How to deal with earthquake resistance? Protecting yourself from house collapse February 9th 20:26

``I'm safe in this house.''

If an earthquake occurs, would you feel that your home is safe? In response to the Noto Peninsula Earthquake, there is renewed interest in making homes earthquake resistant. How can we protect lives from house collapse? We covered issues and countermeasures related to earthquake resistance.

(News Bureau Reporter Yukiyo Nagano/Saturday Watch 9 Director Soichiro Inoue)

“Are we okay?” Increasing number of inquiries

Consultations on making homes earthquake resistant are held in local governments across the country.

Ichihara City, Chiba Prefecture, has been holding such consultation meetings for over 20 years.

Fifteen groups living in the city participated in the consultation meeting on February 4th.

In the past, there were times when half of the seats were empty, but this time they filled up quickly.

At the consultation meeting, architectural experts will conduct a free seismic diagnosis based on drawings and interviews.

Depending on the diagnosis results, participants will also receive explanations about seismic construction methods and assistance they can receive.

If there is a risk of collapse, you will be guided through an on-site diagnosis at your home.

*In the case of Ichihara City, the on-site diagnosis is 5,000 yen.According

to the city, about 90% of people who come to the consultation meeting will undergo an on-site diagnosis.

However, it is said that only about one-third of these projects actually carry out seismic retrofitting work.

“Confusion” regarding earthquake resistance

Why on earth?

One participant in his 70s said,

``I became worried about my home after seeing it destroyed by the earthquake.'' The earthquake on the Noto Peninsula made him concerned about his home , so he sought counseling.

I was visiting.

I felt that they were highly aware of disaster prevention, but when I asked about the construction work, I received a surprising answer.

76-year-old man from a 50-year-old building: ``

I was shocked to hear that the house was at a high risk of collapse, since I had lived there with peace of mind.But why would I renovate the house when I don't know how long it will last?''My children are also in this house. I won’t be coming back.”

Built 37 years ago / 77-year-old man: ``

I found out that the earthquake resistance is lower than expected, but I'm 77 years old now.I want to live another 10 years.However, I wonder if there will be a big earthquake in that time...Construction It's a dilemma whether or not to do so."

Prepare for disasters that you don't know when they will occur.

It was obvious that people were thinking twice about taking countermeasures after weighing the cost of countermeasures, future risks, and their own age.

How should we proceed with earthquake resistance?

The government is conducting a survey of owners of wooden detached houses built to the old earthquake resistance standards before 1981.

Approximately 75% of respondents answered

that they did not do seismic retrofitting

because the cost was too high, and 44% said they did not want to spend money on an old house.

(Source: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Housing Bureau, Building Guidance Division, Building Disaster Prevention Measures Office, “Questionnaire Survey on Earthquake Resistance of Homes” (conducted from October to November 2017) *Survey of wooden single-family home owners who underwent earthquake resistance diagnosis )

According to national estimates, the earthquake resistance rate of homes nationwide (including reinforced concrete apartments) is approximately 87%.

In areas where the population is aging and there are many old wooden houses, the seismic retrofitting rate is likely to fall even further.

What can we do to increase the earthquake resistance of buildings?

Experts point out that it is necessary to lower the hurdles to countermeasures, such as by simplifying the application procedure for subsidies for earthquake-proofing construction.

Professor Emeritus Nobuo Fukuwa, Nagoya University

: ``It costs money and feels like a hassle.These are two reasons why rebuilding is not progressing.Although there is subsidy, there is not enough public awareness, and diagnosis, design, and construction need to be done at different times.'' Procedures and tidying up are necessary.The feeling of tediousness increases as one gets older.Governments need to simplify these procedures and reduce the hassle.

Options that are neither rebuilding nor construction work

How should we respond to the current situation where many people are hesitant about rebuilding or doing earthquake-proofing work?

Local governments are continuing efforts to protect the lives of residents.

Yokohama City provides subsidies for purchasing indoor shelters, etc.

The targets include disaster prevention beds with a metal frame covering the top of the bed, steel-framed tables that protect you by crawling under them, and shelters that look like small rooms with doors. .

From FY2020, we are considering increasing the amount of subsidy even further.

