Categorisation according to seismic risk The Amendment Act provides final dates by which identification and strengthening of earthquake-prone buildings must be completed, based on a classification of whether the building is in an area of high, medium or low seismic risk. The areas of seismic risk are identified in Map 1. Map 1
The timeframes for identifying and strengthening earthquake-prone buildings are as follows: Table 1:
The Amendment Act establishes a methodology for identifying earthquake-prone buildings to target buildings that pose the greatest risk. The EPB methodology provides the guidelines by which territorial authorities can identify earthquake-prone buildings, including a profiling tool and current engineering assessment guidelines. Earthquake-prone education buildings, emergency service facilities, certain hospital buildings and buildings located on strategic routes (especially those with unreinforced masonry) are to be prioritised. These buildings, if located in medium and high seismic areas, are required to be identified and remediated in half the standard time. Timeframes under the Amendment Act The timeframes for territorial authorities to identify potentially earthquake-prone buildings apply from the date the Amendment Act provisions take effect. If a building is determined to be earthquake-prone and the territorial authority notifies the building owner, the owner must strengthen or demolish the building within the required timeframe from the date of notification.