Protect Your Property from Earthquakes & Maintain Compliance
Earthquake Mitigation Film for Seattle
Maintain a safe environment by minimizing earthquake risk. The right seismic mitigation strategy can mean the difference between total disaster and an emergency handled smoothly. Staying up to date with seismic code not only reduces the risk of personal injury and property damage, but also help you maintain compliance with building code requirements. This is critical for being able to obtain a building permit and is your duty as a property owner. Our earthquake mitigation films provide Seattle building owners an economical solution for updating aged and historic glass in order to reduce risk associated with seismic activity and maintain regulatory compliance.
Get Up to Date with Local Laws & Building Code Requirements
Did you know that about 15% of Seattle’s total area is soil that is highly susceptible to ground failure during earthquakes? Earthquakes are a real and serious danger in the state of Washington. Numerous fault lines and seismic zones are located in this area of the Pacific Northwest. In fact, more than 1,000 earthquakes occur in Washington each year.
When an earthquake occurs, shaking, surface faulting, and ground failure can ensue, putting people and property at risk. This is why Seattle has strict seismic codes and safety standards. As a property owner, it’s your responsibility to ensure that your building is compliant with local laws and regulations.
Earthquake mitigation film offers Seattle building owners a solution for getting up to date with seismic codes and property requirements. It is a particularly useful method for situations in which:
- Original construction of the building took place in the 1980s or earlier
- The building was not built with a seismic mitigation strategy in mind or no longer meets seismic code requirements
- Replacing the windows or glass panes would be difficult because of the cost or is not a suitable option because the property is considered to be a historic building
- There are windows, skylights, or glass areas which are located higher than 9 ft off the ground
- The windows are made from annealed glass
Using Window Film to Minimize Seismic Risk
Earthquakes don’t kill people; buildings do. The force from an earthquake may cause a building to shake and shift from side to side. As a result, walls may collapse or structures like windows or skylights may become loose and fall out of place. These heavy panes of glass pose serious risk to those inside the building and may even break apart, producing lethal jagged shards. This is why it’s important to secure all glass areas in the building. This is listed as part of FEMA’s Seismic Design Criteria: “Critical nonstructural components must be provided with seismic restraint.”
The problem is, replacing windows with systems that meet this design criteria is often expensive. However, if you want to obtain a building permit, you’re going to have implement some sort of seismic mitigation strategy. A great solution is to install earthquake mitigation film for your Seattle property. Safety window film can be used to engineer a solution that complies with local seismic codes.
Customized for your Location
Get the right solution based on the unique architectural composition and specifications of your building. At Seattle Window Film, we know that no two buildings are the same. That’s why when it comes to earthquake mitigation, we approach every property differently. All of our solutions are customized based on the unique needs of the building and the laws and regulations that apply to the local area. We’ll consider all of the following factors as we engineer a solution for your property:
- The type of glass that needs to be restrained and protected from seismic activity
- Where the glass is located and how high it is off the ground
- The amount of shift that can occur within the existing glazing pocket
- The type of window film which must be used for compliance reasons
- Whether there is a need for a structural silicone as an attachment system
Get Peace of Mind with the Right Earthquake Mitigation Strategy
There’s no telling when a major earthquake will strike next. That’s why it’s best to stay prepared. Call our office today to discuss using window films as part of an engineered solution for seismic mitigation in Seattle or any other city on the west coast.