Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti has proposed major investments to retrofit older buildings to make them more resilient to earthquakes. The ambitious program would focus on some apartment buildings built before 1978 and concrete buildings constructed before 1976.
The plan also includes upgrading the city's water infrastructure. Garcetti said retrofits would cost billions of dollars, which would be borne by the public and private sectors.
The measures target pre-1978 apartment buildings with weak first floors, many of which were built over parking garages supported by narrow columns. Landlords would have to upgrade these structures within five years, costing an estimated $5,000 per unit.
Pre-1976 concrete buildings with columns and frame connectors that are brittle and can break during an earthquake would have to be upgraded within 25 years at an estimated cost of $10 to $15 a square foot. The proposal requires City Council approval.
(http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/12/09/us-usa-earthquake-california-idUSKBN0JN02D20141209)
Related Stories
| May 25, 2012
Study: Safety inspections don’t hurt the bottom line
A new study suggests that random safety inspections by regulators help reduce injury claims without hurting profits.
| May 24, 2012
2012 Reconstruction Awards Entry Form
Download a PDF of the Entry Form at the bottom of this page.
| May 17, 2012
New standard for Structural Insulated Panels under development
ASTM International and NTA, Inc. are developing a new standard for Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) that would create a path for U.S. manufacturers to meet the requirements of the Canadian building code.
| May 17, 2012
Webinar: ‘What Energy Codes and Standards Are Adopted Where and by Whom’
A June 12 webinar by the Construction Specifications Institute will outline what energy codes and standards have been adopted in each of the states for commercial buildings, and what is anticipated to be adopted in the future.
| May 17, 2012
California Governor orders new green standards on state buildings
California Gov. Jerry Brown issued an executive order recently that calls for all new or renovated state buildings of more than 10,000 sf to achieve LEED Silver or higher and incorporate clean, onsite power generation.
| May 17, 2012
New Zealand stadium roof collapse blamed on snow, construction defects
Heavy snowfall, construction defects, and design problems contributed to the collapse of the Stadium Southland roof in New Zealand in September 2010, a report has found.
| May 17, 2012
OSHA launches fall prevention campaign
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently launched an educational campaign to prevent deadly falls in the construction industry.
| May 15, 2012
Suffolk selected for Rosenwald Elementary modernization project
The 314-student station elementary school will undergo extensive modernization.
