By Nancy T. Lu/ Taiwan news, Staff Writer

There is no denying that rushing to the top of Taipei 101 can make some people feel a little giddy. Experts, however, say that it is the safest place to be because of all the built-in precautionary safety features. The best known is the wind damper of steel, said to be the biggest one in the world. It is capable of reducing the swaying of the building caused by earthquake or typhoon by 40 percent. Produced at a cost of NT$312 million in Canada, the publicly displayed ball device consists of piled-up slices weighing a total of 660 metric tons.

The completion of the tallest skyscraper in a city clearly vulnerable to earthquakes and typhoons was at first deemed an impossible mission for the developers and builders. The National Geographic Channel even listed Taipei 101 among the world's seven most challenging engineering projects in 2003. Somehow, all difficulties were overcome. The construction was finished after seven years with the help of foremost experts in various fields from as many as 43 countries.

Wind damper/Photo courtesy of Taipei 101

Tourists are told that the building's foundation is fortified by 380 stabilizing piles driven 80 meters into the ground and 30 meters into the bedrock. Its double glazing glass curtain walls are capable of taking impacts of eight tons. Furthermore, heat and UV-filter treatment render them safe and ecologically friendly. In case of a power shutdown, the building's emergency generator setup can meet 70 percent of the power needs.

Two satellite telecommunication systems can be put to use in emergency situations to maintain communication with the outside world. The Chunghwa Telecom Corporation is one of the big investors of Taipei 101; others include the China Development Industrial Bank, the China United Trust & Investment Corporation, the Chinatrust Financial Holding Company, the Cathay Insurance Company, the Shinkong Insurance Company, the Taiwan Stock Exchange, and the Walsin Lihwa Group.

With safety as a topmost priority at all times, Taipei 101 employs a pool of foreign consultants to ensure that nothing goes wrong. These professional people cite for credentials their experiences working for skyscrapers in New York and Hong Kong. They make sure that the highest security precautions are strictly put in place without compromise.