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3 years, 4 months ago

What's the best way to earthquake-proof a room?

I have been living in LA for a few years now and have experienced several minor tremors and one significant (to me, anyway) earthquake. It made me think about my room and how I don't want some severe ground-shaking to toss my iMac on the floor if a much stronger one hits.

I fear I chose a bad desk as my computer is sitting on a little platform with not much surface area, but are there good ways to earthquake-proof a room so that minimal damage can be done?

Besides a computer I have books, musical equipment, and the standard bits and pieces you'd find in a room. I'd just go ahead and tie bungy cords around everything I own, but it kinda kills the vibe.

Also, besides having some extra water around, any other earthquake survival tips?
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cyberangel | 3 years, 4 months ago
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For your computer and musical equipment use the "Small Appliance and Computer Earthquake Restraint Kit" available at http://samplerewards.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=9

Attach bookshelves to a stud in the wall with an inexpensive metal L-shaped bracket.

Use museum wax (silly putty, surfboard wax, Velcro) under collectibles to secure to shelves, cabinets, etc.

Attach pictures to the wall with auger-style anchors.

Install plastic child-proof clips on all cabinet doors.

Install heater straps to your hot water heater.

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marcel m | 3 years, 4 months ago
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Well for starters it\s quite a task trying to earthquake proof a room,unless off course the room is an isolated prefab that belongs to you,thus you have the right to tinker with it. Otherwise if the room is a component of a larger unit i.e a house things begin to get very tricky and complicated.

The most effective methods for earthquake proofing a "house" are usually incorporated during the building of the unit the most common forms being

1.base isolation
2.diagonal bracing
3.passive damping.

Of the three however base isolation seems to be the most common method employed in earth quake proofing a house, word of caution though there is no such thing as 100% earthquake proofing, most techniques are meant to minimize damage caused by earthquakes.

Base isolation is described thus,"This involves using a coil or other flexible support and placing it between the structure and the foundation of the building. This system counteracts the motion of the seismic waves. As the earthquake moves the foundation one way, the support moves the other way, and the building stays nearly completely stationary".

So if it's a single unit you might consider base isolation, but if it is a complex i.e full housing unit that did not have such techniques incorporated during it's building the best you can hope for is to minimize the effects of a big one on your person and property, So from a simple physics standpoint you should increase the surface area of the table holding your computer and other valuable electronics, while simultaneously lowering its height ,this will having the combined effect of increasing the stability. Secondly the table should have wheels i.e it should not be static this will allow it to move in tandem with the earthquake vibrations thus minimizing structural damage to the table and it's attendant consequences. You should have water around a fast aid kit and extra amounts of food just in case the "big one comes". I have listed a couple of resources including a 32 page book that talks about Hazard Mapping in the San Francisco Bay Area, including the cities of San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley and Hayward. Check it out and good luck in the event of a big one.

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evan | 3 years, 4 months ago Report

Yeah, I'm really not talking about the architecture or construction of the room, as clearly it's already been built. Really just wondering about keeping as much stuff as possible from breaking. Thanks for the info, though!

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kevlar | 3 years, 4 months ago
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Can't earthquake-proof a room short of leaving it empty. Think about which why things would fall and don't put more valuables there. You can get some straps to attach your book cases to the wall, but those won't keep the books in. Just don't hang pictures or other heavy things over your bed. Do keep shoes and a flashlight under your bed (for broken glass + night quake).
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commonsense.

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evan | 3 years, 4 months ago Report

Well, obviously there's no way to completely avoid all damage, I'm just looking to minimize it. Good points on the shoes/flashlight and hanging stuff above the bed.

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chazzyfen | 3 years, 4 months ago
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The best way to earthquake proof a room is not to make it rigid, but instead to make it able to bend. What you should do is try to make the rooms supports flexible, this way when the earthquake comes it will only shake the room. Therefore, you could probably stop stuff from shaking by bolting it down.

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evan | 3 years, 4 months ago Report

Well, I'm not talking about the room itself since I live in an apartment (that's already built, no less). I'm talking about the stuff in the room.

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