BANGKOK, June 30 — The Engineering Institute of Thailand (EIT) under His Majesty the King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s patronage plans to build school buildings able to withstand strong earthquakes in the northern region of the country.
Four schools will be the pilot buildings that would remain safe during and after the tremors.
The EIT has been asked by Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn to create the first innovation in Thailand to help strengthen school buildings to withstand strong quakes.
The pilot schools would be built with a special structure and steel reinforced concrete shear walls which would help to prevent the walls from collapsing during quakes, saving lives and properties.
EIT Chairman Suchatchavee Suwansawat, said that currently the institute would construct the new buildings in four schools as pilot projects, including Pan Pittayakom, Mae Lao Wittayakom, Proang Prae Wittaya, and Tharn Thong Wittaya.
The institute will start designing the buildings within July with completion planned for April 30, 2015.
The new school buildings would be royally funded by Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.
Besides, the institute would also provide free structural plans for local residents who own buildings situated near fault lines, so that they could create stronger buildings to help avert building collapses during strong tremors as well.
