Exoskeletons rattle council
THE use of an increasingly popular earthquake strengthening method could be limited, amid concerns it takes away too much public space.
Wellington City Council is developing guidelines to determine where ‘‘exoskeletal’’ structures can be built on the outside of buildings in a bid to raise the building’s earthquake-prone status.
In a presentation to the council’s transport and urban development committee this week, officers warned that, although the use of the structures – which are built on the exterior of buildings to add strength – was uncommon at the moment, it was expected to become more popular as deadlines for owners to strengthen their buildings loomed. It was often considered the most economical way to bring the building in line with the building code.
‘‘It is anticipated that as we get closer and closer to deadlines . . . we may get more and more building owners requesting that exoskeletal types of frames are allowed to be utilised,’’ city networks manager Stavros Michael said.
However, although the option may be popular for owners, it was not always the best choice for the city, Michael said.
Most buildings were already flush with the edge of the footpath, and external frames would encroach into the public space, reducing the level of amenity for the public.
Among the concerns was the creation of shaded areas, loss of space and the impact on infrastructure underneath the pavement, which might have to be pushed out into roadways, creating more disruption when maintenance was carried out. ‘‘We need to be very careful.’’
In some areas, the impact would be minimal and the structures could be used, but the council needed a consistent approach when approving or declining applications, he said.
Building resilience manager Neville Brown said the council’s position was that exoskeletal structures should be the final resort for building owners, but there was a ‘‘small trend’’ to opt first.
The proposed guidelines include assessing the impact on footpaths, parking, cycle lanes and a building’s heritage needs. Councillors agreed there needed to be guidelines, but asked officers to report back to their next meeting with specific ones for them to approve.
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