Jakarta (ANTARA) – Three earthquake-resistant prototype homes developed by Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) remained standing after a magnitude-7.7 earthquake and aftershocks struck East Nusa Tenggara.
The three homes were built in 2021-2022 as part of earthquake-resistant construction research begun by the former Agency for Technology Assessment and Application and continued by BRIN.
BRIN engineer Vian Marantha Haryanto said on Tuesday that the homes were designed for high-seismic-risk areas such as East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province.
“These homes use earthquake-resistant construction technology designed for disaster-prone areas such as NTT. The results show the design can protect structures and, most importantly, occupants,” Vian said.
BRIN found no structural cracks in the walls, columns or foundations. Damage was limited to cosmetic issues, including bathroom tiles that detached or broke during shaking.
Although field inspections found the structures intact, BRIN will conduct further laboratory tests for technical validation, using cyclic testing under Indonesian standard SNI 3966:2012.
The laboratory testing method has been prepared and is scheduled to be conducted in 2026.
“The major earthquake that struck NTT on Aug. 15, 2026, provided a field test for the technology,” Vian said.
The homes use rubber-bearing seismic technology to dampen earthquake vibrations, developed by BRIN’s Center for Composite and Biomaterial Research using natural rubber or elastic polymers.
“Rubber-bearing seismic technology separates the building’s lower and upper structures, helping absorb shear forces during an earthquake and reduce the shaking transmitted to the structure,” Vian said.
The BRIN-developed homes are also modular, making the innovation a potential model for rehabilitating and rebuilding housing in disaster-prone areas.
BRIN is encouraging wider replication of the earthquake-resistant housing model, not only in East Nusa Tenggara but also in other earthquake-prone parts of Indonesia.
The initiative aims to improve housing safety while reducing building damage risks when future earthquakes occur.
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Translator: Sean FM, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Primayanti
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