Japan’s strong building codes keep millions safe

[one...two...tree 2,762]

In 1923, an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.9 hit Japan, killing over 100,000 people and leveling cities. Japan has learn a lot since then. It's building codes are some of the best in the world, and that's why — while hundreds have died — the 8.9-magnitude earthquake that hit Japan didn't cause more of a catastrophe in its cities.

In fact the major news out of Tokyo is that millions are stranded from their homes and without power, unlike what we saw last year when a huge earthquake hit Haiti. The reason it's not worse is that Japan — one of the most earthquake prone regions in the world — takes necessary precautions to make sure major disasters don't lead to greater catastrophe. As Time reports, Japan puts the necessary time and money into infrastructure so it can handle major natural disasters like the one today.

When disaster does hit, as it did today, Japan's buildings fare relatively well. In 1981 Japan updated its building guidelines with an eye to earthquake science. The devastating Kobe earthquake, which claimed some 5,100 lives, spurred another round of research on earthquake safety and disaster management. In 2000, the country's building codes were revised again, this time with specific requirements and mandatory checks. Even at the local level, preparedness is a priority: from 1979 to 2009, Shizuoka prefecture alone poured more than $4 billion into improving the safety of hospitals, schools and social welfare facilities. Though Japanese cities often shake, they rarely topple. "This gives me great faith in Japan's building codes," said Hong Kong University's Charles Schencking, a historian who studies earthquakes in Japan.

This is not to take away from the fact that even with these measures in place, many lives were lost. But it's not hard to imagine how much worse things could have been.

Cities can build all the latest infrastructure they want but they can't be truly sustainable unless they are built, like in Japan, to cope with the worst natural disasters.

http://www.smartplan...lions-safe/267/

Edited March 11, 2011 by 8TBVBN

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Are you promoting regulations here, comrade?

[mawilson 2,133]

There goes their famed infrastructure.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

There goes their famed infrastructure.

and hello meltdown (hopefully not)

[Obama 2012 1,714]

The article is ignorant of the fact the epicenter was 249 miles away from Tokyo.

Had that Earthquake hit Tokyo at that magnitude, we'd be seeing nothing but rubble on the screen and millions reported dead. No 'building code' can withstand that type of earthquake. That's magnitude is almost unheard of at the surface.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

Construction unions in Japan are strong, and do most of the commercial building there. It's obvious that union craftsmanship is what helped to reduce the damage to those buildings.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Earthquakes have a way of destroying the weak, no? In effect, they build for the last event. Like Japan, California has stringent building codes, but unlike Japan, we have a variety in the kinds of faults, and types of events that happen. Still, I have seen what survived the last big quake collapse in the next one. They can't seem to get the Exchange Bank in downtown Santa Rosa built right. Every time a tremor over 6.0 rattles the town, it falls down. But, the old courthouse across the street they thought would fall down with the next shaker, stood there adbandoned for years, still standing with every quake, until they finally tore it down. Shame, really. It was a thing of beauty!

[Dan J 277]

The article is ignorant of the fact the epicenter was 249 miles away from Tokyo.

Had that Earthquake hit Tokyo at that magnitude, we'd be seeing nothing but rubble on the screen and millions reported dead. No 'building code' can withstand that type of earthquake. That's magnitude is almost unheard of at the surface.

The earthquake was about 80 miles away from Sendai, which is a city of around 1 million people. Most of the deaths in the area seem to be linked to the tsunami and not collapsing buildings.

[Ban Hammer 13,693]

Construction unions in Japan are strong, and do most of the commercial building there. It's obvious that union craftsmanship is what helped to reduce the damage to those buildings.

so the unions saved japan this time around

[JohnSmith2007 353]

Construction unions in Japan are strong, and do most of the commercial building there. It's obvious that union craftsmanship is what helped to reduce the damage to those buildings.

I hate to tell you but the construction types only build what they are told to build. Want to thank someone? Thank the engineers that came up with the designs.

[^_^ 5,021]

I hate to tell you but the construction types only build what they are told to build. Want to thank someone? Thank the engineers that came up with the designs.

[Ban Hammer 13,693]

I hate to tell you but the construction types only build what they are told to build. Want to thank someone? Thank the engineers that came up with the designs.

where is consolemaster for his moment of glory?

[Danno 1,228]

I hate to tell you but the construction types only build what they are told to build. Want to thank someone? Thank the engineers that came up with the designs.

Or you can thank the legislators for requiring the designs be put in place.

or you can than the Voters which put the legislators in office and pay the taxes which make it all possible.

or you could thank......

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

As more and more footage gets released, it seems that construction was not all that adequate for the event that occurred. So far: Property damage in excess of $35 billion, and 2,800 dead, 10,000 people still missing; Three reactors permanently destroyed and a potential nuclear hazard yet to be mitigated fully, with unknown health issues perhaps worldwide.

But still, Japan was building stuff at the state of the art. Sometimes man just needs to be humbled by the nature of the rock he lives on, and this is not even close to as bad as it can get.

Edited March 14, 2011 by Some Old Guy

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

I hate to tell you but the construction types only build what they are told to build. Want to thank someone? Thank the engineers that came up with the designs.

And how many of those blue prints that we get are pure bs and have to be reworked over and over and over ...not to mention you don't have just anyone making those fits and welds. Of course a desk jockey wouldn't know this.