202450th Anniversary of the Costa Rica Seismic Code - Miniature Sheet

For half a century, the inhabitants of our country have had regulations that guarantee earthquake resistance standards for the design and construction of buildings. This is the Seismic Code of Costa Rica, which this October 3, celebrates 50 years of existence and Correos de Costa Rica joins this celebration with a new postal issue.

It was presented on Thursday night in the auditorium of the Federated College of Engineers and Architects, in the presence of Mr. Mauricio Batalla Otálora, Minister of Public Works and Transportation; Mr. Ronny Rodríguez, Vice Minister of Energy; Mr. Olman Vargas Zeledón, President of the General Board of Directors of CFIA and other members of the governing body; Mr. Mauricio Rojas Cartín, General Manager of Correos de Costa Rica; Mrs. Paula Gómez Varela, member of the Board of Directors of Correos CR; as well as the Permanent Commission for the Study and Review of the Seismic Code of Costa Rica.

This document was created thanks to the technical, responsible and visionary work of the Permanent Commission for the Study and Seismic Code of the CFIA, created in 1973, who, after seeing the impacts associated with the earthquakes in Tilarán and Managua, Nicaragua, in 1972, joined forces to reduce risks and tragedies.

In 1974, the Code was made official, which included technical and scientific criteria to improve the response of structures to these movements. To date, four updates have been made, precisely with the need to maintain resistance criteria in favor of human and structural safety. In each update, the results of the review of its application in the practice of earthquake-resistant design are collected and some changes are incorporated due to updates of other foreign standards that are used as a reference.

Mr. Olman Vargas Z., president of the CFIA General Board of Directors, stressed that, “over these 50 years, a true culture in construction has been generated, taking into consideration all earthquake-resistant methodologies. We have seen that, in the face of similar seismic events in other countries and in Costa Rica; in our case, the level of damage has been much lower or almost zero; we have been able to respond in an appropriate manner. Human lives have been protected and investments have been protected in terms of buildings.”

Postal Issue

The positive impact of this code is recognized nationally and internationally, and precisely for this reason, Correos de Costa Rica will launch a postal issue to celebrate this 50th anniversary, and to give special recognition to Dr. Jorge Gutiérrez and Mr. Franz Sauter, who were fundamental in the development of the document, as well as structural engineering in our country. This issue is composed of a souvenir sheet, postmark and philatelic bulletin, which has been in circulation since October 3.

“We commemorate with great pride the 50th anniversary of the creation of the Seismic Code of Costa Rica, an event that we will announce to the entire world through this postal issue that pays tribute to two great professionals whose contribution was key in this process and that represents the great effort that institutions continue to make to this day to ensure the safety and interests of the population,” said Mauricio Rojas Cartín, General Manager of Correos de Costa Rica.

History of the Seismic Code of Costa Rica

The history begins in 1971, when the School of Civil Engineering of the University of Costa Rica began studies in earthquake-resistant engineering. In 1973, after the earthquakes in Managua and Tilarán, this school and the Federated College of Engineers and Architects (CFIA) joined forces to develop their own seismic code.

In 1974, thanks to the work of a commission of experts in structural engineering, the first Seismic Code of Costa Rica was published. The Permanent Commission for the Study and Revision of the Seismic Code has ensured its constant updating with new editions in 1986, 2002, 2010 and a revision in 2014.

It is very important to highlight the work of two distinguished professionals, Dr. Jorge Gutiérrez and Eng. Franz Sauter, who were fundamental in the development of the Code and of Structural Engineering. Dr. Gutiérrez was the main editor of the first Code in 1974; and Eng. Sauter was a teacher of the generations of structural engineers who developed the first versions of the Code. In their figures, tribute is paid to all the professionals who have given their valuable contribution in the different editions of the Code.

Currently, the Permanent Commission is working on a new version that integrates the most modern international standards and practices in design, construction, soils and seismicity, ensuring that the code continues to be a fundamental guide for engineering and architecture professionals.