Publication of "Guidelines and Commentary for Seismic Evaluation of Concrete Block Garden Walls" by Architectural Institute of Japan
By I. Igarashi
Concrete Journal, Vol.53, No.3, Mar. 2015
- Synopsis
- Building sites in Japan are often enclosed with concrete block garden walls (hereinafter, "block walls"). In the majority of cases, building certification for such block walls is not applied for, and many such structures fail to comply with applicable laws and regulations and the block wall design standard of the Architectural Institute of Japan. As each time a major earthquake occurs, numerous existing block walls collapse, causing casualties, urban passers-by are constantly exposed to potential danger. Further, block walls that collapse on the road side will also obstruct traffic such as the passage of emergency vehicles during earthquake disasters. In light of the above, the Architectural Institute of Japan formed a "Working Group for Seismic Evaluation and Improvement Guidelines for Block Walls, etc." (2010-2012). and based on the studies performed by that group, published the "Guidelines and Commentary for Seismic Evaluation of Concrete Block Walls" in March 2014. This paper outlines these guidelines.
- Keywords:
- concrete block, concrete block garden wall, seismic evaluation, seismic retrofitting
