Why Seismic Reinforcement

Most wood-frame homes weren't built for today's standard

Seismic codes have changed more than once. A home that was fully compliant when it was built can still be significantly under-strength today — and from the outside, there's usually no way to tell.

Split image contrasting a well-kept living room with the same home's decayed, insect-damaged framing
The Data

Over 90% of pre-2000 wood-frame homes fall short

Of roughly 30,000 wood-frame homes built before May 2000 that underwent a formal seismic diagnosis, more than 9 in 10 were found structurally insufficient — nearly three-quarters rated likely to collapse in a major earthquake.

74.9%rated likely to collapse in a major earthquake
16.7%rated a possible collapse risk
90%+combined — found structurally insufficient overall
2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake

What actually happens when the ground moves

Damage outcomes for wood-frame homes built to the old seismic standard, with and without reinforcement.

Not reinforced
Collapsed
19.4%
Major damage
19.8%
Minor / moderate damage
48.2%
Undamaged
12.5%
Reinforced with evoltz
Collapsed
0%
Major damage
8%
Minor / moderate damage
58%
Undamaged
34%

Source: post-earthquake structural surveys of old-standard wood-frame homes in the affected area.

Proven Results

573 homes reinforced. Zero collapses.

When the 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake hit, every home reinforced with evoltz — our seismic-damping technology partner — stayed standing.

Residents and fire crews gathered outside a reinforced home in the Noto Peninsula after the 2024 earthquake
20 yrsevoltz has focused exclusively on seismic damping technology, since 2008
150,000+evoltz devices manufactured under strict quality control
573 / 0homes reinforced with evoltz in the Noto Peninsula — zero collapses, zero total or partial destruction
The Technology

Built on automotive shock-absorber engineering

evoltz applies shock-absorber technology from the automotive industry to wood-frame homes. The devices are manufactured by BILSTEIN, a supplier known for precision damping components, under the same quality standards used in vehicle production.

evoltz has worked exclusively on seismic damping since 2008 — engineering earthquake protection has been the whole business for close to two decades, not a side offering.

A full-scale timber-frame wall assembly rigged with instrumentation cables in a structural seismic test rig

Full-scale structural testing — evoltz reinforcement under simulated seismic load.

Client Case Studies

Coming soon

We're building our English-language case study library MAMORINO is a new offering for homeowners outside Japan, so we don't have client projects to show yet. In the meantime, the results above reflect the same evoltz technology and Kanameishi reinforcement process used on every MAMORINO project. Check back here as our first projects complete.

Find out where your home stands

A site survey and seismic diagnosis is the only way to know for certain. Our reinforcement uses the same evoltz technology behind these results.

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