Structural and Non-structural solutions

STRUCTURAL AND NON-STRUCTURAL SOLUTIONS

There is a large gap between the groups who prefer “structural” solutions to disaster management and those who prefer “non- structural” solutions.

• Structural solutions include engineered solutions such as redesigning buildings and designing physical barriers to disaster events to reduce damage.  Non-structural solutions include social solutions such as early warning, evacuation planning, and emergency response preparedness.

• Structural groups, which are often comprised of engineers insist that only structural solutions can surely prevent countries from economic loss and can contribute to the development of the nation.

• Structural measures are any physical construction to reduce or avoid possible impacts of hazards, or the application of engineering techniques or technology to achieve hazard resistance and resilience in structures or systems.

• Common structural measures for disaster risk reduction include dams, flood levies, ocean wave barriers, earthquake-resistant construction and evacuation shelters

• Structural solutions can protect peoples lives and property 

• Structural measures refer to any physical construction to reduce or avoid possible impacts of hazards, or application of engineering techniques to achieve hazard-resistance and resilience in structures or systems

• Non-structural groups rely on early warnings, quick evacuations and emergency response

• Common non-structural measures include building codes, land-use planning laws and their enforcement, research and assessment, information resources and public awareness programmes.  

• Non-structural measures include any measure not involving physical construction that uses knowledge, practice or agreement to reduce risks and impacts, in particular through policies and laws, public awareness raising, training and education.

• Immediate emergency response after a disaster through non-structural solutions is a popular “investment” to get support without any financial expense