Many older buildings in Orange County were built before current building codes were developed. This means some buildings are significantly under-built or under-designed for surviving a major earthquake. Tri Span Environmental has the engineering experience and expertise for determining whether a home or business needs an earthquake retrofit and then performing upgrades to meet current earthquake engineering requirements.

Tri Span Environmental Earthquake Retrofits in Orange County

Protecting a building from structural damage during an earthquake starts by assuring the building is firmly attached to the concrete foundation it rests on. This is done with anchor bolts that hold the bottom wooden framing members to the concrete below. When anchor bolts were not installed during construction, as is often the case with homes over about 50 years old, these bolts can be installed retroactively by Tri Span Environmental technicians by drilling through the wooden bottom plate and into the concrete and installing an expansion bolt.

Another vital part of earthquake retrofits in Orange County and Southern California as a whole is in providing sufficient sheer strength in walls for resisting the enormous horizontal forces exerted in a big quake. Sheer walls are created and strengthened by adding plywood panels in strategic corners and load bearing areas and securing them with a tight nailing schedule. Such sheer walls are often installed on the short, cripple walls under the main floor and also in critical areas in other parts of the building as needed.

If you have concerns about the earthquake readiness of your Orange County property, contact Tri Span Environmental for a consultation and estimate for a structural retrofit.