9/22/22, 5:09 PM Designing Safe Homes in an Earthquake Prone Area

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Genesis & Functions 

Designing Safe House in an Earthquake Prone Area
Vision, Mission &
India on account of unique geo-physical setting is highly Strategic Plan 
prone to earthquakes of varying intensities. The country Management Structure
has faced several devastating earthquakes in the past & Organizational
resulting in a large number of deaths and severe Overview 
property damage. During the last century, five
earthquakes measuring M8 or more had struck different Faculty 

parts of the country; Great Assam earthquake (1897), Training Calendar 

Kangra earthquake (1905), Bihar-Nepal earthquake
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(1934), Andaman-Nicobar earthquake (1941) and
Assam earthquake (1950) had caused untold misery to Self Study Program 

the affected community and enormous damage to DMC's 

infrastructure and public and private property. In the
Past Activities 
recent years damaging earthquakes had been
experienced in different parts of the country (Table 1)
e.g. Assam (1988) M7.2, Bihar- Nepal (1988) M6.5, Sitemap 
Uttarkashi (1991) M6.6, Latur (1993) M6.4, Jabalpur
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(1997) M6.0, Chamoli (1999) M6.8 and Bhuj (2001) M6.9. Some of the earthquake events (Muzaffarabad earthquake,
2005 M7.6; Great Sumatra earthquake, 2004 M9.1), which did occur outside Indian Territory, had a very severe Videos 

bearing on the nation as well. Table -1, shows region wise frequency of occurrence of earthquakes for last 110 years. Tenders 

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Seismic Zoning
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The country has been classified into
Disclaimer 
different zones indicating the intensity of
damage or frequency of earthquake RTI 
occurrences. These zoning maps indicate
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broadly the seismic coefficient that could
generally be adopted for design of
buildings in different parts of the country.
These maps are based on subjective
estimates of intensity from available
information on earthquake occurrence,
geology and tectonics of the country. The
Indian seismic zoning is a continuous
process which keeps undergoing changes
as more and more data on occurrence of
earthquakes becomes available.

Considering the recorded history of

earthquakes in the country, seismologists
have classified 59% of the land mass of
India as prone to earthquakes of
different magnitudes - 11% in very high
risk zone V, 18% in high risk zone IV and
30% moderate risk zone III. The capital
cities of Guwahati and Srinagar are
located in seismic zone V, while national capital of Delhi is in zone IV and the mega cities of Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai are in zone III. 38
cities with population of half a million and above each and a combined population of million are located in these three regions.

List of Indian standards dealing with Earthquake resistant construction are:

1. IS 1893 (Part 1): 2002 'Criteria for Earthquake Resistant Design of Structures : Part 1 General provisions and Buildings'
2. IS 1893 (Part 4): 2005 'Criteria for Earthquake Resistant Design of Structures : Part 4 Industrial Structures Including Stack Like
Structures'
3. IS 4326:1993 Earthquake Resistant Design and Construction of Buildings - Code of Practice
4. IS 13827:1993 Improving Earthquake Resistance of Earthen Buildings - Guidelines
5. IS 13828:1993 Improving Earthquake Resistance of Low Strength Masonry Buildings - Guidelines
6. IS 13920:1993 Ductile Detailing of Reinforced Concrete Structures Subjected to Seismic Forces - Code of Practice
7. IS 13935:1993 Repair and Seismic Strengthening of Buildings - Guidelines

The following links give brief guidelines for constructing safe houses in various areas lying in different seismic zones of the country and also
about retrofitting etc.

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9/22/22, 5:09 PM Designing Safe Homes in an Earthquake Prone Area
Earthquake Emergency Survival Guide

Earthquake Preparedness Guide

Simplified guideline for all new buildings in the seismic zone III of India

Simplified guideline for all new buildings in the seismic zone IV of India

Simplified guideline for all new buildings in the seismic zone V of India

Model guidelines for development & building construction including safety provisions for natural hazards in rural areas.

Guidelines for repair, restoration and retrofitting of masonry buildings in earthquake affected areas of Jammu & Kashmir

Self assessment of earthquake damageability of residential brick buildings in NCT of Delhi (also in NCR)

Seismic assessment of brick masonry buildings situated anywhere in seismic zone IV of India

Simple retrofitting for improving earthquake resistance of brick masonry buildings in NCT of Delhi and the NCR

Guidelines for repair, restoration, condition assessment and seismic strengthening of masonry buildings

Rapid visual screening of RCC buildings

Rapid visual screening of masonry buildings

Seismic evaluation and strengthening of reinforced concrete buildings

Conditions assessment of buildings for repair and upgrading

National programme for capacity building of architects in earthquake risk management (NPCBAERM)

National programme for capacity building of engineers in earthquake risk management (NPCBEERM)

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