A Comprehensive Field Study to Examine the Complications in Soft Storey Problem in Nepal

Abstract

The common practice of construction in RC framed buildings with infill masonry in urban/semi-urban areas in Nepal is to open the ground floor for commercial shutter/ parking and close the upper floor with infill masonry for residential purpose resulting vulnerable soft storey buildings. In recent 2015 Gorkha Earthquake （Mw= 7.9）, the major loss in RC frame buildings was due to this problem. There are researches recommending solution to the problem of soft storey, nevertheless there is lack of practical implementation in ground level. The authors have conducted field study comprising of questionnaire survey and interactions with different stakeholders and identified that; this problem is not a technical limitation alone but is complemented by the social condition of Nepal. Different factors to be considered while proposing retrofitting solutions for soft storey problem in Nepal are recommended through this study.