QuakeCoRE Seminar – 17 April 2020

10 am Friday  17 April

Can regulatory intervention be successful? Evaluation of the Hurunui/Kaikōura Earthquakes Recovery (Unreinforced Masonry Buildings) Order 2017

Abstract  

Falling facades and parapets of unreinforced masonry (URM) buildings pose a significant risk to life in the event of a significant earthquake. In the Canterbury earthquake of 22 February 2011, 39 people lost their lives and 110 people were injured due to failed URM buildings. Forecasted heightened seismicity after the 14 November 2016 Hurunui/Kaikōura earthquakes, increased the risk of a significant aftershock occurring in the areas of upper South Island and lower North Island. To reduce the risk to life-safety in those affected areas, the Hurunui/Kaikōura Earthquakes Recovery (Unreinforced Masonry Buildings) Order 2017 came into force on 28 February 2017. The Order targeted street-facing URM buildings in areas with high pedestrian and vehicular traffic and specified 38 streets within Hurunui, Lower Hutt, Marlborough and Wellington where risk from falling facades and parapets was the greatest. The Order empowered these four territorial authorities to issues notices under section 124 of the Building Act 2004 (modified under the Order) to require work to secure parapets and/or facades, giving 189 building owners 12 months to carry out the work. In February 2018, the Order was amended to extend the time to complete securing work by six months, until September 2018.

The Unreinforced Masonry Building Securing Fund (URM Fund) was set up to support building owners to meet securing costs. The URM fund was comprised of a $3 million contribution from the central government and a $1.5 million from the four affected territorial authorities. The results of the securing work completed under the Order will be presented at the seminar.

For details on how to join the seminar – return to the 2020 Seminar series home page  link

Zoom  link