EDUC 265/MAED 279 WRITTEN REPORT 2ND TRENCH

SECTION 51-57

EARTHQUAKE SAFETY IN SCHOOLS

- DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION recognizes that earthquake strikes
without any visbe indicator and early warning
- When occurs, school building collapse causing injury or death to
personnel and students.
- The department is giving priority concern to significantly lower the
seismic risk of schools and help prevent further injury and death to
school occupants.
ORGANIZATION FOR ECONOMIC COOPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT
(OECD) REASONS WHY BUILDING COLLAPSE:
1. Errors in design and construction
2. Non- application of appropriate technology
3. Non- complaince to existing laws and regulations
PROGRAM ON EDUCATIONAL BUILDING (PEB) PRINCIPLES:
1. Establish clear and measurable objectives for school seismic safety
2. Define the level of the earthquake hazard to facilitate the development
and application of construction codes and standards under the
responsibility of the concerned agencies.
3. Set forth expectations or objectives that defines the desired ability of
school buildings to resist earthquakes.
4. Give priority to making new school safe.
5. Be established to long –term undertakings with a strong commitment to
sustained effort rather than one- time action.
6. Adopt a multi- hazard approach to school safety.
7. Employ advisory committees as needed.
MAJOR ELEMENTS OF EFFECTIVE SCHOOL SEISMIC SAFETY PROGRAM
1. Seismic safety policy element
- PFSDF or Physical Facililites and Schools Engineering
Division
- OPS or Office of Planning Service
The policy shall:
- Recognize the need to ensure the safety of school children
- Recognize the consequential need for the safety of school
building
- Establish minimum standards for protection of human life
- Adopt sustainable standards to guide design
- Establish programs for seismic risk reduction of school buildings
and their components
- Provide adequate funding and human resources
- Be supported by committed and competent leaders with
sufficient legal and moral authority

2. Accountabilty Element
- Basis for action with clear lines of accountability
To achieve objectives of programs there shall be:
- A clear definition of the roles and responsibilites of the
various individuals, agencies and organizations involved
in the school seismic safety.
- A process for making all planning,design, regulation and
enforcement of decisions transparent.
- Qualification requirements for professionals engaged in
the design of school facilities.

3. Building Codes and Code Enforcement Element

- Primary objective of school building codes and regulation
shall be to protect the life of the occupantsof a school
building.
Shall establish:
- Clear building performance objectives based on:
- Ground motion charactericstics and geogoly of the area
- Collapse prevention and structural damage control
criteria
- Secondary effects such as tsunamis, landslides and
surface ruptures.
- Socio- economic impacts to the education sector and the
school communities
4. Training and Qualification Element
- Building safety relies on regulations and laws that require
proper training and qualifications of professionals,
builders, and technicians involved in the different aspects
of the design and construction process.
- Engineers and Architects shall be properly trained and
licensed by the competent authorities and their training
shall inclde seismic design as well as elements specific
to school design and construction.
- Building Officials, Plan Check Professionals and
Inspectors shall be certified through a process or
adequate training and experience.

5. Preparedness and Planning Element

- Effective programs shall include the following measures
at the education sector and school level to redce risks
and to prepare employees and students to react in safe
ways during emergencies.
a. Education
b. Risk Reduction Measures
c. Emergency Plan
d. Safety Assessments
e. Training
f. Drills

6. Community Awareness and Participation Element

- All members of the community must understand the
seismic hazard of the regio or are, vulnerability of existing
school buildings, the consequences of not properly
constructing new school buildings or improving the
resistance of existing buildings, and the feasibilty of
improving seismic safety.
Effective Community effort shall include:
a. Programs to raise public awareness and knowledge of th
risk from earthquakes and oher natural hazards
 b. Educational programs to transfer and disseminate
technical knowledge and to explain risk in terms
understandable to community stakeholders.
c. Activities to empower the community
d. Use of school curricula

7. Risk Reduction Element for New Facilities

- Verified procedures currently exist to ensure good
seismic performance of school buildings and their
contents.
Following components are needed in a risk reduction element for
new facilities:
a. Determination of seismic hazard in schools and
development of seismic hazard maps
b. Development of performance criteria and codes suitable
for the culture and economic conditions of the area with
recognition of teh fundamental societal importance of
schools and the shelter function of schoolstructures in
post disaster emergencies.
c. Development of simple regulations or best construction
practices
d. Training and education of professionals , technicians,
and the construction workforce
e. Target dates for implementation of construction
standards recognizing the different levels of current
practice in different countries
f. Effective building codes and regulations

8. Risk Reduction Element for Existing Facilities

- To reduce seismic risk of existing school buildings, it is
important to understand why this risk exists and what
actions can be taken by the school to eventually reduce
the risk.
Key ingredients for effective risk reduction for existing facilities:
a. Determination of the seismic hazard and preparation of
hazard maps
b. Assessment of risk to existing schools and their contents
c. Evaluation of the consequences of not taking corrective
actions
d. Development and implemention of technical guidelines
e. Formulation of an action program
f. Prioritization and risk reduction plan implemetation