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Earthquakes - Making Indonesian Buildings Safer: Revised Seismic Design

Code for Indonesia

Article · May 2015

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REVISED SEISMIC DESIGN CODE FOR INDONESIA
“JAKARTA CAN WITHSTAND
MASSIVE QUAKE”
This was a headline from The Jakarta
Post discussed in an article in the
February 2012 edition of UP.DATE.
At that time publication of a new
seismic design code for Indonesia was
expected, and the wait is now over. The
previous code SNI 03-1726-2002 has
been replaced by SNI 1726:2012. This
code provides engineers with up-to-
date advice concerning the design and
construction of buildings in Indonesia
to resist the effects of earthquakes.
Although Indonesia has not suffered a
major damaging earthquake for a few
years, it still sits squarely on the “Ring
of Fire”, the seismically active zone
that encompasses the Pacific rim and
heads north via Philippines and Japan,
around to the western seaboard of the
Americas. Tectonic activity around the
Ring of Fire accounts for around 90% of
the world’s earthquakes, and Indonesia
with about 7,000 km of tectonic
plate boundary has a major share of
them!! There have been over 20,000
earthquakes of magnitude greater
than 5.5 recorded around this “Ring”
in the last 80 years. Such earthquakes
are described as “destructive”, so if
you do your maths quickly, that is one
potentially destructive earthquake
almost every day! Type www.iris.edu/
seismon into your web browser to see
this in action.
Earthquake or seismic design codes
are guides which assist engineers
and builders to develop buildings and
structures in earthquake prone areas,
and have been available in a number
of countries for many years. California,
New Zealand and Japan have been at
12 | UP.DATE ISSUE 02 2015
BUSINESS & ECONOM ICS
the forefront of the development and
updating of these “guides”. Indonesia
has had an earthquake design code for
about 30 years. The first Indonesian
code “Guide for Structural Design in
Earthquake Areas of Indonesia” was
prepared in the early 1980’s based on
a combination of the New Zealand and
California earthquake design codes. It
was soon updated following extensive
work carried out by New Zealand
engineering consultants in late 1980’s
and early 1990’s. National seismic
design codes provide advice on methods
of design and construction to resist the
effects of earthquake shaking, as well
as a map of the country which divides it
into zones of differing seismic intensity.
These maps are generally referred to
as “seismic hazard” maps.
Most earthquakes in Indonesia occur
along the Sunda Arc as a result of
subduction of the Indo-Australian
tectonic plate under the Eurasian plate,
EPICENTRES OF EARTHQUAKES
TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT FOR
ESTABLISHING THE NEW SEISMIC
HAZARD MAPS
COPYRIGHT © 2015 THE BRITISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN INDONESIA
where the majority of the Indonesian
Archipelago is located. Branches of this
subduction extend towards Papua to the
west and the Philippines to the north.
Researchers at the Bandung Institute
of Technology (ITB) have carried out
detailed studies of recorded earthquakes
in this region. The map below shows all
the earthquake epicentres of magnitude
5 and greater which have been used for
this study, including the tsunami creating
9.2 magnitude quake off Aceh in 2004,
the Nias quake in 2005, as well as the
2009 Padang quake. These infamous
earthquakes have all taken place since
the previous code was published. Part
of the work undertaken has been to
associate the recorded earthquakes
with the main tectonic features, such
as the subduction zones and major
faults. This has helped the researchers
predict where strong seismic shaking
may occur in the future, which is a
major factor in preparing the seismic
hazard maps.
 Michael Dobie, CEng Bob Scouller
EARTHQUAKE DAMAGE IN PADANG SUMATRA, SHOWING EXAMPLE OF INCORRECT WEAK COLUMN AND FICE works for Tensar is engaged as a
STRONG BEAM DESIGN CONTRIBUTING TO DAMAGE International Limited, Consultant in the
a company which Mining and Resource
develops and provides Infrastructure
The results of these studies have study concludes that for low rise solutions to civil areas and serves
now been published as part of structures, good building construction engineering problems on the Committee
using reinforced soil of the Institution
the new Seismic Design Code for requirements and details will provide techniques. He is a civil of Civil Engineers,
Indonesia. There is no longer a adequate protection to inhabitants in engineer specialising (UK), Jakarta Local
single seismic hazard map, but a most cases. in the geotechnical Association. Bob
field. He is a Chartered has been involved
series of maps devised to provide a Engineer and the in earthquake
more comprehensive assessment of The study and new recommendations Country Representative rectification in Flores,
of the Institution (Maumare) Padang,
potential risk and severity of seismic prioritise structures in order of of Civil Engineers Bougainville (PNG)
shaking. The recommendations may “survival importance”. Highest priority in Indonesia, and and Aceh after the
has worked in the 2004 tsunami. Bob
be applied to a wide range of buildings. is given to lifeline buildings such as
field of geotechnical came to Indonesia
In the case of very tall structures, it hospitals, fire stations and water engineering for both with Rio Tinto from
is recommended that detailed site supply. Very high priority is given consulting engineers Australia for the
and geotechnical development of KPC
specific studies are carried out based to power stations, as well as areas specialists before Coal and has been
on the precise location of the proposed needed for refuge for personnel joining Tensar active in Indonesia
International in 1991. for over 25 years
building. in cases of a large magnitude Mike has worked in in a variety of
earthquake. Secondary levels of Asia Pacific for a total senior engineering
The code has reinforced some importance are assigned to structures of 25 years, moving to management and
Jakarta in 1993. director level roles.
previous design recommendations – such as schools, cinemas, churches
for example the principle of building and mosques.
columns being stronger than their works, roads, embankments, water
beams which helps to prevent Kalimantan remains the only area resources structures, wharves and
buildings from collapsing, as well with generally low requirements for bridges, etc. It has been suggested
as the details and form of the steel earthquake design, although the areas this will be the next objective of the
reinforcement used in the columns along the east coast have now been Earthquake Study group at ITB.
and beams. The photographs above given a low level seismic ranking.
illustrate what can happen when Returning to the conclusion of the
these principles are not followed, The revised code is for the design February 2012 UP.DATE article, what
based on damage observed following of buildings, and does not address does the new seismic design code
the 2009 Padang earthquake. The earthquake requirements for civil SNI 1726:2012 imply for existing
buildings in Jakarta, which were
designed to the previous code?
ONE OF THE SEISMIC HAZARD MAPS PUBLISHED IN THE NEW SNI 1726:2012 There is no one single answer to
SEISMIC CODE
this question. Design requirements
have changed, and have been
brought into line with the most up-
to-date knowledge and practice,
accumulated over the last 10 years.
Depending on the type of building
and its location, seismic design
requirements may well have become
more onerous, most probably for
taller buildings. If building owners or
users are concerned, then it would be
wise to seek expert advice, in order
to check or re-assess their property
in the light of the new seismic design
code.

FACILITATING TRADE & INVESTMENT BETWEEN INDONESIA AND BRITAIN www.britcham.or.id | 13

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