CCC - Floor and Foundation Design Standards

Some houses experienced damage to the land around or under them through liquifaction, and the subsequent settling process.

Where land damage has affected the foundations of a house, specific requirements must be met as part of the repair or rebuild process. The Council have taken information from the Department of Building and Housing guide book (copy here) and turned it into a FAQ format. The council FAQ page is here.

Here is one question from the council's FAQ:
How do I know whether I need a special engineered design for my house’s floor and/or foundation?
If your building was damaged in an earthquake it is likely you will need to have a special design for the foundation and/or floor of the type outlined in the Department of Building and Housing’s document titled: ‘Guidance on house repairs and reconstruction following the Canterbury earthquake’.
You can also check whether your house is in an area that could experience liquefaction in future earthquakes by looking at the Earthquake Commission (EQC) ‘Tonkin and Taylor Stage Two Report’ on the EQC website. Just visit www.eqc.govt.nz, and then scroll down to the bottom of the home page screen. On the right hand side are the words ‘See Stage 2 Land Report’ highlighted in bold and underlined. Double click on this. You will then be taken directly to the full report. Check Appendices A, B or C to see what zone your property is in. If you do not have access to the website online you can request a copy of the report by phoning EQC on 04) 978 6400.
and another question:
Where can I find these generic building foundation and floor design standards?
They are outlined in a document produced by the Department of Building and Housing titled: ‘Guidance on house repairs and reconstruction following the Canterbury earthquake’. This document can be viewed on their website.
For those contemplating a house with a floor design other than one of the generic ones produced by the Department of Building and Housing, a full engineering report will be required (your cost), amongst other things.
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