Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, January 19, 1995 TAG: 9501190104
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: KENNETH SINGLETARY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
To Krimgold, a scientist who tries to design stronger buildings, the earthquake is "a tremendously important event for us to understand."
During a telephone interview Wednesday from Portland, Ore., where he was attending a workshop on seismic safety, Krimgold said he sees "a steady progress" in earthquake-resistant building techniques.
"We learn from these disasters, and we make progress."
He said the number of building that survived the quake in Japan point toward "a considerable success. ... I think to talk about engineering failure is inappropriate."
In the United States, the standards for earthquake-resistant buildings constantly evolve as newer technology and more information become available. The standards are not mandatory, but the states periodically revise their building codes to incorporate the advances.
Virginia last year updated its code, although it does not require buildings to meet the stringent standard for earthquake-prone areas, said Vernon Hodge, a building code supervisor in the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development.
Virginia is not in an area that is prone to devastating earthquakes, but experts say it's only a matter of time before the state's next quake strikes.
However, earthquakes in Virginia are not frequent. The strongest on record was an earthquake in Giles County in 1897 that measured 5.8 on the Richter scale, strong enough to cause considerable damage, especially to the masonry buildings that are common in Virginia. An earthquake that was between 5.0 and 5.5 was centered around Goochland County in 1875.
Krimgold said the earthquake in Japan appears to confirm the relationship between soil around a building and how well the structure holds up in a quake. This quake also shows that problems caused by gas and electrical systems in a quake should be factored in during a building's design.
The quake that struck Northridge, Calif., a year ago showed that steel beams and welds could sustain heavy damage, he said.
A "serious reassessment" of building techniques that use steel is in order, he said.
Krimgold, who has specialized in designing earthquake-resistant schools, said "a lot of progress has been made" in those types of buildings.
The techniques that relate to school buildings may not apply to taller office or apartment buildings, but the decision-making and funding advances gained from designing safer schools are "just as important as the technical know-how is," he said.
Krimgold has traveled to the sites of previous earthquakes to help with rescue efforts.
by CNB