Building Tagging
April 16, 2016 Ecuador Earthquake
EERI Learning from Earthquakes Briefing Webinar
Arturo E. Schultz, Professor
University of Minnesota
EERI LFE Briefing for the April 16, 2016 Ecuador Earthquake
Tagging – Salient Observations
The EERI and EEFIT (ISE-UK) Teams Observed:
• The ‘traffic light’ tagging system used in the affected areas varied in
interpretation in the different cities and towns.
• ‘Red’ in one area was understood to signify demolition; whereas in
others it meant ‘do not enter’ because it was deemed a life hazard.
• Assessors and those responsible for demolition did not appear to
have reached a consensus on the meaning of ‘red tags’.
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• With such rapid moving demolition post-event,
was widely reported
that some buildings that could have been repaired and retrofitted
were demolished unnecessarily.
• Assessments were based on ATC-20 which was being used for the
first time in Ecuador.
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EERI LFE Briefing for the April 16, 2016 Ecuador Earthquake
Tagging - Demolition
The beachside town of Canoa was severely affected:
• Approx. 187 km SSW from epicenter along coast
• 50% of the buildings are said to have been severely damaged.
• ‘Clean-up’ had been nearly concluded when the EERI team arrives.
• A panoramic view of the middle of Canoa, shows that most buildings
had been demolished in this sector.
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EERI LFE Briefing for the April 16, 2016 Ecuador Earthquake
Tagging – Other Observations
The EERI Team Observed:
• Most of the tagging observed saw was appropriate, if not somewhat
conservative, except for ‘Red Tags’.
o A "red-tagged" structure is severely damaged to the degree that
it is unsafe to inhabit, or enter to retrieve belongings.
o A "yellow-tagged" structure has been moderately damaged to
the degree that its habitability is limited or restricted.
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o A "green-tagged" structure is either undamaged or has slight
damage and its use is unrestricted (occupancy is lawful).
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EERI LFE Briefing for the April 16, 2016 Ecuador Earthquake
Tagging – Green
El Faro apartment building:
• Located on the waterfront of Bahía de
Caráquez (209 km SSW from
epicenter).
• 9-story reinforced concrete frame with
unreinforced concrete block infill.
• Light cracking of the masonry infills.
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• Subsequently tagged as ‘habitable’
which is comparable to ‘Green’.
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EERI LFE Briefing for the April 16, 2016 Ecuador Earthquake
Tagging - Green
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EERI LFE Briefing for the April 16, 2016 Ecuador Earthquake
Tagging - Green
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EERI LFE Briefing for the April 16, 2016 Ecuador Earthquake
Tagging - Yellow
Apartment building:
• Located in the Tarqui district (Manta,
292 km SSW of epicenter).
• 4-story reinforced concrete frame
with unreinforced concrete block
infill.
• Under construction at time of
earthquake.
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• Minor cracking damage to the infill
and cladding but tagged ‘Yellow’.
• Adjacent building collapse and
unfinished condition likely to have
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affected the decision
EERI LFE Briefing for the April 16, 2016 Ecuador Earthquake
Tagging – Yellow
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EERI LFE Briefing for the April 16, 2016 Ecuador Earthquake
Tagging - Red
Hotel El Camaleón in Canoa:
• 4-story reinforced concrete frame building with unreinforced clay
brick and concrete block masonry infill.
• Flat slab floor with poor connection between columns and slabs.
Acted as simple connections allowing excessive drift.
• Large atrium created in a small floor plan by perforating all floor
slabs with a large opening.
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• Extensive damage to the masonry infill.
• Building was leaning (>1 degree).
• Building properly tagged ‘red’ and was schedule for demolition.
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EERI LFE Briefing for the April 16, 2016 Ecuador Earthquake
Tagging - Red
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EERI LFE Briefing for the April 16, 2016 Ecuador Earthquake
Tagging - Red
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EERI LFE Briefing for the April 16, 2016 Ecuador Earthquake
Tagging - Red
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EERI LFE Briefing for the April 16, 2016 Ecuador Earthquake
Tagging - Red
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EERI LFE Briefing for the April 16, 2016 Ecuador Earthquake
Tagging – Pichincha Bank
The Portoviejo branch of Banco Pichincha is located downtown on
Olmedo Ave. and Simón Bolivar St.
4-story reinforced concrete building with unreinforced concrete block infill.
It appears to be 30 ~ 40 years old, has a large atrium with staircases on
cantilever overhangs, and has a cantilever balcony along Olmedo Ave.
Heavy damage to non-structural components, and cracking along
cantilever supports for the stairs and the street-side balcony.
‘Red Tag’ is likely due to concern with potential collapse
of these
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cantilever structures, but bamboo braces unlikely to be effective.
The concern is commensurate with the hazard, but the structural damage
is repairable.
The bank branch has been moved to another building. Is this damage
alone
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EERI LFE Briefing for the April 16, 2016 Ecuador Earthquake
Tagging – Pichincha Bank
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(Google Maps, accessed 13 July 2016)
EERI LFE Briefing for the April 16, 2016 Ecuador Earthquake
Tagging – Pichincha Bank
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EERI LFE Briefing for the April 16, 2016 Ecuador Earthquake
Tagging – Pichincha Bank
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EERI LFE Briefing for the April 16, 2016 Ecuador Earthquake
Tagging – Pichincha Bank
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EERI LFE Briefing for the April 16, 2016 Ecuador Earthquake
Tagging – Pichincha Bank
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EERI LFE Briefing for the April 16, 2016 Ecuador Earthquake
Tagging – Pichincha Bank
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EERI LFE Briefing for the April 16, 2016 Ecuador Earthquake
Tagging – Pichincha Bank
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EERI LFE Briefing for the April 16, 2016 Ecuador Earthquake
Tagging – Pichincha Bank
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EERI LFE Briefing for the April 16, 2016 Ecuador Earthquake
Tagging – Comercial Bigote Building
Comercial Bigote Building is on 109th Ave. and 103rd St. in the
Tarqui district of Manta.
5-story reinforced concrete frame building with unreinforced
concrete block infill.
Appears to be approx. 60 ~ 70 years old, and has street-side
colonnade and balconies on the corner.
Damage to infills, but not to frame members (esp. 1st story col’s).
Damage to the first floor balcony with some debris.
Main entry is compromised and falling debris hazard is real: This
damage probably earned it a ‘Red Tag’.
Concern is commensurate with hazard, but building is repairable.
However, is this damage alone valid reason for demolition?
EERI LFE Briefing for the April 16, 2016 Ecuador Earthquake
Tagging – Comercial Bigote Building
(Google Maps, accessed 13 July 2016)
EERI LFE Briefing for the April 16, 2016 Ecuador Earthquake
Tagging – Comercial Bigote Building
EERI LFE Briefing for the April 16, 2016 Ecuador Earthquake
Tagging – Comercial Bigote Building
EERI LFE Briefing for the April 16, 2016 Ecuador Earthquake
Tagging – Comercial Bigote Building
EERI LFE Briefing for the April 16, 2016 Ecuador Earthquake
Tagging – Comercial Bigote Building
EERI LFE Briefing for the April 16, 2016 Ecuador Earthquake
Tagging - Conclusions
1) Tagging followed commonly accepted standards
expect for the definition of the ‘Red Tag’.
2) In some locations, a ‘Red Tag’ was taken to signify
that demolitions was needed.
3) In the zeal to cleanup, repairable buildings appear
to have been demolished when they could have
been repaired.
EERI LFE Briefing for the April 16, 2016 Ecuador Earthquake