Earthquake Prone Buildings Community Taskforce: Sensible stance on parapets and facades in earthquake prone buildings law
Published on 03 September 2015
3 September 2015
Faster upgrade requirements for dangerous parapets and facades on earthquake-prone buildings are a good thing says Richard Thompson, chairman of the Wanganui Earthquake-prone Buildings Community Taskforce.
The announcement by Building and Housing Minister Nick Smith that a new category of priority buildings, covering parts of unreinforced masonry like parapets and facades, is to be included in the Building Act will mean that these dangerous elements will be fixed up more quickly.
“This is exactly what the Taskforce has been submitting and it is heartening that these messages have been heard.
“We’ve always been supportive of longer timeframes to fully remediate earthquake-prone buildings but wanted to quickly remove the risk of parts of buildings falling onto the street in high pedestrian areas.
“It is something of a paradox – on one hand there is evidence that the overall risk from many of our earthquake-prone buildings is low. They may suffer damage in a severe earthquake and but are unlikely to fully collapse and tend to have low occupancy. That is an argument for a long timeframe to fully strengthen.
“On the other hand many of the unreinforced masonry buildings in the CBD have parapets and facades that could collapse onto the street and injure pedestrians below. Clearly, it is important to fix those elements as quickly as possible.
“Our solution, detailed in submissions to the select committee hearing the Bill, is to categorise parts of buildings as priority requiring remediation in a shorter timeframe, while allowing a longer timeframe for the full upgrade.
“It is gratifying to see that these proposals have been accepted. If they become law it will mean that, in Wanganui’s case, dangerous elements of buildings will need to be assessed in 5 years and fixed within 12 and a half years. Full strengthening will have to be assessed within 10 years and completed within 25.”
Mr Thompson said that the Wanganui District Council will have a very important role because councils will be tasked with identifying which areas justify the new priority category.
“Guidelines for this will need to be produced but the Minister has clearly signaled that all commonly used retail areas like central business districts will be included.”
Mr Thompson said that the Taskforce is keen to work with the Council and building owners on earthquake prone building issues and already has some initiatives in the pipeline.
“Once the legislation is passed and we know exactly what the requirements are we will engage with owners and see if we can get things moving quickly.
“The key things are to increase public safety and preserve the amazing heritage that gives Wanganui its special character. It’s a delicate balance, as the Minister says, but this change should make it easier.
The Wanganui Earthquake-prone Buildings Community Taskforce was set up in early 2012. Members include architects, engineers, heritage advocates, building owners and developers, Mainstreet and Council officers.
Mr Thompson said the taskforce’s purpose is to provide independent advice to Council and the community on matters to do with earthquake-prone buildings.