Earthquake technology in new Wellington buildings like giant 'shock absorber'

Each of the Bowen St buildings uses 64 seismic dampers – cylinders with a piston inside surrounded by silicone-based fluid that are fixed horizontally onto the structural frame. There are eight dampers for each floor.

Nick Morris​, the project lead for construction firm LT McGuinness, said the viscous dampers acted like car shock absorbers for the building during an earthquake.

Dampers in Wellington Building
Project lead Nick Morris,left, and Kevin Pugh of Precinct Properties. A damper is installed above.
MONIQUE FORD/STUFF

 

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