CAN UST surive the Big One?
According to engineer Lawrence Pangan of the Facilities Management Office (FMO), the University’s buildings could withstand even a magnitude-8 earthquake.
“There will be cracks on some walls, but that is only superficial. Structurally, buildings in UST will remain intact,” he said, adding that collapsing structures will definitely not happen in the University.
Before structures are built in UST, soil testing is done to identify the dimensions of the foundation to be made and limit the height and capacity of a building to ensure safety.
“In Manila, the soil is not as stable like in Quezon City or other cities, that’s why bored piles are used for the stability of UST buildings,” Pangan said.
A bored pile is a kind of deep foundation drilled into the ground to strengthen the structure of buildings and resist seismic movements.
Moreover, the foundations of buildings are also connected using a tie-beam system that minimizes damage during an earthquake.
“When the earth moves, the buildings will move with it and will move as one with the other buildings,” Pangan said. “If they move independently, there will be more damage.”
The hospital extension, which is currently being constructed, also uses the deep foundation and tie-beam system design, the engineer added.
College of Architecture Dean John Joseph Fernandez said a computer program was used in computing the sizes of the columns built for the Alumni Center and the hospital extension to create adequate reinforcement for seismic protection.
“Everything structurally is now done by computers so the human error factor is decreased,” he said.
Retrofitting
While new buildings were designed to endure tremors, older structures like the Main Building, Arch of the Centuries, Central Seminary, Grandstand and the Miguel de Benavides monument should be checked for earthquake resistance.
“Most buildings can withstand a magnitude 7 earthquake [since] it is required by the present building code,” Fernandez said, though adding that it is about time to survey structures and buildings in UST which may need retrofitting.
Retrofitting is the modification of an existing building to strengthen it from earthquakes by installing new technology like cross braces and base isolators.
“Retrofitting is expensive, but they should start checking if the buildings can withstand a 7.5 or more while we are waiting for the big ones in Manila,” Fernandez said. “It will also preserve the structure’s original appearance.”
Aside from retrofitting, Pangan said buildings in the University also undergo annual inspection by the FMO and building officials to ascertain the safety of these structures.
Student preparation
Meanwhile, the Crisis Management Office will hold drills per building sometime this semester to prepare Thomasians for eventual earthquakes.
However, while Evelyn Songco, assistant to the Rector for Student Affairs, fears that many students do not take these drills seriously, these must still push through since it is important for safety measures.
Security Head Joseph Badinas, meanwhile, said security staff is ready when an earthquake hits Manila, emphasizing that the success of the training depends on student participation.
“They should take it seriously because it’s their lives that are at stake,” he said.
“With the Bohol earthquake, hopefully the students take the drills very seriously,” Songco added. Michael Carlo C. Rodolfo
