What's the best way to quake proof my home, house, business or office?

• Secure hot water cylinders and header tanks
• Check that your house is secured to its foundations
• Secure your chimney with galvanised metal bands
• Secure tall furniture to the wall studs
• Secure wood burners to the floor
• Store heavy objects low down
• Use non-slip mats under smaller appliances and objects
• Use plastic putty (Blu Tack) to secure ornaments
• Push picture and mirror hooks closed
• Have flexible gas and plumbing fittings installed.
• Check your household insurance for cover and amount.

*Answers for this question are courtesy of the EQ-IC website.

What if I want to relocate equipment?

Relocation pads are available for both industrial VELCRO brand hook and loop fasteners and 3M VHB adhesive fasteners. To relocate a piece of equipment, simply remove it and the fasteners from the desktop and take it to the new location. Add relocation pads to the fasteners that attach to the desktop. The used pads can be removed from the old location and thrown away.

Can I use velcro to mount items on a wall?

No. Adhesives used on VELCRO brand hook and loop fasteners and 3M VHB fasteners are meant only for horizontal applications. They are not recommended to be used in vertical applications such as hanging items on a wall where there is a constant load on the fastener. A constant vertical load will affect the adhesive curing and cause it to slip.

Are there any guarantees?

The forces of Mother Nature can be great. There is no guarantee that we will not have an earthquake so violent or that causes the ground to move in such a way that any fastener could fail. Because the real forces of an earthquake cannot be precisely duplicated in a laboratory for product testing, it is up to the individual to determine what level of protection is required. It does stand to reason that taking diligent steps to secure items against earthquake damage will considerably reduce risk.