Continuing Development of Seismic Actions Design Standard and Implications to Engineering and Architectural Practices in Malaysia

This paper presents the work of the Technical Committee on Earthquake led by The Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM) and sanctioned by the Department of Standards Malaysia (DSM). From the Aceh earthquake event in 2004 to the most recent impact earthquake in Ranau, Sabah, it has been shown that earthquakes are a concern to stakeholders in the local construction industry. And the work of the Technical Committee has been finalized by the completion of the Draft National Annex on Eurocode 8 Design of structures for earthquake resistance, in order to address the needs of the nation. The need for earthquake standards in Malaysia was explained in detail, and the approach adopted was highlighted with emphasis on tackling both distance and local earthquakes, in Peninsular Malaysia as well as Sabah and Sarawak. Ductility is the main consideration in many earthquakes-resistant designed structures, and this has to go hand in hand with the types of configurations of structures to be proposed by architects and engineers.