Seismic countermeasures enabling the maintenance of high-rise plumbing system functions following an earthquake were elucidated from the perspective of business continuity planning (BCP) formulation, using the Kogakuin University high-rise building in Shinjuku as a model. Recovery curves were then used to determine the location of the post-seismic operations center and the effects of seismic countermeasures on existing plumbing systems.
1) Seismic countermeasure priorities can be effectively assessed by bottleneck index (B.I.) comparisons (see Note 1), with consideration given to seismic resistance, reparability and the relative importance of individual plumbing equipment and system components. Using recovery curves, it is possible to show the plumbing system recovery process.
2) Lower-level floor systems can be used most effectively as post-seismic operations centers, as the B.I. values of the low-floor equipment and plumbing that comprise the system functions are lower than those of the mid- and high-level floor systems.
3) The number of expected days, from earthquake to recovery, of lower-level floor functionality can be shortened to 2 days by implementing seismic countermeasures for break tanks, which exhibit the highest B.I values, as shown by recovery curves exhibiting the effects of countermeasure implementation.
