Buildings that are Designed to withstand Natural Disasters in the September Issue of Construction Digital

Online, September 8, 2010 (Newswire.com) - (SAN DIEGO, CA) -Construction Digital, the top digital media source for global construction news and information explores building designs ideally suited to natural disaster prone areas. As the world saw last year with the earthquakes a month apart in Haiti and Chile, the structural integrity of a building can mean the difference between life and death in a catastrophic event.

Though new construction in countries such as the United States and Chile are able to withstand seismic activity, even old buildings can handle the rumbling if they are in good condition. "If you look at the great diversity of buildings [built] between World War II and early 1980s, the key factor is its condition," says James Gillett of Earthquake Construction Service. "If the building has been well maintained and well ventilated, there's a chance that it may be close to its original strength."

As natural disasters increase in frequency, more construction companies and architects are designing buildings designed to keep those inside safe during a catastrophic event. Read more here: http://www.constructiondigital.com/industry-focus/design-and-engineering/designing-survive-natural-disaster