Technical Reports - Peer Review - Canterbury Earthquake Sequence and Implications for Seismic Design Levels

The Commission received the following advice from Professor Ralph Archuleta of the University of California, Santa Barbara. The paper reviews the technical report by GNS Science.

Technical Reports - Base Isolation and Damage-Resistant Technologies for Improved Seismic Performance of Buildings

The Commission sought the advice of Professor Andrew Buchanan, Holcim Adjunct Professor Des Bull, Associate Professor Rajesh Dhakal, Associate Professor Greg MacRae, Dr Alessandro Palermo and Associate Professor Stefano Pampanin from the University of Canterbury on new technologies to improve seismic performance of buildings.

Technical Report - Stairs and Access Ramps Between Floors in Multi-storey Buildings

This report, which was written by Des Bull of Holmes Consulting Group, indicates that in light of the damage sustained to stairs and access ramps in the Christchurch earthquakes a review was needed into the way these items are designed.  It is clear that inadequate allowance has been made in the past for the relative movement that occurs between floors in a major earthquake. 

Technical Report - Structural Design For Earthquake Resistance Past, Present and Future

The Commission received a report written by Associate Professor Rajesh Dhakal of the University of Canterbury. The report, which was offered to the Commission, provided an indepth discussion of the way in which the current approach to seismic design has developed, and how this may change in the future.

Technical Report - Preliminary Observations from Christchurch Earthquakes

Technical Report - Peer Review - The Performance of Unreinforced Masonry Buildings in the 2010-2011 Canterbury Earthquake Swarm

Royal Commission reconfirms CTV hearing complete

The Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission’s terms of reference requires it to inquire into the performance of buildings in the Canterbury earthquakes including why the CTV building failed.

Media release - Technical reports being prepared

The Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission has commissioned a raft of reports from New Zealand and international technical experts to help its inquiry into building failure caused by the Canterbury earthquakes.

Media release - Technical reports being prepared

The Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission has commissioned a raft of reports from New Zealand and international technical experts to help its inquiry into building failure caused by the Canterbury earthquakes.

Technical Reports - Department of Building and Housing

The require the Commission to receive and take into account the results of a technical investigation conducted by the Department of Building and Housing (DBH) into the failure of the CTV, PGC, Forsyth Barr and Hotel Grand Chancellor buildings.

Technical Reports - Heritage Earthquake Prone Building Strengthening Cost Study

This report was prepared by Christchurch City Council in 2009. It contains information about the cost of strengthening earthquake-prone buildings and was prepared by John Hare of Holmes Consulting Group.

Supplying Documents to the Commission

About the Royal Commission

Technical Reports - Foundations on Deep Alluvial Soils

This report prepared by Associate Professor Misko Cubrinovski of the University of Canterbury and Ian McCahon of Geotech Consulting Ltd discusses the nature of the soils in the Christchurch CBD, and their susceptibility to liquefaction. 

Technical Report - The Performance of Unreinforced Masonry Buildings in the 2010-2011 Canterbury Earthquake Swarm

The Commission sought the advice of Associate Professor Jason Ingham from Auckland University and Professor Michael Griffith from Adelaide University on the Performance of Unreinforced Masonry Buildings in the 2010-2011 Canterbury Earthquake Swarm. Unreinforced masonry is defined as a construction of clay brick, concrete blocks or natural stone units bound together using lime or cement mortar, without any reinforcing elements such as steel reinforcing bars.

Technical Reports - Canterbury Earthquake Sequence and implications for Seismic Design Levels

This research material and advice from GNS Science provides a detailed account of the characteristics and severity of the recent Canterbury earthquakes and the implications of these events for Christchurch and other centres in New Zealand. 

Media Advisory - Quake Commission Releases First Technical Report

The Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission in Christchurch has released its first technical report.

Media Advisory - Four DBH Technical Investigation Reports Received by Quakes Royal Commission

Today the Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission has received from the Department of Building and Housing three consultants’ reports containing the results of the into the PGC, Forsyth Barr and Hotel Grand Chancellor buildings.

Media Release - Quakes Royal Commission Hearings Start 17 October

The Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission will begin hearings on 17 October 2011 at St Teresa Church Hall on the corner of Riccarton Road and Puriri Street in Christchurch.

document-library

The Commission has engaged leading New Zealand and international technical experts to produce technical reports as part of its inquiry into building failure caused by the Canterbury earthquakes. The Commission is also sourcing and reviewing technical reports produced by other organisations.

Media Statement - Canterbury Artist to Exhibit at Earthquakes Royal Commission

5 October 2011

Media Statement - New Technologies Hearing Scheduled by Quakes Royal Commission

In the week commencing 7 February 2012 the Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission will conduct a public hearing about new building technologies which improve the seismic performance of buildings.

Media Advisory - Interim Report to be handed over to Government

5 October 2011

Media Release - More Public Hearings Scheduled by Cantebury Earthquakes Royal Commission

10 October 2011

Hearing Other Buildings Whose Failure Resulted in Loss of Life

The Commission's investigation into other building failures that caused loss of life is ongoing. We intend to conduct hearings into some of those failures in the weeks commencing 12 December 2011, and 23 and 30 January 2012. The buildings to be considered in each of those weeks, and any procedural requirements that may apply, will be advised when the Commission's investigation into these building failures is sufficiently advanced.

Hearing CTV Building March 2012

There is still uncertainty about the timing of the hearing concerning the CTV building, because the Department of Building and Housing's technical investigation has not yet been completed. On the assumption that the report is available in 2011, the Commission has made a provisional decision to conduct that hearing in March 2012. When the hearing date is confirmed, we will also advise when submissions must be received.

Hearing Forsyth Barr and Hotel Grand Chancellor

The Commission will conduct a public hearing in the week of 5 December 2011 in which we will consider all issues relevant to the failure of the Forsyth Barr and Hotel grand Chancellor buildings in the earthquake of 22 February 2011. The Commission will deal first with the Forsyth Barr building and second with the Hotel Grand Chancellor.

Hearing Seismicity Beginning 17 October 2011

The Commission will conduct a public hearing in the week beginning 17 October 2011 in which it will consider evidence and submissions on:

Hearing PGC Building Beginning 28 November 2011

Technical Report - Peer Review - The Performance of Unreinforced Masonry Buildings in the 2010-2011 Canterbury Earthquake Swarm - Lizundia