Reducing Seismic Risk of School Buildings in Venezuela

School buildings have frequently collapsed during earthquakes. The 1997 Cariaco earthquake led to the ruin of four reinforced concrete school buildings that were built several years ago. Failures were the result of structural deficiencies: short columns and low lateral strength, stiffness and energy dissipation capacity. Seventy percent of Venezuelan schools are in high-hazard regions; about 1,000 are similar to the collapsed schools. With the purpose of developing a national risk-reduction program, the expected seismic performance of two typical schools was evaluated: one representing schools built 50 years ago (Old-type) and one representing schools built 20–30 years ago (Box-type). These were analyzed utilizing nonlinear pushover techniques and compared with the inventory of schools in Venezuela. Old-type schools were found to need retrofitting in moderate- and above-seismic zones, and Box-type schools in higher zones. Practical retrofitting is achieved with the addition of auxiliary structures to support the seismic loads, leaving the existing structures to support only the gravity loads. This effort has led to a national program. The initial phase, surveying approximately 28,000 existing schools, has begun.