Common questions answered.

A seismic damper is a device that absorbs and dissipates earthquake energy, reducing the forces that act on a building during shaking. Similar to the shock absorbers in a car, seismic dampers are installed within a structure's bracing system or foundation to protect the building and its occupants. Seismic Shift's dampers are designed to also encourage the structure to return to its original position after an earthquake (recentering).

Quake Defender® devices connect directly into a building's bracing system. When the ground shakes, the devices act like shock absorbers - absorbing and dissipating seismic energy, and reducing the forces acting on the building. They also encourage the structure to recenter back to its original position after shaking. The devices are standardised in size, making them straightforward for structural engineers to design into a building.

FrontFoot® devices are installed between the foundation and the structure of a building. During an earthquake, the building is able to move differentially from the ground, and the FrontFoot® devices absorb and dissipate the seismic energy before it reaches the structure above. The devices also encourage the structure return to its original position after the shaking stops.

Quake Defender® is designed for commercial and industrial buildings - it connects into a building's bracing system and is suitable for warehouses, factories, office buildings, and power plants. FrontFoot® is designed for residential homes and critical equipment, and is installed at foundation level between the ground and the structure. Both technologies use similar energy-absorbing principles but are engineered for different building types, scales, and applications.

FrontFoot® residential systems add approximately 1.5-2.0% to the total build cost of a new home. This is a relatively small premium for significantly improved protection - comparable to the cost of standard insurance excess, but providing ongoing protection rather than post-event recovery. For commercial buildings, costs vary depending on the structure, but Quake Defender® is specifically designed to be far more cost-effective than traditional construction methods. In new builds, Quake Defender® often saves more than it costs through enabling smaller foundations and other building elements - a real win for your project!

Yes. Quake Defender® has been designed for both new builds and retrofit applications. It can be incorporated into an existing building's bracing system, making it possible to upgrade the seismic performance of older structures. This is particularly relevant for buildings that need to accommodate additional loads - such as solar panel installations - or for buildings that need to meet updated seismic code requirements. The FrontFoot® system is primarily designed for new builds at foundation level.

Seismic Shift is based in Christchurch, New Zealand, and our technology is engineered for use in any seismically active region. We are actively working on projects in New Zealand, the United States, Canada, Japan, and Chile. Our standardised product sizes and clear installation documentation are designed to make deployment straightforward for structural engineers anywhere in the world.

Contact us through our contact page - any detail that you can provide such as the building type, location, approximate size, and what you are trying to achieve. Our engineering team will get back to you to discuss your requirements and provide guidance on the most suitable solution. We offer design support and can work alongside your existing structural engineer.