Space bridge 'Atiseismic construction: experience and new technologies'

The RIA Novosti international press center hosted on Wednesday a Yerevan-Moscow-Astana-Kishnev space bridge on “Antiseismic construction: experience and new technologies.”

Zaven Khlgatyan, Head of the Antiseismic Construction Center of Armenia, recalled the devastating earthquake in Spitak in 1988. That tragedy caused relevant authorities to revise all the criteria in effect in the USSR.

“Armenia approved antiseismic construction codes. The first codes that were radically different from Soviet codes were approved in 1994. In 2006, they were revised and have been in effect since,” Khlgatyan said.

He stressed that the criteria in effect in Armenia now limit the number of storeys. Cast-in-place construction is largely practiced in Armenia now, Khlgatyan said.

Before the Spitak earthquake, estimated earthquake intensity was 7 to 8 on Richter scale in Armenia’s territory. Now, however, estimates are based on horizontal ground acceleration, the expert said.

High-quality earthquake-proof buildings are constructed in Armenia now, he said.