Construction minister announces possible introduction of seismic certificate

Hina - Minister of Physical Planning, Construction and State Assets Branko Bačić said on Wednesday that the government is considering the possible introduction of a seismic certificate to define the mechanical resistance and stability of buildings, primarily those intended for public use.

"We are considering a completely new Construction Act that would include the obligation for certain buildings to have a seismic certificate defining their mechanical resistance and stability. We will discuss this throughout the year," Bačić said in Split, where he was attending the 3rd Croatian Conference on Earthquake Engineering.

Over the course of the three-day conference, around 150 experts from Croatia and abroad will share their post-earthquake experiences.

Bačić said that the introduction of a seismic certificate had been proposed by experts from the Croatian Centre for Earthquake Engineering and that it would be a novelty in the country's construction legislation. He added that the certificate would primarily apply to buildings intended for public use.

"Just as there is an energy certificate that defines a building's energy performance, a seismic certificate would define its mechanical resistance and stability," he explained.

He said that the 2,150 members of the Croatian Centre for Earthquake Engineering had carried out more than 75,000 inspections of buildings damaged in the Zagreb and Petrinja earthquakes.

"We have taken a step forward in reconstruction by not merely restoring buildings to their previous state but by adopting a modern approach to structural renovation, raising the mechanical resistance of damaged buildings to a significantly higher level," Bačić said.

Culture minister: Restoration of Zagreb Cathedral the most complex

Minister of Culture and Media Nina Obuljen Koržinek said that more than 500 buildings in the earthquake-affected areas of Zagreb and Petrinja had been restored or were currently undergoing restoration under the Ministry's supervision.

"At this moment, the restoration of Zagreb Cathedral is the most complex heritage restoration project in Europe," the minister stressed. She explained that top domestic experts had been engaged in the project, not only for the cathedral's restoration but also to showcase Croatia's achievements to international experts and organisations.

She added that the restoration of the cathedral's tower could take several years.

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