Principles for Building Earthquake-Resistant Structures
Earthquakes are among the most destructive types of natural disasters on the planet. While more common in other parts of the world, they’re not unheard of in the UK and can cause significant damage to property and infrastructure. In severe cases, they may even put lives at risk.
Designing and constructing earthquake-resistant structures is vital when it comes to mitigating their impact and minimising the risk of damage.
In this article, we’ll cover the main principles for building earthquake-resistant structures, outlining what you must have in place to keep inhabitants safe.
Read on for more…

Does The UK Suffer From Earthquakes?
Although the UK is not located near tectonic plate boundaries like other countries, it does still experience earthquakes from time to time. Many of these quakes are minor and may even go unnoticed and on average will feature somewhere between 3.0 to 4.0 on the Richter scale. These earthquakes are weak and unlikely to cause significant damage compared to the huge problems that other places in the world, like California or Japan, experience.
While the nation doesn’t usually suffer from earthquakes, in the past rare, larger ones have occurred.
This includes:
- 2008 Market Rasen earthquake: A 5.2 magnitude quake that remains one of the largest ever to occur in the UK. It caused minor structural damage in the local area.
- 1984 Lleyn Peninsula earthquake: The strongest British earthquake in the 20th century, it occurred in Wales and reached 5.4 on the Richter scale.
While the overall seismic risk in the UK is relatively low compared to other regions, certain areas are considered more active due to local geological faults. This includes the East Midlands, where our team is based, so building structures that are earthquake-resistant remains important.
How To Earthquakes Affect Buildings?
When an earthquake hits a building, shockwaves are sent rapidly across the ground in every direction.
While most buildings are more than capable at handling vertical forces, they find it more difficult when these forces move from side to side – which is how earthquakes work. The amount of energy that is released is huge, and the difference in the direction of the movement can cause a structure to collapse if the proper building practices haven’t taken place.
Walls, floors, columns and beams will vibrate causing extreme stress to occur across the structure.
Principles Of Earthquake-resistant Structures
When constructing new buildings and structures, there are several building principles and practices that can help properties withstand an earthquake.
This includes the following:
Create Flexible Foundations
One of the best ways to help a building withstand the severe forces of an earthquake is to make the foundations as flexible as is safely possible.
You can lift the foundations to sit slightly above the earth by using a method known as base isolation. This involves constructing a building or structure on top of flexible steel, rubber and leather pads.
Then, when the base moves during a quake, the isolators vibrate, helping the building remain steady and in place. The seismic shock is absorbed and will not be sent through the entire building.
Furthermore, installing flexible joints and damping systems can help structures absorb the seismic energy an earthquake emits.
Reinforce The Building’s Structure
To prevent a building from collapsing during an earthquake, the structure needs to be able to redistribute the seismic forces it is hit with.
This can be done by reinforcing the building’s structure in a number of different ways.
This includes the following:
- Shear walls: One of the best ways to reinforce a building is to use shear walls. This technology is made up of multiple panels which help to keep the building in the correct shape during movement. They are normally supported by diagonal braces made from robust steel. Compression and tension are supporting which can counteract the pressure of the quake.
- Cross braces: Attached to a building’s frame with a bracing stud in an X pattern, these cross braces are used to increase the load capacity a building can withstand. Cross braces are commonly used on all kinds of structures and can withstand extreme winds and all kinds of seismic activity.
- Diaphragms: No, not the respiratory organ but a construction diaphragm is used within a structure to remove tension from a floor. It also pushes forces vertically which are easier for buildings to deal with.
- Moment-resisting frames: These frames offer more flexibility in a building’s design. These elements are installed within the building’s joints and allow columns and beams to be easily bent when the joints are rigid. This means the building can better resist the larger forces of an earthquake.
Use Lightweight Materials
Heavy structures experience greater forces during an earthquake than they do in a normal environment. The use of lightweight materials, especially on upper floors, reduces the overall load and can minimise the damage of an earthquake.
Most modern lightweight concrete and composites are excellent choices for seismic activity.
Shield Buildings From Vibrations
New, innovative solutions are constantly being researched to try and help buildings to deflect and reroute the energy of earthquakes. Described as a ‘seismic cloak’ these designs involve creating a cloak of more than 100 plastic and concrete rings that are buried beneath a building.
Then, if extensive force shit the building, the rings can convert the energy into heat and absorb the shock, thus shielding the structure from dangerous vibrations.
Use Symmetric Building Designs
Buildings that are irregular in shape are more prone to torsion (or twisting) if an earthquake hits.
This means they will be more likely to become significantly damaged whereas symmetrical designs are better at evenly distributing mass and stiffness. This can help to more evenly disperse significant forces which therefore reduces the structural vulnerabilities of a building.