Points to be kept in mind while designing earthquake resistant structures

 (1) Plan & elevation of the building should be as simple as possible with minimum irregularities in shape.

(2) Use of light weight construction materials along with adequate strength should be preferred than routine traditional construction .

(3) Use of ductile materials for the construction of buildings should be preferred as they have better energy absorbing qualities.

(4) Framed structures having "Soft Storey" (open ground storey for parking) have shown poor performances in the past earthquakes and therefore, must be properly designed.

(5) Special emphasis is to be given to substructures i.e foundation, because failures is the most of the causes can be attributed to the failure of soil on which the foundation resets. " Soil Structure interaction "  plays a vital role in designing the structures below as well as above he ground level.

(6) Poor quality of construction materials, faulty workmanship, lack of maintenance and inadequate design of structure is responsible for damages during earthquakes.

(7) Subsoil exploration should be carried out to observe and check the phenomenon of "Liquefaction in fine sands" underneath the foundations.

(8) Time to time revision of Seismic zones is not be considered by a structural engineer, while designing a building, the earthquake force may exceed the design force.