HOW NEW ZEALAND EARTHQUAKES MADE TANKS SAFER

Standing ankle deep in spilled Sauvignon Blanc inspired structural engineer Will Lomax to develop the Onguard system to protect all liquid storage tanks from earthquakes BETWEEN 2011 and 2016, New Zealand was struck by a series of devasting earthquakes. Will Lomax is a structural engineer who witnessed and experienced the three most severe events first-hand, and who was directly involved in the recovery from each event. He has since pioneered new ways of thinking to create more resilient infrastructure for future generations. SERIOUS STRUCTURAL DAMAGE The first event struck Christchurch, the South Island’s biggest city, in February 2011. Despite being ‘only’ magnitude 6.3, the depth and nature of the earthquake resulted in the tragic loss of 185 lives and – ultimately – 85% of the central city’s building stock. The vast majority of these buildings survived the earthquake but subsequently required demolition, having suffered irreparable damage. This highlighted one significant deficiency in building codes around the world – that the codes are focused on preservation of life at the expense of the infrastructure that houses it. The ongoing rebuild of Christchurch...