Soft-story Buildings and Earthquake Vulnerabilities

Soft-story buildings, often characterized by open ground floors used for parking or retail, are among the most vulnerable to collapse during seismic events. Their lack of lateral strength and poor load distribution makes them prone to pancaking or tilting under lateral shaking.

Schedule Your Inspection
Soft-story earthquake vulnerability

Why Soft-story Buildings Fail in Earthquakes

These structures have a weak or open ground floor and are commonly found in urban areas. During an earthquake, the upper stories sway disproportionately, causing shear failure or collapse at the base due to insufficient reinforcement or stiffness.

Typical Warning Signs

  • Excessive horizontal sway during mild tremors
  • Visible structural cracking near columns and joints
  • Building design with open parking or retail below
  • Unreinforced ground floor shear walls

Preventing Collapse & Liability

Municipalities increasingly mandate retrofits for soft-story buildings to improve life safety. Failing to act puts property, tenants, and your reputation at serious risk in a seismic zone.

Recommended Solution

Moment Frames & Soft-Story Reinforcement provide lateral resistance and are engineered to absorb seismic energy — stabilizing vulnerable stories and preserving life safety.

Learn More

Retrofit Before the Next Earthquake Hits

Reinforcing your soft-story structure now can prevent catastrophic damage later. Our experts make compliance simple and effective.

Schedule Your Inspection

Explore more seismic risks
View All Earthquake-Related Issues