Soft Story Building Definition

A soft-story building is any multi-story building in which one or more floors have windows, wide doors, large unobstructed commercial spaces, or other openings in places where a shear wall would usually be required for stability as a matter of earthquake engineering. A typical soft-story building is an apartment building of three or more stories located over a ground level with large openings like tuck-in parking garages.

Soft story buildings are at risk of collapse in the event of an earthquake. If you’ve got a soft-story building, you must understand what this means for your property and how to protect yourself from damage. 

Soft story seismic retrofits are one type of retrofit that helps make buildings safer during earthquakes. These facilities often have multiple unsupported openings on the ground floor, which can cause damage or even collapse in an earthquake. 

The seismic retrofit strengthens these weak areas by adding steel braces and concrete walls to support the first floor. This makes it much more difficult for your building to crumble or collapse when there’s an earthquake, protecting both people inside as well as surrounding properties from any damage caused by your unsafe building!

Soft-story retrofitting is the process of strengthening certain types of multi-unit buildings to make them more resistant to earthquakes. Soft-story buildings are one of the most common types of commercial structures in Los Angeles and they pose a significant earthquake risk. Attention: Retrofitting is a process that can be overwhelming and difficult to navigate. We want to help you understand the entire retrofit process so that you can make informed decisions about your building’s future.

Whether you are an owner, engineer, architect, contractor or inspector we have helpful information which guide you through this process from the beginning stage of receiving a mandate letter to implementing a solution. Our goal is for everyone involved in this process to feel confident and comfortable with their decision making.

Read More: Have you ever thought about what it would be like to live through a massive earthquake?

How does Soft Story Seismic Retrofit protect your Foundation?

Secure the Foundation

The Foundation of your building is one of the essential parts of construction. Without a proper foundation, your structure will not last long or stand firm against natural disasters like earthquakes and hurricanes. Before beginning any project, you must understand all aspects of steel framing because it could mean the difference between success and failure in your business venture. 

Retrofitting is an excellent way to fortify the FoundationFoundation of your home. There is a great option if you want to add more space without having to tear down walls or dig up the yard. 

Drag Line Installation

The dragline installation process is a crucial part of the retrofitting process. This step must be done correctly, or else it could lead to structural failure. 

Draglines are used in earthquake-prone areas and can provide additional support and stability for the structure. They must be adequately secured, so we’re here to help! 

Wrapping Up

Retrofitting is the proc ess of upgrading any building to make it more efficient. It can be done on any structure, from homes and offices to schools and hospitals.

You may be at risk for a soft-story collapse. Retrofitting isn’t as complicated as people think it is! Let us walk you through each step along the way so that if there ever comes an earthquake warning siren near your home or business – whether it’s today or years down the line – we will be here ready and waiting for you when you need us most. We hope our website provides all the answers and resources needed during this time of transition for your property!

 If your home has these features, it’s essential to know that the structure of your home could pose severe risks during an earthquake. 

A soft story building is any multi-story building in which one or more floors have windows, wide doors, large unobstructed commercial spaces, or other openings in places where a shear wall would normally be required for stability as a matter of earthquake engineering. A typical soft story building is an apartment building of three or more stories located over a ground level that has large openings like tuck-in parking garages.