Before the 1957 earthquake, there were no building codes with respect to earthquake resistance.
In addition to repairs and new construction, there will extensive upgrading of buildings to meet current standards for earthquake resistance.
Fire hazards, earthquake resistance, and other factors also influence choice of fitting materials.
Buildings in the area had not been constructed for earthquake resistance, having heavy roofs and vulnerable foundations.
Construction errors that would cause operating problems could presumably be found in testing, but the only way to test earthquake resistance is through computer analysis.
It was built between 1949 and 1954, before earthquake resistance became part of structural design.
Besides this the verdict mentioned the safety concerns related to the plant's earthquake resistance.
In 2006 safety standards for earthquake resistance in Japan's nuclear plants were modified and tightened.
The building was the first major New Zealand structure to incorporate a significant measure of earthquake resistance.
But none meet international standards for fire safety, earthquake resistance and other factors that would allow them to act as hosts to major traveling exhibitions.