Vulnerability Factors in Building

Different Vulnerability factors associated with the particular type of building are checked with a set of appropriate checklists from FEMA 310, "Handbook for the Seismic Evaluation of Buildings" and “IS Guidelines for Seismic Evaluation and Strengthening of Existing Buildings”.

The factors that pose less vulnerability to the building during earthquake shaking are listed below:

·         Building should be regular in plan, elevation and structural system

·         Building should have sufficient redundancy

·         Demand Capacity Ratio (DCR) of each structural element as well as the whole structure should be less than 1

·         The building shall contain one complete load path
·        Building shall have no damage and deterioration of structural elements and materials itself

·         There shall be no hammering between adjacent buildings

·         There shall be no diaphragm discontinuity

·         Structural elements and the building shall not be slender

·         There shall be proper connection between each structural elements and between structural and non-structural elements

·         Building should have sufficient ductility

·         Building should not be situated on liquefaction susceptible soil, steep and rock fall areas, fault rupture surfaces and soil filled areas

·         Non-structural elements should be restraint properly

Reverse is the criteria as mentioned above pose vulnerability to the building.