Public expectations of damage and disruption to existing multi-storey buildings in earthquakes

Abstract

The seismic performance of both structural and non-structural building components have the potential to affect the lives of building occupants, with poor performance likely to cause undue disruptions to the lives of building occupants. In recent years, a growing effort has been made to understand whether the actual disruptions caused by building damage in earthquakes align with the public’s expectations. In 2021, a survey was undertaken in which members of the New Zealand public were asked about their expectations for the seismic performance of the multi-storey building they were most familiar with. The survey aimed to understand (1) how participants expected their building would perform in weak, moderate, or severe earthquakes and (2) whether the building’s actual performance in previous New Zealand earthquakes had met expectations. A summary of the findings related to expected damage and timeframes for repair are presented herein. Additionally, discussion is provided about how the respondents’ expectations for damage align or diverge from current seismic performance objectives in the New Zealand building code.