Lawmaker Says Utah's Brick Buildings Pose Significant Earthquake Risk

Feb 19, 2008 by Elizabeth Ziegler

(KCPW News) Most of Utah's brick buildings were constructed before scientists knew about the state's earthquake risk. No one knows how many of these unreinforced brick buildings are still in use in the state. Representative Larry Wiley, a Salt Lake County Democrat, is running a resolution to create a registry of these buildings and a plan for dealing with the problem.

"This resolution will charge Utah Seismic Safety Commission to quantify the risk and to allow our citizens to make informed decisions about the seismic risks in our state," Wiley says. "Better data will allow the Utah Seismic Safety Commission to prepare appropriate recommendations and improve our readiness. "

H.J.R 7 asks the Utah Seismic Safety Commission to inventory the state's brick buildings with the help of local building inspectors. They will determine how many buildings have not been reinforced to withstand an earthquake, and assess how great a risk they pose to Utah's residents and economy. It also urges the Commission to create a list of priorities for dealing with the problem. Barry Welliver, the president of the Structural Engineers Association of Utah and past president of the Seismic Safety Commission, says these buildings pose a significant risk.

"In comparison with California, we're perceiving we have a significant problem in the state in terms of the numbers of buildings," Welliver says. "And putting the Utah Seismic Safety Commission on track with inventorying this is the first step in a needed solution to our liability with regards to these kinds of buildings."

The resolution gained unanimous support in the Senate Business and Labor Committee this morning [Tuesday] and now moves to the full Senate for further consideration. H.J.R. 7 also passed the full House with unanimous support. Click here to read the full text of the resolution.

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