As an update to my post on the Japanese earthquake, there is news from South Korea that the government there is already working to strengthen quake-resistant capacity. 

“We are seeking to revise a construction law to strengthen quake-resistant capacity for two-story and smaller buildings,” the land and transportation ministry said. “The government will complete its final plan for that by next week.”

Under current Korean law, only large buildings with more than two stories and floor space of more than 1,000 square meters are required to be built according to quake-resistant guidelines, and the ministry is looking to expand the quake-resistent guidelines to smaller buildings.  Currently,  smaller structures are not subject to the requirement, even though they make up 84% of the total construction.  

The U.S. is unlikely to adopt new standards in such a lightening fashion.

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