construction is relatively new to the building codes and home building industry of the
United States, ICFs are hollow foam blocks or panels that stack and interlock to create exterior
walls of a building. Reinforced concrete is then placed inside the foam blocks, creating strong,
insulated concrete walls. ICF construction is already noted for benefits such as energy efficiency
and durability, but its structural performance when faced with natural hazards is largely
undocumented, and that is the focus of ongoing (study at the Research Centre.

Reinforcing Concrete

Reinforcing concrete to keep it from cracking is nothing new. There are records to show that
ancient civilizations used to make use of natural fibres to inhibit cracking in structures. Today,
synthetic-fibre reinforcement is available to reinforce non-structural concrete applications with
superior results. Currently, the most widely accepted form of reinforcement is Welded Wire
Fabric (WWF), It is a mesh of thick steel wires that is placed in concrete. However, synthetic-
fibre reinforcement avoids the increased labour costs and difficulty in placement that are
associated with WWE

Small diameter synthetic fibres (nylon and polypropylene) are now being added to concrete in
order reduce shrinkage and cracking by more than 80%, according to certain independent
laboratory tests. Reducing the cracks lowers concrete premeability, increases its toughness and
long-term exposure to weather. It also reduces callbacks in concrete slab floors, decks, driveways
and walks. According to fibre manufacturers, the placement, curing or finishing characteristics
of the concrete are not affected by the addition of fibrous reinforcement. Larger-diameter
synthetic fibres (steel and polyolefin) added at higher content by volume (0.5% to 1.5%
respectively) also enhance hardened flexural strength, but at an increased cost.
 Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Recove~y
Cyclone Resistant Dwelling Construction

The Cyclone-ravaged Orissa is in the process of being rebuilt using disaster resistant housing
technology. Modern building techniques, which help the dwellings to withstand instense storms
like the one that lashed Orissa on October 29, 1999, are being made available to the people
who have to rebuild their homes. The new technology has been developed by the National
Building Construction Corporation (NBCC). It involves the use of pyramidal roofs so that the
thnist area is reduce'd and the tile use to give the roof the required shape is made possible.
The walls and foundation .have been well-spaced to allow for flexibility when a building is
buffeted by strong winds. Such building techniques are commonly used in quake-prone areas
in Japan and along the Californian coastline in the United States.

Disaster Resistant Pier Systems

A good foundation of the house is of immense help in making it disaster resistant. For
manufactured houses, one option is a disaster resistant pier system, with stout members rigidly
connecting the house's cl~assisto a slab, grade beam, or array of pads. Some systems incorporate
lateral or diagonal bracing for greater resistance. Though often referred to as Earthquake
Resistant Bracing (ERB) systems, these also resist high winds, frost heaves and floods. Not
only are these systems cost-effective in reducing structural movement (compared to
conventionally manufactured housing foundations); they can even save lives and property.

I11 earthquake-prone zones, disaster resistant pier systems are generally considered to be more
cost-effective than ground anchor systems, which do not aIways perform adequately. The
anchors are usually located on the longer sides of the house, which bear the greatest wind
loads. However, earthquake loads can occur in any direction and additional anchors on the
short sides increase costs. Because the piers are usually separated from the soil by pads, rust
and deterioration are not such big concerns, as they are for ground anchors.

10.8 AGENCIES INVOLVED IN DISASTER RESISTANT

CONSTRUCTION
' Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO)

As we will also be reading in our next Unit, there are many agencies working in the area of
housing technology for disasters. One of the most important ones is HUDCO. It is the only
organisation in India that has been working on the issues of disaster mitigation'and use of
disaster ~esistanttechnology in construction for the past several decades. Apart from its routine
operations of techno-financing, housing and basic infrastructure, it promotes disaster-resistant
technologies for hunlan habitat. It adopts villages to demonstrate how to go about building
shelters with simplicity and safety through simple illustration of 'Do s and Don'ts' in disaster-
prone areas. It provides knowledge on spatial planning and design in disaster-prone areas
keeping the traditional socio-cultural styles intact.

