More quake-resistant buildings soon

IT’S a work in progress: steps are being taken so that new buildings in Malaysia will be able to withstand tremors from earthquakes.

This move is surely welcomed, especially after various parts of Malaysia felt the ripples from a 6.1-magnitude earthquake in Sumatra, Indonesia, on Feb 25.

New buildings nationwide will come with earthquake-resistant features following the latest changes to the Uniform Building By-Laws, gazetted on Dec 31 last year.

However, it is still up to local authorities to enforce such by-laws, say experts.

Such new buildings will have to take into account the location’s level of expected ground movement from an earthquake, so that safety measures can be taken.

This is done by referring to the Malaysia Seismic Hazard Map – a map showing which zones are prone to have stronger shakes if an earthquake hits, says the Public Works Department (JKR).

For example, if a new building is located in a high risk zone, developers must put in place the necessary features for it to resist a quake.

Previously, there was no requirement for the map to be referred to, explains the JKR.

Zones in the map are ranked based on their level of expected ground movement from an earthquake, from very low to high.

“Currently, the Mineral and Geoscience Department Malaysia is in progress of updating the map to be in line with the latest situation.

“This is in collaboration with JKR, local universities and other government agencies,” the JKR’s civil engineering and structure branch tells Sunday Star.

It’s a timely step, in view of the recent quake in Indonesia, which rattled hospitals and government offices in Malaysia, with occupants of several high rises temporarily evacuating the premises.

The Malaysian Meteorological Department said the incident had minimal impact on Malaysia, but tremors were felt in Johor, Negri Sembilan, Pahang, Penang and Selangor, as well as Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.

On March 1, Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali said the quake warranted an immediate structural evaluation of government buildings in the state, after structural cracks were found at the Inland Revenue Board building there.

Ripples on the ground

Following the shakes and sways from the Indonesian temblor, the JKR inspected 82 government buildings in various areas and found them to be safe.

It also received nine complaints about minor cracks in some buildings in the Klang Valley.

“The nine reports involved hairline cracks which do not affect the structural integrity of the building,” the department says.

As for other buildings, including private properties, JKR urges all owners to inspect their premises and report to the responsible parties if they detect any cracks.

“For government buildings in Malaysia, each building has its own Building Safety Officer who is responsible to ensure the structure and environment is secure for the occupants,” the department adds.

While it is relatively unlikely for Malaysia to be hit by an earthquake, this does not mean we are free from the consequences of such incidents elsewhere.

The JKR calls on the public to be aware of procedures to be followed should such an incident happen and remain calm.

“Occupants and managers of high-rise buildings should be made aware of the hazards during emergencies, and this can be achieved by holding compulsory fire or earthquake drills regularly,” the department says.

The public should also heed Malaysian Meteorological Department guidelines, which includes taking shelter under a table if indoors and avoiding windows or places where objects can fall on you (see graphic for more details).

Our laws are enough

As it is, the JKR says our current laws are sufficient in ensuring buildings are secure enough to weather events like tremors.

Malaysia has a building code for the design of structures for earthquake resistance.

“This code specifies that all new buildings located in seismic zones (based on the Malaysia Seismic Hazard Map) should incorporate designs to handle seismic load,” it says.

However, experts say such standards and the recently amended by-laws rest in the hands of local authorities to act on them.

Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM) honorary secretary Dr David Chuah Joon Huang says the structural codes that guide the construction industry on earthquake resistance are MS EN 1998-1 (2015) and the National Annex to MS EN 1998-1 (2017).

“These sets of standards are considered adequate for local construction practices in Malaysia.

“The IEM played a major role in carrying out the study and developing these Malaysian standards.

“However, these codes have yet to be implemented by some local authorities,” he says.

Engineer Wong Chee Fui of Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman says that Eurocode 8 – European standards for the design of structures for earthquake resistance to minimise damage and protect lives – was incorporated into the Malaysia National Annex.

“The purpose of the National Annex is to provide parameters that can be used nationwide for the design of buildings and civil engineering works,” explains Wong.

He hopes local authorities will look into implementing such standards, particularly for critical buildings with large occupancies and lifeline facilities.

Wong says Malaysia’s building regulations are mainly based on Uniform Building By-Laws (UBBL), which provide guidelines on procedures for building plan approvals and other means of development control.

“Although the newly amended UBBL has been approved (to enable more earthquake resistant buildings), each state in Malaysia needs to gazette them in their respective state assemblies to enforce them in their states,” he says.