Earthquake Royal Commission - interim report released

The Earthquake Royal Commission has released its interim report (here). It is based upon expert and technical evidence provided to the Commission to date. The Commission has not yet heard private submissions, nor had sufficient time to consider reports on catastrophic building failures, and is still waiting for a report on the CTV building .

The report is a requirement of their Terms of Reference:

Our Terms of Reference specify that this Interim Report should contain recommendations that inform early decision-making on rebuilding and repair work that forms part of the recovery from the Canterbury earthquakes. They also envisage interim recommendations that relate to any measures necessary or desirable to prevent or minimise building failures due to earthquakes in New Zealand.

The Report is made up of the following parts:

• Foreword
• Introduction
• Purpose of the Interim Report
• Section 1: Summary of Recommendations
• Section 2: Inquiry Process and Progress
• Section 3: Inquiry Issues and Recommendations
• Appendices 1-4
• Royal Commission’s Terms of Reference
• List of Advisors to the Royal Commission
• Concepts Used in Seismic Design
• Glossary

The Recommendations fall under the following headings:

• Seismicity
• Geotechnical Considerations
• General Performance of Buildings – Unreinforced Masonry Buildings
• Design Practice
• New Building Technologies

Section 2: Inquiry Process and Progress contains a list of "Matter and Reports Received and Pending".

The report can be downloaded from here.
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