Developments in Colombian Regulations for Earthquake Resistance in the 30 Years Since Their Inception

The Colombian Code of Earthquake Resistant Building, issued via Decree-Law 1400 of 1984, was the first attempt to nationally regulate the design and building of structures, and remained in force for 14 years. Later, the Congress of the Republic approved Law 400 of 1997, under which the Regulations of Earthquake Resistant Building NSR-98 (1998) were issued, replacing the 1984 code. In 2010, the updated NSR-10 Regulations were put into place and remain valid today. This article offers a brief summary of the contents of the Colombia Earthquake Resistance Regulations, their successes, and the aspects remaining to be implemented. Furthermore, the legal issues that affect these regulations are analyzed, such as the recent Law of Firemen, the micro-zoning of intermediate-sized and large cities, the earthquake-proofing of critical buildings, and community attention.