Manual on retrofitting of existing vulnerable school buildings - assessment to retrofitting

This document presents some solutions for mitigating earthquake hazard for new school and existing buildings, with respect to the challenges faced by each category. It describes the concept of retrofitting and explains the techniques of vulnerability assessment for novices, engineers and programme persons, illustrated with case studies. It presents the common procedure for earthquake mitigation of buildings as follows: (i) one that includes the design and construction process for new buildings, complying with the current building code, and with an appropriate construction following design specifications and drawings; and (ii) one that consists in assessing the structural performance to resist design earthquake forces based on current building codes for existing buildings, with the design of retrofitting strategies to improve the building's performance if the assessment found that structures are not adequate.

It is based on good practices from Indonesia, the most seismic prone country in the world. It is intended to be used by other countries facing similar challenges as well as other organizations working on building the capacities of local authorities to effectively implement safe and child friendly school buildings.