A new design code aimed at making buildings more quake resilient is not compulsory for all buildings, reported The Star citing the Department of Standards Malaysia (JSM).
Set to be ready by October, the proposed code will cover all buildings including commercial places, condominiums and landed properties.
Its technical details are currently being ironed out by a working group comprising the Malaysian Meteorological Department, Public Works Department (JKR), Minerals and Geoscience Department, Sabah Housing and Real Estate Developers Association, Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM) and other experts.
“After the code is published, it isn’t compulsory for all buildings to follow the code as it is up to the local authorities to decide on imposing the standards,” said the JSM, which is under the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry.
IEM president Tan Yean Chin noted that while the code may be used in all states across Malaysia, each state can determine when they would implement it.
“Once the code is adopted by the local authorities, then all new buildings to be constructed will have to comply with it,” he said.
Owners of existing buildings can seek the advice of professional engineers who can assess whether their property needs upgrading to comply with the new code, added Tan.
However, he called on existing building owners not to be overly concerned of their properties.
“Adopting the code is like adding new features to a car to further improve its safety…It doesn’t mean that existing cars are unsafe without such features,” he explained.
Although Malaysia generally has low seismic activity, the country is still subject to tremors from earthquakes in nearby countries.
In fact, the tremors of a 5.6-magnitude earthquake that hit near Medan, Indonesia was felt by Penang residents on 16 January.
In June 2015, a 6.0-magnitude earthquake was recorded in Ranau, Sabah, which resulted to 18 deaths.
Diane Foo Eu Lynn, Senior Content Specialist at PropertyGuru, edited this story. To contact her about this or other stories email diane@propertyguru.com.my
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