International Code Council assists Pakistan

Pakistan will improve earthquake-related requirements in its building safety codes with the help of the International Code Council.

After an October 2005 earthquake devastated a large area in northern Pakistan, that nation's Ministry of Housing and Works engaged the National Engineering Services Pakistan (Pvt.) Limited (NESPAK) to develop revised seismic zoning maps and criteria. NESPAK approached the International Code Council to help Pakistan develop earthquake provisions to save lives and reduce property losses.

"We need to educate homeowners and builders so they understand that the new earthquake provisions and building safety code will save countless lives and reduce future property damage," said Jahangir Akhtar, Vice President of NESPAK's Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering Division.

S.K. Ghosh Associates, known internationally for their work in earthquake engineering, are working with the International Code Council on this project.

"We are happy to be part of this important effort at improving seismic safety in one of the more seismically active regions of the world," said S.K. Ghosh

Since the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, building safety lessons learned from that catastrophic event and other earthquakes have been included in seismic provisions of U.S. construction codes. When a 1994 earthquake hit Southern California, newer buildings constructed with seismic provisions remained standing. As a result lives were saved and property damage reduced.

The International Code Council, a U.S.-based membership association dedicated to building safety and fire prevention, develops the codes used to construct residential and commercial buildings, including homes and schools. Most U.S. cities, counties and states that adopt codes choose the International Codes developed by the International Code Council. To learn more about the International Code Council, click here.