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Q: How earth quake resistant are the high rise buildings in China?
With the recent explosion of high rise residential development where 20 to 25 stories are the norm what is being done to mitigate the risk of collapse in an earthquake? All the ones I have watched being builkt are just reinforced concrete shells rather than steel framed structures. Is this a more stable structure in a quake? Are there strict building codes? If there is, my guess is that they will not always be adhered to by the developers after a quick profit? What about many of the landmark skyscrapers that are almost mandatory in all major cities? Have they got the most up to date eathquake proof designs built in? Any engineers on here who can give me an insight? Discus.
12 years 30 weeks ago in Health & Safety - China
Neither do I. I am just interested because many earthquake prone countries have developed well designed earthquake resistant buildings, especially megga skyscrapers that have pendulum dampers etc to resist quakes. I am just very interested if China incorporates any of these design lessons into it's more recent buildings. I am sure that the construction method of the 20+ story residential buildings that made from reinforced concreten would have been selected because it is the fastest and cheapest, but would like to know how it stacks up against that of other countries like Japan or the USA in the California region. My partner is thinking about buying an apartment in a new building on the 27th floor.
You would have to get the building report to find out what standards it is built to, not sure if they would be building tall buildings in an earthquake prone area though.
woody:
This states that Beijing is in an earthquake prone area. http://answers.echinacities.com/question/5368 Plenty of mega skyscrapers there.
It's the building closer to five stories that I would be worried about. I'm not saying the skyscrapers are safe, but the larger scale construction at least taken on by a bigger construction team and have stricter standards (whether the standards are actually followed is something else). I say five stories because that is the standard cutoff point for many of the laws (i.e. elevators, specific enforcement, etc for larger buildings). Like the larger buildings, the smaller building are put together as quickly and cheaply as possible, but they can be done by cheaper, less equipped construction companies.
I say not for shit, this is a country where cutting corners at any cost is a way of life and doing business!!Anyone who believes for a second the construction here is up to standard or code in a ANY western country is either ignorant or oblivious to "China"... Everything you see is a polished turd.
I've seen them build a complex of high-rise homes in six months. There is no way these are safe. In a country without professional plumbers, electricians.... or anything, you expect them to be professional? All buildings are short term projects to get cash fast, without studying the future, without caring. The government only allows you to own a house in China for 80 years, then it belongs to the government again. Earthquakes happen in China with devastating effects. One happened not too far from me last year. The whole city just collapsed.
