Who Should I Hire for Earthquake Retrofitting?

Earthquake retrofitting, or seismic retrofitting, involves updating existing buildings to meet current building codes and better stand up to earthquake damage. You can hire a contractor or engineer for earthquake retrofitting to protect your home from quakes and shocks. Hiring an architect or design professional, like a structural engineer, may also be necessary, depending on the extent of the retrofitting. Here’s what you need to know before you embark on an earthquake retrofitting project.

Benefits of Hiring a Qualified Professional for Earthquake Retrofitting

While the International Code Council (ICC) has updated its International Building Code (IBC) for commercial buildings and International Residential Code (IRC) for residential buildings to reflect updated guidance on building for earthquake protection, not all jurisdictions have updated their code requirements. 

For this reason, hiring a qualified seismic retrofitting company that follows updated guidance is the best way to make sure your project goes smoothly. The company will be able to tell you how long earthquake retrofitting will take and give you an estimated earthquake retrofitting cost for the project. They may also know whether you can receive grants or other funding to help cover the project's cost.

In some cases, hiring an architect can benefit the retrofitting project because they can evaluate the project as a whole, including the design and construction work. They can be involved in both the planning and execution phases to ensure the retrofits work with the larger design of the home. A structural engineer can help you and your contractor evaluate and plan for any elements that will affect the structural integrity of your home.  

Can I DIY Seismic Retrofitting?

Seismic retrofitting is not a job for a DIYer. Understanding the updated codes and ensuring the building is in compliance is a job for a qualified professional with the right tools and knowledge. You’re better off knowing who to hire for earthquake retrofitting and letting them take care of the updates.

Retrofitting projects—like bracing crawl space walls (the short walls between the foundation and exterior walls), bolting the home to the foundation, connecting the crawl space walls to the first-floor framing, and reinforcing the garage walls and chimney—require the right tools, supplies, and skills. You would also have to pull the appropriate permits, schedule inspections, and adhere to any retrofitting requirements. If these projects aren’t done right, the home won’t stand up to earthquake activity, and you’ll have wasted your time and money if an earthquake hits.

How Do Seismic Retrofitting Pros Protect Buildings From Earthquake Damage?

Before beginning an earthquake retrofit project, your contractor or engineer will oversee the following screenings and evaluations: 

• Conduct a Rapid Visual Screening of Buildings for Potential Seismic Hazards (FEMA 154) as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recommends.

• Evaluate the building with the Seismic Evaluation of Existing Buildings (ASCE/SEI 31-03).

• Follow the Seismic Rehabilitation of Existing Buildings (ASCE/SEI 41-06) standards, as well as the IRC and local building codes. 

• Consider non-structural elements and follow guidance in Reducing the Risks of Non-Structural Earthquake Damage (FEMA E-74).

If this sounds complicated, that’s because it is. That's why hiring a highly qualified contractor or engineer is vital to planning and completing a retrofitting project. The right professional will complete the appropriate screenings and evaluations and use the established guidance and building codes to retrofit both structural and non-structural elements.

Depending on the earthquake retrofitting needs for your home, you might hire a local foundation repair company to reinforce the building’s foundation, a local mason to reinforce the bricks, a contractor to brace walls, or a gas company to install an automatic gas shut-off valve. In some cases, hiring a contractor who can bring in a subcontractor for each task can be easier.