Langtang reconstruction/ working document

Annex 1: Key rules for earthquake resistents buildings

1. Dont build directly on slopes : 3. Divide the shape into separate block and create a joint of
minimum 3-4 inches or create a corridor between the separates
volumes.

2. Use simple, symmetric and regular shapes :

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4. Maximum dimensions of buildings : 5. Fondations :

Building dimensions : Maximum ratio of width versus length = 1/3.
Maximum free span of rooms = 6 meters = 20 feet.
Buttresses at all corners and junctions can be built to make a
building more strong
To make a building truly earthquake resistant, it will be
necessary to choose an appropriate foundation type. The
depth of footing in the soil should go below the zone of
deep freezing. Avoid the week soil. The depth and wight of
the foundation depends on the type of soil.

6. Include horizontal bands on several levels. They act as a

belt.

continuous plinth beam on the head of the foudations

still beam under the windows
Lintel beam on the top of the doors
continuous top beam under the roof

The beams can be made of RC, timber or gabion bands.

Some exemples and ideas on the next page ...

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Exemple of RC beams :

Rubble stone schools in Kaski District of Nepal. They have all

withstood the earthquakes and aftershocks of April and May 2015
without any significant damage. From Smart Shelter

Stone masonry construction with timber bands in Pakistan (photo: T. Schacher)

Gabion beams :

Exemple of timber beams : Randolph Landenbach make very interesting proposal which is to
use a gabion beams:

The stone masonry gabion bands are flexible, and of the same
nature as the material into which they are place such that there
is material compatibility something which cannot be said of
reinforced concrete ring beams.

RECONSTRUCTING RURAL STONE HOUSES IN NEPAL AFTER THE

2015 EARTHQUAKES REPORT FOR Catherine Forbes in response to
her questions on how to rebuild houses in the Gorkha District,
By Randolph Langenbach, May 16, 2015
www.conservationtech.com & www.traditional-is-modern.net

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 7. Proper stone construction : 9. Floor and roof construction :

Roof structure must be as light as possible. The integrity and

connections of roof and floor structures to the walls is very
important because they act as a lid on the top of the box.

Use of trought stone in stone maconery.

Contrary to the name, through-stones can also be made of
concrete, wood, or steel bars with hooked ends embedded in
concrete. Even though these elements are not made from stone,
they serve the same purpose as through-stones, that is, they act
as continuous members that tie wall together.

8. Maximum dimentions of openings

Special concideration must be made regarding to the size and
location of the doors and windows :
number and size of openings should be minimazed since
exessive openings weaken the wall
Ideally openings in oposite walls should be of similar size
Openings should be located away from the wall
intersections and placed as far as possible

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 10. Correct use of materials, quality control and continuous
supervision.
More simple is the building process more simple is the
supervision.
There is a very good document about choosing the right materials
and quality control in open source made by Smart Shelter
Research.
11. Technology transfer.
It is important that the local population can understand and repeat
the building process which will be chosen. This is the only way to
create a local knowledge of earthquake resistant building and to
prevent the future risks.
annexe earthquake resilience.odt
This is only a fast review of the key requirements and conclusions
for earthquake performance coming from the following
documents. :
Seismic design guide for law ride confindes masonry
buildings : World Housing Encyclopedia, EERI & IAEE
A TUTORIAL: Improving the Seismic Performance of
Stone Masonry Buildings : EERI
Rules of Th umb for Building Safe Non-Engineered
Buildings with Random Rubble Stone Maconery Walls :
Smart Shelter Research
Guidelines for Earthquake Resistant Non-Engineered
Construction : Internationa Association of Earthquake
Engineering and National InformationCenter of Earthquake
Engineering
Reconstructing rural stone houses in Nepal after the 2015
earthquake. Repport for Catherine Forbes in response to
her questions on how to rebuild houses in the Gorkha
District, By Randolph Langenbach
Non engineered construction in developping countries an
approach toward earthquake risk prediction : Anand SARYA
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