Despite the structural resilience of our building stock, evidence following several significant earthquakes both in New Zealand and around the world indicates that damage to non-structural components accounts for more than 85% of the costs of building damage.

When non-structural components typically make up 60–80% of a building’s total value, this damage represents a significant economic impact. The seismic resilience of non-structural elements also has a significant effect on how quickly the building can be occupied after an earthquake.

This guide looks at all the elements within a building that are part of the primary gravity or lateral force-resisting structure but are still required for the building to function.