HUDCO imparts skills in improvising traditional building techniques using local materials to
masons and artisans through its network of building centres all over the country. It conducts
workshops to train engineers, architects, builders, administrators and project managers on the
importance of using safe technologies for construction of buildings at its Human Settlement
Management Institute in Delhi. It funds rehabilitation projects that require reconstruction and
extends financial help for retrofitting of housing and infrastructure. As on December 2004,
HUDCO has funded reconstruction / rehabilitation of 1, 911, 368 dwelling units in the country
with a loan amount of Rs.1342.37 crores in disaster-affected areas. Its total operations in
hoi~singloan commitments have been around Rs. 17, 116 crores.
8
Disaster Resi.ttarzt House Consrrucfion

FICCI-CARE Gujarat Rehabilitation Project (FCGRP)

This Project has raised nearly 120 crores for relief and rehabilitation work in the worst-affected
communities of Gujarat. The Project has successfully completed co~lstructionof over 3157
csore earthquake and cyclone resistant homes. The construction of additional 2765 homes has
commenced and the construction of community infrastructure is underway. These buildings
incoriorate important safety features such as steel reinforcing of all corners of the house and
reinforcement of the plinth, beam and roof levels, the latter being an essential component for
cyclone resistance, since the area is prone to high winds from the Arabian Sea.

In fact, all construction is as per the specifications of the Indian Standards for Earthquake
Safety 4326-1993, as provided in the guidelines issued by the Gujarat State Disaster Management
Authority. Each core house covers an area of 30 square meters, and it takes into account the
existing lifestyle of the beneficiaries. The design for the core house has been developed in
consultation with the people and top architects, well-versed in earthquake and cyclone safety
guidelines. There are many other agencies that are involved in disaster resistant construction.
We will read more about them in our next Unit.

10.9 CONCLUSION
The wrath of natural disasters could be reduced to a considerable degree with the adoption and
implementation of improved design, siting and disaster resistant construction techniques practicable
within the context of the cultural and socio-economic constraints prevailing in the given regions.
When houses and buildings constlucted through traditional methods, using conventional building
materials, do not exhibit the necessary disaster resistant characteristics, new designs and non-
traditional building materials and construction techniques need to be developed and put to use.
Adoption of disaster resistant technology for constructio~iis, therefore, an important consideration
for the national prograinmes and projects on disaster mitigation and prevention. This Unit threw
light on the different types ol ~nodernand traditional earthquake resistant construction techniques.
It discussed the importance of adhering to the building codes. It also examined the role of
building agencies involved in disaster resistant construction.

10.10 KEY CONCEPTS

Arch

It is a curved structure in a building supporting itself over open space by pressure of stones
one against the other.

Dowels

A dowel is a wooden metal peg joining two adjacent .parts.

Dome

Rounded vault, which forms a roof.

Eave Projections

Overhanging edge of a roof.

 142 Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Recovely

Gable Ends

Roof's corner joints or ends to support the wall.

Lintel and Plinth Levels

Lintel level is the top of the door or window and plinth is uppermost level of the foundation
at which damp proofing is done.

One of several horizontal timbers supporting the rafters of a roof.

Yokohama Strategy

The Yokohama Strategy for Safer World had constituted an Expert Group in 1994 to study the
issues related to the impact of natural hazards with .respect to housing and infrastructure. The
Yokohama Message includes:

0 Those affected most are the poor and socially disadvantaged in the developing countries as they
are the least equipped to cope with the situation

0 Disaster prevention, mitigation and preparedness are better than disaster response

0 Disaster response alone yields temporary relief at a very high cost

o Disaster prevention contributes to lasting improvement in safety

10.11 REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING

. Dhameja, Alka, 2003, "Disaster Risk Reduction through Disaster Resistant Construction
Techniques" in Pardeep-Sahni and Madhavi Malalgoda Ariyabandu (Eds.), Disaster Risk
Reduction in South Asia, Prentice-Hall of India, New Delhi.

Guidelines on Improving Earthquake Resistance of Housing, 1999-2000, Building Materials and

Technology Promotion Council (BMTPC), Ministry of Urban Development and Poverty
Alleviation, Department of Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation, Government of India,
New Delhi.

Guidelines for Building Reconstruction in Cyclone Affected Areas in Orissa, 2000, HUDCO,
January.

IGNOU Certificate Programme in Disaster Management (CDM 1 and 2).

Mathur, G.C,1986, Housing in Disaster Prone Areas, ESCAP, New Delhi. ,

Seminar Excerpts on "Earthquakes in Built Environment", 2001, Journal of Indian Building
Congress, Volume 8, No.1.
I
Websites:
Disaster Resistant House Construcfiorz

4
10.12 ACTIVITIES
1) Go through the newspaper clippings or magazine write-ups on any recent reconstruction work in
a disaster-affected region and make a list of the number of structures erected as well as retrofitted
using disaster resistant technology in that aredregion.

2) Prepare a list of existing houses, and other infrasbuctme in your area that have made use of
disaster resistant building technology.

3) Make a list of the agencies involved in building disaster resistant material and technology.