Detailed Damage Assessment of City Hotel by

Earthquake

Prepared by Morphogenesis Consultant Pvt. Ltd.

07 May 2015

Detailed Damage Assessment of City Hotel Commercial Structures in the

wake of Earthquake
Background
On the 25 April 2015 at 11:56 AM a strong earthquake(7.8) hit the Nepal in the areas of
Kathmandu, Sindhupalchok and Gorkha. On the subsequent day another earthquake (6.7)
again hit the Kathmandu with an epicenter Dolakha. The earthquake has been followed by
many aftershocks making the environment apprehension and fearful. So far the death toll
has reached 7,652 and 16,390 people have been injured. The quake completely damaged
10,761 government residences and buildings while 14,804 houses and buildings suffered
partial damages, according to the Home Ministry.The earthquake caused extensive
damages to the physical structures and human loss
A team of Engineers and building Inspectors of the Consultant inspected the building
infrastructures in order to quantify the damage on the building of City hotel of Lazimpat.
The report focuses on a non structural/ architectural damages that have occurred and
calculates quantify the damages in monetary value.
From 25 April 2015 - ten days after Earthquake, the Consultant was hired to undertake a
damage assessment of the Hotel building. The Team consists of three engineers- Surendra
Maharjan, Rajan Maharjan and Achitect Amir Maharjan.
Scope
The assessment was based on a more detailed visual assessment of earthquake damage to
the building. Significant damages to partition walls were observed at first floors and
moderate damages were observed at subsequent.
Findings of Structural damages
The finding based on visual assessment is divided into:
1. Structural Assessment
2. Non- Structural Assessments
3. General Assessments
Structural Assessments
In the design of structures for earthquake loading, it is necessary to provide a continuous
load path from the foundation up into the roof and reverse. In the structure examined this
continuous load path was present. The cursory assessment shows no major structural
damages on the building but to ensure its plum line and structural strength/capability it is
recommended to undertake the detailed investigation of the building.
Non-Structural Assessments
A common failure that was observed under the Assessments was loss of claddings on the
partition walls and exterior wall.
Though the building has extensive shear cracks in the partion walls, these were not the
structural cracks as the walls are not considered as structural members in the Frame
Structure building. The main cause of the shear cracks in the wall is due to lack of bands on
the wall. In addition the building lacks cornor connections between walls due to which huge

vertical cracks were observed at wall corners.

General Assessments
Plumbing and Sanitary Components
No major break out of water supply and sanitary service lines.
Electrical components
No major break out of electrical component. However an electrical inspector should check
certain aspects of the job and sign off the Certificate of Compliance.
Categorised of Building Damages
Based on the visual assessment of the building, it is catorized as
Grade 1: Houses with minor damage to roof and walls (0-25%).
Excessive Cracks in first floor walls
Moderate Cracks in subsequent floor walls
No structural damages
Remedial Works
Remedial Works
Under the remedial works of the building it includes
1. Repair of minor cracks with cementitious grout
2. Plastering
3. Wall putty apply
4. Painting
Detail Cost Estimation of the remedial works have been given at Appendix II
Cost Summary
The calculated cost for the remedial works is NRs. 12,518,324.01 (exclusive of VAT) in
words Rupee One Crore Twenty five Lakhs Eighteen thousand Three hundred Twenty Four
and paisa One only.
The cost is based on the building materials required to carry out reconstruction work,
generally comprising dismantling, crack repair, interior and exterior cladding and rewiring of
electrical components.
Conclusions and Recommendations

The cursory investigation and detail observation shown the building have no major
structural damages. All damages seen during the inspection was non structural
damages/ architectural damages. The cost for the remedial works of the damages is
NRs. 12,518,324.01 (exclusive of VAT). However it is recommended to carryout the
detail investigation of the structural components by conduction the load bearing
capacity of the columns.
Appendix 1: Photographs

Photo: Shear cracks at wall

Photo: Horizontal and daigonal shear crack at first

floor partition wall.

Photo: Deliminated skirting

Photo: Dissociating granite cladding

Photo: Dissociating granite cladding

Photo: Wall beam separation crack

Photo: Wall column separation crack

Photo: Wall column separation crack

Photo: Shear crack and separation crack

Photo: Crack generating at corners of opening.

Photo: Glazed tiles fall out at bathroom walls

Photo: Fall out of False ceiling

Photo: Vertical joint crack

Photo: Dislocation of pressure screw of door