Seismic Strengthening & Upgrades
Earthquake-prone building upgrades for commercial and multi-unit buildings.
If your building has been assessed as earthquake-prone, or your engineer has recommended strengthening to lift its %NBS rating, Omega Construction can deliver the structural works — steel portal frames and bracing, foundation and floor-diaphragm upgrades, wall ties and parapet restraints — as a Registered Master Builder with three decades of commercial structural experience in Auckland.
Seismic work is rarely done in an empty building. We plan the strengthening in stages, protect tenants and trading operations, and coordinate the structural engineer, Auckland Council consent and any heritage or fire requirements so the upgrade is signed off cleanly.
What's included
- Strengthening to engineer's design — steel frames, bracing, diaphragm and foundation upgrades
- Unreinforced masonry (URM) wall ties and parapet restraints
- Staging around occupied offices, retail and residential units
- Building consent and Code Compliance Certificate coordination
- Combined seismic and refurbishment packages
Seismic Strengthening & Upgrades: common questions
What is an earthquake-prone building and does it have to be strengthened?
Under the Building (Earthquake-prone Buildings) Amendment Act, a building rated below 34% of the New Building Standard (NBS) is earthquake-prone. Auckland is a low seismic risk zone, so owners generally have 35 years from the notice date to strengthen or demolish — but tenants, insurers and buyers increasingly expect higher ratings sooner. We work to your engineer's design to bring the building above the threshold.
Can seismic strengthening be done while the building is occupied?
Usually, yes. We stage the works floor by floor or zone by zone, isolate the active area, and schedule noisy tasks around tenants' operations. We have delivered structural work inside operating offices, studios and apartment buildings across Auckland.
Do you provide the engineering?
We build to a chartered structural engineer's design. If you don't yet have an engineer or a Detailed Seismic Assessment (DSA), we can introduce engineers we work with regularly and coordinate the assessment, design and consent as one package.
Is it worth combining seismic work with a refurbishment?
Often, yes. Strengthening opens up walls, ceilings and floors anyway, so it's an efficient time to upgrade services, fire systems, bathrooms and finishes. We regularly price the combined scope so owners can compare options.
Seismic Strengthening & Upgrades across Auckland
Based in Mt Eden and working Auckland-wide. Read about our work in the areas where this service is most in demand.
Other services
Commercial Construction
Single & multi-storey structural work, new builds and renovations.
Residential Building & Renovations
New homes, architectural remodels, recladding and refurbishment.
Interior Fit-Outs & Refurbishment
Commercial and residential fit-out of existing buildings.
Alterations & Structural Work
Alterations, extensions, maintenance and structural work.
Project Management
Concept to completion, with every sub-trade and consent handled.
Subdivision Management
Surveyors, sub-trades and council managed to compliance.