GNS Science has released the revised National Seismic Hazard Model (NSHM). The Structural Engineering Society of New Zealand (SESOC), the New Zealand Society for Earthquake Engineering (NZSEE) and the New Zealand Geotechnical Society (NZGS) have collaborated to publish an advisory document giving interim guidance to design professionals and their clients until such time as any future updates are made to the New Zealand Building Code (view the media release here).
SESOC, NZSEE and NZGS understand that the NSHM is science that is used to inform design requirements within the Building Code. It will take time for the new science to be evaluated and for the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) to consider how to incorporate the model into the Building Code. In the meantime, we want to provide our members advice on how to proceed in the time between the model being released and any future Building Code update. The National Seismic Hazard Model informs design Standards and design actions, however it is not a design document and should not be treated as such.
The Interim Advice on 2022 National Seismic Hazard Model Release we have published will assist building designers in their discussions around hazard information with their clients and help them to engage in conversations regarding structural options which may buffer against hazard uncertainty.
Earlier this year, the technical societies published the Earthquake Design for Uncertainty guidance providing good design principles that should be referred to alongside the new advice.
