Why You Need To Have an Earthquake Recording/Monitoring Device

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As we all know, natural disasters such as earthquakes can’t be helped and are inevitable to occur even at the most unexpected times.

Earthquakes happen when there is a sudden movement or shifting of the rocks beneath the surface of the Earth resulting in the rapid shaking of the ground. This shaking causes damage to infrastructures like buildings, bridges, roads, and many more depending on its level of severity. In most cases, it also leads to floods, tsunamis, landslides, fire, and avalanches that could cost not just millions of money and properties to lose but also the many lives of innocent people along with it.

The Philippines is one of the highly prone countries to natural disasters. In fact, it is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire which is a path along the Pacific Ocean where most of the Earth’s volcanoes and earthquakes take place.

In the Philippines, “The Big One” is considered a large earthquake that is expected to hit any time. According to reliable sources, its effect is catastrophic with a scenario expecting to leave thousands of people dead, a hundred thousand injured, fire breakouts & water supply cut, and a significant loss in our economy as its tragic aftermath. With that being said, preparation is vital to protect more lives and avoid more damage.

As an entrepreneur owning buildings and properties, how do you prepare for the ‘Big One’?

Thanks to technological advancement, there are tools and instruments that could help us to prepare better for this.

An Accelerograph is a tool that senses and measures the acceleration of the ground during an earthquake. When an earthquake occurs, an accelerograph serves its purpose by:

-Giving essential data for the structural monitoring of a building or an establishment that can be customized into understandable information for an easier decision-making process.

-It avoids panic and paves the way for a more rational and safer course of action.

However, it doesn’t stop there. Accelerographs are quite an important investment for businesses especially for big and reputable companies for the following reasons:

-It boosts company reputation

Having one installed in your building means that you care enough about the safety not just of your properties but also of your employees or dwellers inside your premises. Also, if you’re an owner of a condominium building, your potential tenants might be looking for facilities that will ensure their safety and security during their stay so having an accelerograph would be an additional factor to consider your building as their ideal choice.

-It prevents false alarms

A quality and trusted accelerograph provide accurate and reliable information that helps to avoid panic and disruptions caused by false alarms. It is also capable of measuring aftershocks so it will be easier for people to decide on whether it is safe to stay or evacuate the building premises after an earthquake.

-It complies with the law

In the year 2015, the DPWH issued the NBCDO Memorandum Circular No. 1, Series of 2015 through its National Building Code Development Office that states the guidelines and implementing rules on Earthquake Recording Instrument (ERI) for buildings as part of the Implementing Rules and Regulation of the National Building Code and appropriate provisions of National Structural Code of the Philippines.

The guidelines require buildings to install a specific number of ERI at various locations and shall cover all existing buildings, whether private or government-owned, located in Seismic Zone 4 in the entire Philippines, except for Palawan and Tawi-Tawi which are located in Zone 2.

This installation will be part of the requirements for the Annual Certificate of Inspections for existing buildings and a prerequisite for the issuance of Certificate of Occupancy for new buildings that are covered by the guidelines.

The monitoring of this compliance is under the scope of powers of the office of the local Building Officials and City/Municipal Engineer who are required by DPWH Secretary Rogelio L. Singson to submit the compliance report of the buildings quarterly under their corresponding areas of jurisdiction.

-It promotes a building’s structural integrity

An accelerograph’s main purpose is to promote a building’s structural integrity. Once an earthquake occurs, it will be able to determine and monitor if a building is capable of withstanding another, especially the Big One. With the data, it measures, records, and stores, the building administration will be informed of its condition during an earthquake for them to create the best solution if another one is expected to hit. The data will also be helpful for significant decision-making factors like renovations and others that are necessary.

If you’re looking for the best deal for an accelerograph, the GECKO SMA-HR is the ideal pick for you!

The GECKO SMA-HR or Strong Motion Accelerograph – High Resolution is a reliable and professional seismic accelerograph made from the most modern structural monitoring system. It is a 2-in-1 stand-alone tool that records and detects the acceleration of the vibrations produced by an earthquake on the ground accurately and in real-time without depending on external peripherals or cable wires. It avoids attenuation and disconnection by having its own backup battery that can last up to 10 hours for continuous functionality in the event of blackouts and is also dependable during floods as it has the capability to be submerged in water so it’s safe to say that it could operate on its own during an earthquake!

The GECKO SMA-HR is a part of a Building Management System that enhances the safety and security of a certain building or structure. It may be stand-alone but it could also be connected to a network for a more integrated system. In fact, its data can be transferred via the Internet and only uses 1 archive from its built-in media recorder for all this data to be stored.

Its manufacturer ESS Earth Sciences Pty Ltd is considered as an advanced technology company that specializes in monitoring systems in the fields of hydrology, geotechnical engineering, seismology, and other environmental monitoring applications so you are guaranteed that this product comes only from experts in the field!

VastResult Inc. is a trusted provider for Gecko SMA-HR in the Philippines. We have supplied and installed Accelerographs to different companies and industries and we are one in promoting a safer and secure environment for everyone to live in.

Let’s discuss how we can help you.