Photo: Gemini AI
PETALING JAYA: In the wake of recent earthquakes in Johor, the Institute of Engineers Malaysia (IEM) wants to lead in revising a building code that deals with seismic activity.
The revision of the Malaysian seismic design code would also be in line with the new Second Generation Eurocodes 8, said IEM president Prof Dr Jeffrey Chiang Choong Luin.
Eurocodes 8 applies to the design and construction of buildings and other civilian infrastructure in seismic regions.
According to Chiang, buildings in Malaysia were designed in accordance with British Standards and later transitioned to Eurocodes in the past decade.
“Those structures were developed to resist lateral wind and notional loads, generally exhibiting sound engineering detailing despite the absence of seismic design considerations.
“Consequently, many older buildings possess inherent lateral resistance, which allows them to withstand low-magnitude earthquakes within their elastic range.
“In the event of higher-magnitude seismic activity, however, a rapid and city-wide seismic hazard assessment is recommended to identify buildings that may be more vulnerable,” he said.
He added that Malaysia is generally situated on a suitable tectonic plate, with few localised fault lines capable of generating infrequent, moderate earthquakes ranging in magnitude from 5 to 6 on the Richter scale.
According to Chiang, buildings of between 10 and 20 storeys are more susceptible to local seismic activity due to their natural frequency aligning with ground motion characteristics.
Buildings higher than 20 stories, however, are less sensitive but may experience resonance effects from distant earthquakes in regions like Sumatera or the Philippines.
“Site-specific factors such as soil depth and quality play a critical role in amplifying seismic shaking,” he said.
He urged policymakers to recognise that earthquake risk is a socioeconomic issue and support laws that mandate seismic designs in vulnerable areas.
