Created in 2016, the Model Seismic Code for Latin America and the Caribbean (CMS AL&EC) is a voluntary reference document that establishes technical standards and minimum requirements for seismic-resistant design to guide countries in the region.
Its primary objective is to reduce seismic risk by establishing minimum structural design criteria based on scientific evidence and best practices in modern engineering. The CMS AL&EC promotes the use of a common technical language, comparable methodologies, and equivalent safety standards among the countries in the region.
It is worth noting that the Code is cross-cutting and participatory in nature, as it is developed by a Standing Commission composed of public institutions, universities, professional associations, and technical organizations from more than 17 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Ian Watt, the Chilean representative in the development of the CMS AL&EC, stated: “This document does not seek to replace each country’s regulations, but rather to provide a technical framework that allows us to draw on the knowledge and experience accumulated throughout the region. Its main value lies precisely in that: sharing what we have learned and ensuring that each country does not have to go through the same process on its own.”
He added: “In a region highly prone to earthquakes, we can make much faster progress if we are able to turn our diverse experiences into shared knowledge.”
Chile's coordinating role
In this effort, Chile plays a key role through the Construction Institute, which serves as the General Secretariat. In this capacity, it coordinates the Institute’s technical and editorial work, ensuring the consistency of the Code, the traceability of decisions, and coordination between the Executive Committee and the various technical subcommittees.
In addition, it serves an institutional representation and outreach role, as it acts as the official liaison between the Permanent Commission and collaborating institutions, both national and international. For example, with the Inter-American Development Bank or UN-Habitat.
“Chile has a lot to contribute. We are one of the most earthquake-prone countries in the world, and we have developed a very solid approach based on strict regulations, accumulated experience, and a professional culture that learns from every major earthquake,” Watt said.
However, he emphasized the collaborative nature of this regulatory framework: “It is a space for learning from one another. Chile contributes its experience, but we also have a lot to learn from other countries that face different threats and constructive realities.”
A long history of earthquakes
Chile is one of the most seismically active countries on the planet, due to its location at the boundary between the Nazca and South American tectonic plates. In fact, it has been the site of some of the largest earthquakes in history. For example, the Valdivia earthquake (1960), which reached a magnitude of 9.5 on the Richter scale, was the strongest ever recorded worldwide. This has compelled the country to develop high standards in engineering, regulations, and risk management.
Along those lines, Watt stated: “Chile is undoubtedly one of the international leaders in seismic engineering. We have an exceptional combination of high seismicity, modern infrastructure, and experience gained from dealing with very severe earthquakes. In that sense, we are one of the world’s great natural laboratories for seismic engineering.”
However, “that recognition also calls for a certain degree of humility. The positive results we’ve achieved don’t mean the seismic problem has been solved. Every major earthquake has taught us something new, and the next ones probably will too,” the engineer concluded.
