The
number of new building construction is increasing day by day in Kathmandu
Valley. And among the new buildings being constructed, large number
of them is non-engineered, which means none of those buildings is being
constructed according to the Building Code. As known to all, NSET has
been trying hard to reduce earthquake risk. It is evident that the ongoing
process has simply added the vulnerability concerns in buildings by
conducting mason training, training for engineers, orientation for house
owners etc. Complementing these efforts, “Mobile Earthquake Clinic”
was started by NSET in Kathmandu Valley in 2004 to provide on-site consultation
in aspects of earthquake- resistant building construction. It is an
innovative initiative of NSET where a team of earthquake engineer /
structural engineer, technician and masons visit different locations
/ building construction sites in and around Kathmandu valley and provide
technical advice on earthquake resistant construction. The clinic is
conducted with an objective to bring knowledge of safer building construction
at the construction site of informal buildings, assist Building Code
implementation at site level, monitor impact of earthquake awareness
and further stimulate the house owners, builders to consider earthquake
risk.
During these years, the clinic has covered hundreds
of buildings within Kathmandu Valley and has successfully served as
an onsite implementation of Building Code. Remarkable improvements in
building construction has been observed since then as- Stirrups shape,
size and spacing, size of structural members like column and improved
detailing in connections (beam column joints), protection of infill
walls etc. Most of house owners got to know about the earthquake risk
in Kathmandu Valley and they were convinced on the benefits of seismic
resistant construction and its economy. Thus through NSET's Mobile Earthquake
Clinic, knowledge of safer building construction has been disseminated
in a very effective manner.