Retrofitting event: Workshop focuses on quake-safe buildings

Tribune News Service

Solan, August 2
A one-day workshop on “Safe construction methods and evaluation of earthquake-resistant buildings through retrofitting technology” was jointly organised here today by the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), Solan, and Punjab Engineering College (PEC), Chandigarh.
The workshop was presided over by Solan Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Ajay Kumar Yadav.
Addressing the participants, the ADC said through retrofitting technology, new facilities could be incorporated in repairing old buildings.
Pre-selected places would be inspected to repair 20-25 year old buildings of various departments in Solan district, he added.
“While old buildings will be renovated using this technology, damage incurred during natural disasters could be also be reduced. Such fittings provide safe and quake-resistant buildings,” said Yadav.
Sarita Singla and Arshdeep Singh from PEC provided detailed information on the subject of retrofitting.
Pradeep and Rakesh from DDMA, Kanav Devgan from PEC and technical officers and employees of various departments were present at the workshop.
Retrofitting helps structurally treat buildings in a bid to restore their original strength. It is ideally adopted if the cost of repair and strengthening a building is less than about 50 per cent of the reconstruction cost.
Last year, a few residents opted for retrofitting in the Shamti area of Solan, where 30 houses had been damaged by torrential rains. The cost of retro-installation is pegged at lakhs.