Interim Advice on 2022 National Seismic Hazard Model
GNS Science has released the revised National Seismic Hazard Model (NSHM). The Structural Engineering Society of New Zealand (SESOC), the New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering (NZSEE) and the New Zealand Geotechnical Society (NZGS) have collaborated to publish an advisory document giving interim guidance to design professionals and their clients until such time as any future updates are made to the New Zealand Building Code (view the media release here).
SESOC, NZSEE and NZGS understand that the NSHM is science that is used to inform design requirements within the Building Code. It will take time for the new science to be evaluated and for the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) to consider how to incorporate the model into the Building Code. In the meantime, we want to provide our members advice on how to proceed in the time between the model being released and any future Building Code update. The National Seismic Hazard Model informs design Standards and design actions, however it is not a design document and should not be treated as such.
The Interim Advice on 2022 National Seismic Hazard Model Release we have published will assist building designers in their discussions around hazard information with their clients and help them to engage in conversations regarding structural options which may buffer against hazard uncertainty.
Earlier this year, the technical societies published the Earthquake Design for Uncertainty guidance providing good design principles that should be referred to alongside the new advice.
From: NZGS, Dec 2022 https://www.nzgs.org/national-seismic-hazard-model/
Release of the revised National Seismic Hazard Model
Engineering New Zealand Chief Executive Dr Richard Templer welcomes the release of the revised National Seismic Hazard Model, saying it provides much deeper scientific knowledge about the shaking hazard presented by earthquakes in New Zealand.
The model, which has had its first update since 2010, calculates the likelihood and strength of earthquake shaking that may occur in different parts of New Zealand over specified periods. It was released today by GNS Science, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and Toka Tu¯ Ake EQC.
“Engineering New Zealand acknowledges the significance of this collaboration in delivering important seismic data for New Zealand.
“I’m really pleased engineers were involved in this update. Along with regulators and insurers, we anticipate all New Zealanders will benefit from the new data.”
No changes to regulatory settings have been made as a result of the model’s release. However, Engineering New Zealand and its technical societies are working with MBIE to understand how the new information may be applied and incorporated into future Building Code updates for new designs, and whether the seismic hazard used for seismic assessments for buildings not covered by the earthquake-prone building system should be reviewed.
“Engineers and clients should continue to use existing design standards and refer to the Interim Advice on the National Seismic Hazard Model from the Structural Engineering Society New Zealand, New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering, New Zealand Geotechnical Society and Engineering New Zealand,” says Templer.
“We support MBIE taking a measured and considered approach to any changes to regulation,” says Templer.
“Similarly, we encourage engineers to take time with the data and start thinking about what it might mean for future designs.”
From: Engineering New Zealand, Dec 2022 https://www.engineeringnz.org/news-insights/national-seismic-hazard-model/
