Seismic Experts Encourage Earthquake Code Changes

Most current building codes are inappropriate for tall buildings and their use will lead to inefficient and potentially unsafe conditions, the Chicago-based Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat has announced.

Architects, engineers, government officials and building-code experts should be concerned about the ability of tall buildings designed to traditional code procedures to survive a major earthquake.

“Building-code procedures were not written for the design of the very tall buildings that are now being built around the world,” says Michael Willford, co-chair of the CTBUH’s working group on the Seismic Design of Tall Buildings.

Current codes around the world, many of them based on U.S. codes, were developed to address the seismic design requirements of low- to moderate-rise buildings. As a result, they fall short in certain criteria because the structural characteristics that control the seismic behavior of tall buildings are different to those of shorter buildings, in partiticular the limited degree of ductility inherent in he structure.

During its 8th World Congress in Dubai recently, the CTBUH announced the release of the first set of recommendations to address the issue of the seismic design of high-rise buildings developed by Willford, Professor Andrew Whittaker of the University at Buffalo and Ron Klemencic of the Seattle-based Magnusson Klemencic Associates. Since then the Council is gathering public consultation.

The CTBUH is recommending a “performance based” approach to seismic design along the lines of that practiced for tall buildings in Japan and China. This requires the design to be evaluated by computer simulation of performance in a series of simulated earthquake events consistent with the seismic hazard of the site.

Transportation Construction Employment Declines

Employment in highway and bridge construction fell by 3.6% in April compared to the same month one year ago, according to a economic analysis by the American Road & Transportation Builders Association.

Data for the month of April, the latest month available, indicate 318,100 workers were employed by highway and bridge contractors—down 7,100 from April 2007 levels.

The ARTBA report noted several positive developments. Employment in the construction machinery segment grew 5.6% in the same period. The average April hourly wage of workers in the transportation construction segment continues to rank above non-transportation construction jobs.

The hourly wage for transportation construction workers climbed from $20.42 in April 2007 to $21.64 in April 2008. Average weekly earnings rose seven percent from $833.14 to $891.57 in the same period.

During the first quarter of 2008, contract awards were down for highway, bridge and airport projects, despite a marked increase in contracts for subway and light rail projects, the group says. Construction material costs have skyrocketed 55% since 2003.

Indiana Contracting Group Honors Executives for Charity

The Fort Wayne-based Building Contractors Association has announced the 2008 winners of its Gold Medal Award and Summit Award: Robert Crosby and Jim Waffle, respectively.

The awards recognize individuals who have demonstrated professionalism throughout their construction careers and have given contributions to local philanthropies.
A $500 donation to each winner’s chosen charity was given in honor of their distinguished service. Crosby, president of the Fort Wayne-based general contracting firm bearing his name, donated his award to Turnstone Center for Disabled Children & Adults.

Waffle, who has retired from Fort Wayne-based Simerman Construction Co. Inc., a general contractor, presented his cash award to the Child Evangelism Fellowship Mailbox Club.

Lancia Joins St. Louis AGC

Anthony Lancia was named assistant vice president of local governmental affairs and permitting of the Associated General Contractors of St. Louis.

He will be responsible for monitoring regional legislation pertaining to constructin issues.

Lancia was previously an account manager for Courtesy Products in St. Louis.