earthquake resistant prefabricated houses
TRANSCRIPT
Earthquake Resistant Prefabricated Houses
Prefab homes can be found in earthquake and seismic zones from California to Alaska, Hawaii, the Caribbean and Japan. Each house design is individually engineered to meet local seismic code requirements and to adapt to the natural terrain uBlizing one among the many foundaBon opBons available. The biggest misconcepBon is that prefab homes are flimsy and fall apart easy. This is due to the videos we see on television about old mobile home parks in hurricanes. The fact of the maEer is that the new prefab homes are built as strong as or stronger than convenBonal homes. Earthquake Hazard Levels are based on the seismic risk and the damage anBcipated from major seismic events. While seismic acBvity is much more common in California, Hawaii, the Pacific Northwest and Alaska, damage from major earthquakes in other areas could be significant since few structures elsewhere are built to be earthquake and seismic resistant.
A unique approach of integraBng Post and Beam construcBon technology with almost any foundaBon type makes prefab homes adaptable to nearly any terrain, climate or design need. FoundaBon types include sBlts & pilings, basements, crawl-‐spaces, and on-‐grade slabs, as well as a unique pedestal foundaBon design. Depending upon the specific locaBon and the condiBon of the soil, various approaches are employed to stabilize the home foundaBons. Slab foundaBon homes oQen only require large steel-‐reinforced floaBng slabs, but in some circumstances where soil condiBons are poor, steel-‐reinforced grade beams may also be required. In other seSngs, foundaBons may actually have to be pinned to stable rock formaBons below. And in the most extreme seismic areas, anchoring foundaBons deep in the ground to stabilizing pilings may be necessary. No maEer what the requirement, working closely with structural engineers and local building officials to create the appropriate and safe foundaBon design, is the best approach.