This was a soft story retrofit, as most buildings in San Francisco have been mandated for retrofitting. Making sure buildings are retrofitted for earthquakes in California is a critical part of keeping the public safe. We discovered that the only support walls were the perimeter of the building; we installed a new steel Simpson® I-Beam support system in the garage. This ensured the front of the building would be secure and sturdy. We use engineered components that will allow the I-Beam support system to move with the multi-story building in the case of an earthquake without breaking apart. This includes joint components that can be replaced after an earthquake – saving time and money over a complete I-Beam and foundation replacement. The final touches are installing strong walls, shear walls, and bolting the mud sill to the foundation for even more strength and stability. Retrofitting for seismic activity minimizes damage to buildings and sustains life. Contact VCE for the best earthquake retrofitting in Marin County, CA.
