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Reducing non-structural risks at home

In a moderate earthquake most injuries come not from the building collapsing but from a wardrobe tipping over, a television falling and glass breaking. The good news: all of that can be fixed in a weekend, and for most renters without leaving a mark.

Guide 10 min read Print-ready CC BY-NC 4.0

Scope. This guide covers non-structural risk — the contents and fittings, not the building's load-bearing system. The strength of the structure itself — columns, shear walls, foundations — is a separate matter and only a qualified structural engineer can assess it. If you see cracks, sagging or a cut column, get professional advice without waiting for this guide.

Method

Walk the house once, with the right question

Go into each room and ask one question: "If this room shook for twenty seconds, what would fall, tip over or break?" Then add a second: "Would the thing that falls block the door?" A wardrobe across an escape route is not merely lost furniture.

Photograph what you find as you go. That way you will not forget, and you will see the work you have done afterwards. You do not have to do it all in one day; the priority order is below.

One rule comes before everything else: nothing hangs or is stacked above or beside the bed. During the hours you are asleep you have no chance to move; this is the cheapest precaution there is and it needs no tools at all.

Priority

Which job to do first

The order reflects how dangerous the hazard is and how easy the fix. The first three can be finished in a single day with a basic toolbox.

  • 01

    Clear the space above the beds

    Take down pictures, mirrors, shelves and light fittings above beds. Move the bed out of the path a wardrobe would fall along.

    Free

    1 hour

  • 02

    Move heavy things down

    Heavy books, vases, ornaments and suitcases go on lower shelves. Keep only light, soft items up high.

    Free

    1 hour

  • 03

    Open the escape route

    Clear coat stands, shoe racks and boxes from hallways and doorways. Put nothing behind a door: when it falls, it locks the door shut.

    Free

    30 min

  • 04

    Fix tall furniture to the wall

    Wardrobes, bookcases, display cabinets, chests of drawers. Any piece taller than twice its width is a candidate for tipping.

    Low cost

    Half a day

  • 05

    Strap the television, appliances and water heater

    Strap the screen to its stand, secure the fridge to the wall with a strap or bracket, and band the water heater to the wall with metal strapping.

    Low cost

    2 hours

  • 06

    Apply safety film to glass

    Balcony doors, cabinet glass, large mirrors. Film does not make glass unbreakable; it stops the pieces from flying when it breaks.

    Medium

    Half a day

  • 07

    Have the gas cylinder and pipework checked

    The cylinder should be chained in place and the hose within date. Gas leaks are the known main source of fires after an earthquake.

    Low cost

    1 hour

Technique

How to secure things

Fixing to the wall — the right point

An L-bracket goes from the top edge of the furniture into the wall. The screw must land in a stud or solid masonry; a plug in plasterboard will not hold an earthquake load. On plasterboard use toggle fixings or find the stud.

Allow some flex

A completely rigid fixing can tear either the furniture or the wall during shaking. Nylon straps, steel cable or chain — anything that allows a little give — is more reliable and leaves less damage when removed.

Catches on cabinet doors

Even a kitchen cabinet that does not tip will swing open and empty itself. A child safety catch is enough, costs very little, and comes in adhesive versions that need no screws.

Lighting and suspended ceilings

Secure a heavy light fitting to the ceiling with a second safety cable rather than relying on the hook alone. Do not hang heavy fittings directly above a bed or seating.

Anything on castors

Pianos, heavy trolleys and office cabinets travel across the room during shaking. A wheel lock is not enough; use chocks or fix them to the wall.

Chemicals and flammables

Bleach, thinner, insecticide and flammable liquids belong at floor level, tightly closed, in a locked cupboard, with anything that could react kept apart. Never store them next to a heat source.

If you rent

Solutions that leave no damage

  • Tension poles between the top of a cabinet and the ceiling: no screws, no marks
  • Removable adhesive straps and safety catches
  • Non-slip silicone pads under televisions, microwaves and vases
  • Moving heavy items down from height: the most effective step, and entirely free
  • Rearranging furniture so the tipping path avoids the bed and the door
  • For anything needing screws, ask the landlord in writing and offer to share the cost

During the shaking

Drop — cover — hold on

  • Drop: As soon as it starts, go down on your knees; do not wait to be knocked over.
  • Cover: Protect your head and neck with your arms and get under a sturdy table.
  • Hold on: Hold the table leg and move with it if it shifts.

Do not run for the stairs or outside while the shaking continues; that is when the risk of falling and of falling façade material is highest. If you are in bed, staying there and covering your head with a pillow is usually safer.

If you use a wheelchair: lock the brakes, lean forward, and protect your head and neck with your arms.

Printable

Room-by-room checklist

Date:    Completed by:

Bedrooms

  • Nothing hanging above the bed
  • Wardrobe fixed to the wall
  • Torch and shoes beside the bed
  • Bed out of the tipping path

Living room

  • Television strapped
  • Bookcase fixed, heavy books low
  • Catch on the display cabinet
  • Safety film on glass

Kitchen

  • Catches on cabinet doors
  • Fridge secured to the wall
  • Gas cylinder chained, hose in date
  • Heavy pans in lower units

Hallway and exit

  • Nothing behind the door
  • Hallway clear of tipping furniture
  • Bag near the door, location known to all
  • Spare key in an agreed place

Bathroom and store

  • Water heater banded to the wall
  • Chemicals at floor level and locked
  • Heavy boxes on the lowest shelf
  • Water valve location marked

Children's room

  • Bunk bed fixed to the wall
  • Toy shelves low and secured
  • Bed not under a window
  • Child knows drop, cover, hold on

References

Where the information on this page comes from

The non-structural mitigation steps and the guidance for the moment of shaking are adapted from the sources below. The solutions for renters are TAKDER's adaptations to the housing stock in Cyprus.

Seven steps and securing contents
Earthquake Country Alliance. Seven Steps to Earthquake Safety — in particular Step 1, securing non-structural hazards. earthquakecountry.org
What to do during shaking
Earthquake Country Alliance. Drop, Cover, Hold On — including adaptations for people with disabilities. earthquakecountry.org
Non-structural risk manual
FEMA (2012). FEMA E-74: Reducing the Risks of Nonstructural Earthquake Damage — A Practical Guide. fema.gov
North Cyprus guidance
TRNC Civil Defence Organisation. Beklenilmeyene Hazır Olmak (Being ready for the unexpected). sivilsavunma.gov.ct.tr

Links go to the publisher; last accessed 11 September 2026. If you spot an error in a citation, tell us and we will correct it.