ER96 Communicating seismic risk information with tenants (2024)

There is growing evidence that the communication of seismic risk information and interpretation by end users (building owners and tenants) can be ineffective and can result in suboptimal outcomes. To improve the seismic resilience of our communities, effort is needed to understand how organisations interpret risk information and how this translates to seismic risk management actions. Seismic risk often sits outside day-to-day business risks so there is a need to ensure that seismic risk information related to buildings is presented in a way that organisations can interpret appropriately in their own context.

This research has undertaken a series of interviews with professionals responsible for providing seismic risk information (engineers, landlords and property managers) to building tenants to understand current approaches and reactions to seismic risk communication. It tested a series of existing and proposed communication approaches with building tenants – those receiving, interpreting and making occupation decisions based on that information to identify the most effective mechanisms for informing and prompting seismic risk mitigation. The research produced guidance for engineers, property managers and policy makers on effective seismic risk communication for organisations.