The Seismic Load Case in Plant Engineering

The guideline provides recommendations for the earthquake-resistant construction of facilities according to the current state of the art.

This new edition of the VCI guideline “The seismic load case in plant engineering” was published in March 2022 and has now been revised and translated into English. It provides operators and planners with guidelines for structural design and construction of facilities for use in the chemical industry and related industries based on the state of the art in technology. Consideration of environmental sources of danger, such as earthquakes, falls under the general operator obligations of the Hazardous Incident Ordinance.

History

In 2009, the German Chemical Industry Association (VCI) in cooperation with the Chair of Structural Analysis and Dynamics of RWTH Aachen, published the first edition of the technical guideline "Der Lastfall Erdbeben im Anlagenbau” (The Seismic Load Case in Plant Engineering). Based on DIN 4149:2005, which was valid at the time, this guideline gave recommendations for handling the seismic load case in plant engineering in the chemical industry and related industries, from which additional hazards can emanate in the event of an earthquake.

In the course of the harmonisation of technical codes in Europe, DIN 4149:2005 was replaced by DIN EN 1998-1 and expanded through the inclusion of additional parts of DIN EN 1998 (Eurocode 8). With the National Annex DIN EN 1998-1/NA:2021, the seismic action for building sites in Germany is no longer defined in terms of zones, but site-specifically instead.

In addition, national and international experiences and standard developments have necessitated further adaptations of the guideline.

Purpose of the guideline

This new edition of the VCI guideline will provide operators and planners with guidelines for structural design and construction of facilities for use in the chemical industry and related industries based on the state of the art in technology.

The guideline is primarily intended for use when designing and executing new facilities. However, the guideline also provides useful recommendations with respect to safety and economic efficiency when dealing with existing facilities (“brown field facilities”).

More detailed remarks and explanations of the theoretical background are still compiled in the commentary document to the guideline.