A city official said, ``Once a major earthquake occurs, there is a high possibility that you will be trapped under a building before you can escape.I urge all citizens to take measures to protect their lives before a major earthquake occurs. "I would like you to consider introducing this system as the next best measure to protect lives."

Michio Kojima (73), who lives in Yokohama, installed a steel frame to cover his bed in January this year.

Mr. Kojima's home is over 40 years old.

His bedroom is on the first floor.

Last summer, after receiving guidance from the city and conducting an earthquake resistance assessment, his building was diagnosed as having a ``high possibility of collapse.''

It is said that the construction work could have required around 2 million to 3 million yen of own funds, even with city subsidies.

The information received from the city also introduced financial assistance for setting up shelters, etc., and Kojima chose one that would be installed on a bed.

The frame that covers the bed is said to be able to withstand the weight of 16 tons even if the house collapses.

Its height is approximately 1 meter and 85 cm, and its weight is 200 kg.

The price is 418,000 yen (tax included).

In Kojima's case, the total cost of installation was 610,000 yen (tax included), as shipping costs for the package and assembly and installation by professional staff were additional costs.

Even though the city provides assistance, Kojima says that he has to pay quite a bit out of pocket, but ``I think it's cheap compared to my own life.''

Mr. Kojima

: ``I'm quite old now, so if I had to rebuild my house now, it would be expensive and difficult.I can't even think about the construction work.However, if I had this, I wouldn't be destroyed for now.I imagine a shelter to be something you can escape to, like an air raid. I hadn't thought of making it at home, but now I know there are other ways to do it. I'm most vulnerable when I'm sleeping, so now I can sleep with peace of mind."

"Never give up"

This product was developed by an Osaka-based manufacturer of disaster prevention products.

The company began manufacturing this bed frame in response to the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake in 1995, and has sold approximately 300 units so far.

Since the Noto Peninsula Earthquake, the company has continued to receive inquiries about its products.

Director Ito

: ``I hope you don't give up. Even if you are told that your life is in danger, there are many people who give up because they don't know how many years they have left to live, and they can't afford to spend money on a house. It's a financial burden, but it's a relatively small amount and there's a good chance that a life can be saved.I want people to know that these kinds of things exist in the world."

How can we prepare for a major earthquake that may occur at any time?

Some people may not know where to start.

Experts urge people to take immediate action to prevent the spread of the virus.

Professor Emeritus Nobuo Fukuwa, Nagoya University

: ``Let's start with things we can take for granted without spending money, such as preventing furniture from falling over.'' We need to create a society where it is natural for everyone to prepare for disasters. We should help residents prepare as much as possible before a disaster occurs, rather than afterward."

On the other hand, it is said that there will be an increase in unscrupulous businesses that take advantage of residents' concerns, especially after an earthquake, so you need to be careful.

▽The contractor personally visits your home. ▽

In cases like this where the contractor forces you to sign a contract without giving detailed explanations, you are advised not to sign a contract on the spot, but to consult with the local government or get quotes from multiple companies. I am.

Lastly, I would like to introduce the changes in seismic standards for housing.

We hope you will use this as a reference for preparing for disasters that may occur at any time by comparing them with the period in which your home was built.

(By Professor Emeritus Fukuwa, Nagoya University)

○Old earthquake resistance standards Buildings built before 1981 had

heavy roofs, and many buildings lacked bracing or plywood to resist the lateral shaking of an earthquake.

○New earthquake resistance standards Buildings from 1981 to 2000

There will be more braces and plywood.

However, there is a possibility that some buildings are unbalanced against shaking, such as because the braces are placed unevenly.

○Current seismic standards Building

braces and plywood built after 2000 are well-balanced.

The joints of columns, beams, and braces are fixed with hardware.

Scheduled to be broadcast on “Saturday Watch 9” on February 10th

News Bureau Reporter

Yukiyo Nagano Joined

the Bureau in 2011

After working in the Economic Department of the Gifu Bureau and Kagoshima Bureau, he currently belongs to the Bureau.

Saturday Watch 9 Director

Soichiro Inoue

After being involved in the production of NHK's "News Chikyu Maru Waku", he will be in charge of "Saturday Watch 9" from April 2022.