Canadian HC asks builders to use BRB in buildings

Canadian High Commissioner Perry John Calderwood on Sunday asked the Pakistani builders and developers to use 'Buckling Restrained Brace' (BRB) in building constructions because Pakistan is a very vulnerable country to earthquakes. "BRB - a very high level of earthquake-resistant product, has been put on display by the Steel Canada Limited for the first time in Pakistan," the high commissioner told Business Recorder at the Karachi Expo Centre where the 4th International ABAD Expo 2017 is being held these days. Calderwood was on a special visit to the Canadian stall.
"The Steel Canada is presenting its innovative product BRB which I think is interesting particularly its relevance in Pakistani market given that Pakistan is very vulnerable country to earthquakes as we have seen in recent years," he said, adding that this steel product would offer the opportunity for builders in Pakistan to use it.
Abdul Malik, Director Steel Canada Limited, on this occasion, said BRB was developed by the University of Ottawa, and manufactured by the Steel Canada. He said that a BRB test was also conducted in the NED university of Engineering and Technology and its result has been on displayed on its official website that must be visited by interest people.
He said that being a natural hazard, earthquake cannot be stopped or prevented but the intensity of the damages can be reduced by effective efforts. "A number of people including builders and developers are visiting our stall, and evincing keen interest in the product. I hope BRB will help reduce the risk of damages due to earthquake or bomb blasts once it is installed in buildings," he said.
To a query the Canadian high commissioner said that it assembles quickly and reducing cost, measurement errors and installation duration. Alongside low-cost assembling, use of higher ductility core materials help improve the performance of the brace. "This is a unique product and it provides continuous lateral restraint against buckling, hence enhanced performance" he said, adding that it is reusable and replaceable by simply pulling out the inner core and inserting a new core after a damaging earthquake or prior to earthquake for possible structural change in the system.