The Hindu              19.12.2013

Fibre wrap to protect old buildings from earthquakes

Chennai Corporation will use fibre wrap technology to
fortify its old civic structures, including buildings and bridges,
against earthquakes.

The fortification techniques
have been initiated in the wake of the city being upgraded to seismic
zone III a few years ago. Work on Kodambakkam Bridge and Ripon Buildings
has already started. Other major old buildings that are weak will be
identified for fibre wrapping shortly.

“Over 1500 sq m
of fibre wrap is being used for strengthening columns of the ground
floor of Ripon Buildings. This will strengthen the columns that are
likely to be damaged during seismic events,” said an official of Chennai
Corporation.

“The fibre wrap being used now is blue
in colour, and is capable of withstanding extremes of temperature. It is
also cheaper than other available technologies. The fibre wrap is wound
around the columns and the original material (lime mortar or cement)
will then be packed on top of it.

Workers at Ripon
Buildings are using safety goggles, chemical resistant gloves and
particle masks during the restoration project, funded by Jawaharlal
Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission. Other old buildings and bridges
will be restored in a similar manner as part of disaster preparedness of
the Chennai Corporation.

The civic body has also
done fibre wrapping on the columns Kodambakkam bridge as part of
restoration of the 50-year-old structure. The restoration would include
spraying of anti-corrosion material and grouting. A few years ago, an
expert study conducted on the 623-metre-long and 12.8-metre-wide
structure concluded that it had weakened.

Every year,
the Chennai Corporation prepares a list of weak structures as part of
disaster preparedness and also draws plans to evacuate people near the
structure in case of calamity. Some of the Corporation’s office,
residential and commercial buildings too have been declared weak.