Sprayable earthquake-resistant concrete could 'save lives,' researchers say

Researchers at the University of British Columbia have developed a spray-on concrete substance they say will make buildings earthquake-resistant and can be used to retrofit schools for half the price.

"This material can be sprayed on vulnerable structures to significantly enhance their resistance to earthquakes and save lives," said Nemy Banthia, a UBC civil engineering professor.

In the coming weeks, the material will be used to strengthenDr. Annie B.JamiesonElementary School in Vancouver, which is already undergoing upgrades.

Researchers hope the material will be used to strengthen other schools and buildings around the province.

"If you look at our B.C. schools, you will see miles and miles of unreinforced masonrycorridorwalls, and, during an earthquake, these are the corridor walls that would collapse and our children would suffer casualties, unfortunately," said Banthia.

Watch how thewall crumbleswithoutEDCC:

Wall tested without earthquake-resistant concrete

7 years ago

Duration 0:05

UBC researchers test a wall that was not sprayed with the earthquake-resistant concrete to show how the wall crumbles

By spraying thematerial calledEDCC, an eco-friendlyductile cementitious composite, researchers say walls willbecome ductile or pliable.

Researchers say spraying a 10-millimetre layer of EDCC on a masonrywall kept it from crumbling in a simulation that mimicked the 9.0 magnitiudeearthquake that hit Tohoku, Japan in 2011.

"It can take shaking of about 200 per cent level of the actual intensity of the 2011 Tohokuearthquake ... The same wall without the retrofit will normally collapseat about 60 -65 per cent of the intensity," saidSalmanSoleimani-Dashtaki, a PhD candidate.

Watch how thewall reactsafter it's sprayed with EDCC:

'Far too early' for all schools

UBC President Santa Ono said the groundbreaking innovation is also cost-effective.

"This costs half of the cost of standard retrofit," said Ono.

In August, the province reported that155 schools in earthquake-prone areasare considered "high risk"and have no scheduled upgrades planned.

But the Ministry of Education said given EDCC is a relatively new product, it is far too early to say how many schools in B.C. will be retrofitted using it.

"Each seismic project will utilize the most appropriate materials for the specific circumstances of the project," said the ministry in an emailed statement.

B.C. Advanced Education Minister Melanie Mark said the new technology could be used, not only on schools, but on other buildings too.

"Iimagine more work will continue. We want to make sure when we leave our kids that they will be there when we pick them up in the afternoon, so our government is committed to safety," said Mark.