New resource helps builders strengthen NZ homes against earthquakes

Providing practical guidance on retrofitting existing homes to make them safer and stronger, and information to help ensure new builds meet seismic safety standards, the modules were developed in a partnership between the Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake (NHC), Building Research Association of New Zealand (BRANZ), the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and the building industry.

Hamish Armstrong, NHC Public Education Manager says, “New Zealanders know all-too-well the damage that earthquakes can do to our homes. Those past events have taught us a lot of lessons, including steps we can take to make our homes safer and stronger. Builders play a crucial role in this: helping ensure our homes, old and new, can best weather the challenges of future earthquake events.”

Piled foundations that have been undermined by excavations.

Bundling resilience into existing renovation work can be both cost and time-efficient for a homeowner. Renovations may also expose hidden structural issues that could make a home more vulnerable in an earthquake: undermined foundations dug out for extra storage and loadbearing walls being removed are just two examples. Unconsented changes, like turning a basement or roof space into a bedroom, can affect how well a house stands up to shaking.

Getting an engineer or builder involved early means any risks can be identified and fixed before the job is finished — helping ensure the home stays safe and sound.

“The new modules are based on the latest BRANZ research and real-world insights from the Christchurch and Kaikōura earthquakes”, says David Carradine, Structures Team Leader at BRANZ.

“When you’re renovating, it’s the perfect time to make your home safer. These tools give builders the know-how to include simple but effective earthquake resilience upgrades – helping to protect families and homes when it matters most”.

While the modules are open to all, for Licensed Building Practitioners (LBPs) completing the modules contributes to their required ongoing professional development. Each module counts as one Elective activity point for LBP skills maintenance.
The modules can be accessed on mobile devices, so can be completed by builders when they’re on the go and in their own time. The module content can also be accessed later, so builders can refer back to any specific content they might need. 

The seismic resilience modules are available now on the Building Performance learning portal:

Seismic resilience when retrofitting homes(external link)
Seismic resilience in new homes(external link)