Strengthening Wood Frame Houses for Earthquake Safety
This online book is for the homeowner living in a region vulnerable to earthquakes. It explains common weaknesses found in wood frame houses and describes how to make such houses stronger. It also describes earthquake hazards common to wood frame structures, typical ways to minimize those hazards, and the approximate costs of making older wood frame houses safer in earthquakes. The book was orginally created by the Bay Area Regional Earthquake Preparedness Project, a program that is now part of California Office of Emergency Services.
(This document is maintained by the engineering firm, John A. Martin and Associates.)