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Photo: AIDG's training coordinator, Adajah Codio (left) and a mason training in session (right)

Project Description

Port-au-Prince, Haiti. AIDG is currently conducting a seismic resistant construction training course for Haitian masons in the metro-Port-au-Prince region, the area most affected by the January 12th earthquake.  The course is designed to instruct local masons on confined masonry building design and the key construction mistakes that led to building failure (as observed during 1400+ ATC-20 rapid assessments performed by AIDG with KPFF) as well as give instruction on better masonry techniques. Current trainings combine classroom style presentation along with hands on construction and repair participation. Unlike many training programs AIDG goes out into communities to find construction workers and teams who are rebuilding now and give them basic knowledge and techniques.

See photos of trainings here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/aidg/sets/72157623892195668/

Why the trainings are so important

The January 12 earthquake in Port-au-Prince damaged and destroyed over 300,000 buildings and homes in the metropolitan region of Haiti's capital. We've seen so many of the pictures of the suffering and devastation after the disaster. But what we don't get as much information about is why the buildings failed. It was that walls and slabs were not tied in properly to columns. It was the wrong type of rebar or not enough cement in the concrete. It was a lack of knowledge and a lack of enforcement of codes. It is expected to take between 5-15 years to properly rebuild Port-au-Prince. For the same mistakes that led to widespread building collapse and loss of life not to be repeated, construction professionals need training in proper seismic design and building techniques. Unfortunately most small construction teams exist outside formal training and code structures. Of masons who have already participated in our training course, several surveyed told us that they were able to obtain higher

Curriculum:

English Manual | Kreyol Manual

The training is divided into two sessions. The first is the theoretical presentation covered by engineers and the second is the hands-on demonstration and training covered by masons. Below are resources and information volunteer engineers and masons utilize and make reference to:

• “Confined Masonry Construction” for low-rise non-engineered buildings. Information available at: http://www.confinedmasonry.org/
• The Earthquake Engineering Research Institute’s (EERI) packet Construction and Maintenance of Masonry Houses: http://www.confinedmasonry.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/Peru_Booklet-masonry-v03.pdf
• ATC 20 Pocket Handbook (with relevant pages from FEMA 306)
• ASCE 31 document

Part I: Seismic Resistant Building Theory

• Typical Building Properties: floor plan and wall openings
• Concrete Foundation Construction: sizes and concrete proportions
• Concrete Plinth Construction: reinforcing and concrete proportions
• Concrete Column Construction: reinforcing and concrete proportions
• Masonry Block Wall Construction: block placement and mortar mixes
• Concrete Collar Beam Construction: reinforcing, lintels, and concrete proportions
• Concrete Slab Construction: reinforcing and concrete proportions
• Masonry & Concrete Repair

Part II: Practical Masonry Techniques

Demonstration and practice in:
• Making mortar
• Laying block
• Using a trowel
• Striking joints
• Replacing blocks
• Repointing joints
During the training each participant receives hand-outs and notes containing the key points of the curriculum. The handouts are based on the "Construction and maintenance of masonry houses for masons and craftsmen" made by SENSICO (part of the Peruvian government) and Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú. KPFF, AWB-Portland, and Haiti Rewired volunteers have taken the lead in adapting the document for the Haitian context.

Testimonial

Name: Exantus Daniel (interview)

Earthquake Experience: During the earthquake, Exantus’ house collapse and was damaged beyond repair. He doesn’t have the means to rebuild and is living in a tent by a friend’s house. He was not at his house, and his two children were still at school so no one in his immediate family was injured. He has many friends, however, who passed away in the area.

Exantus has been in construction since 2000. He works solely in construction. He was taught by a company and works with an engineer who calls him when the engineer gets a job.

He was very satisfied with the training and thinks all masons and particularly foremen need to have this training. He wishes the seminar could have been multiple days.

AIDG’s mason training changed the way he works. On one of the jobs he’s been on since the training he saw that the way his co-workers were pouring the columns and tying the rebar was incorrect. He approached his foreman, told him that he’d been to a training and for the building to be seismically correct, they needed to do it another way. The foreman took his advice and they changed the way they continued the building to make it seismically sound. However he has seen that this is often not the norm. Engineers and foreman often push their masons to build too quickly without regard to technique.

As a mason, you make approximately 500 HTG per day. With a certificate from a seismic resistant training seminar, he will be able to make more money. Masons are paid by the foremen based on experience/qualifications. So the certificates are very important to the masons.

He still checks the document that we gave him at the training and finds it helpful and the pictures clear.

There has been more construction work available since the earthquake and he believes that with the money he makes from masonry he will be able to support his kids. He is more confident about that now that he has the training and proof of training.