Aseismic Design for Electrical Facilities

The earthquake resistant design of electrical generation and transmission facilities is not necessarily achieved using static loading criteria. The San Fernando earthquake of February 1971 demonstrated that more realistic design criteria are required to assess the effects of earthquake motions. An approach is presented for establishing regional aseismic design criteria for non-nuclear electrical facilities located in an area of high seismicity and faulting, and three zones were identified in which most-severe, less-severe, and moderate earthquake shaking is anticipated. The degree of hazard was expressed for purposes of design, in terms of design spectra and scaled accelerograms corresponding to the average maximum earthquake. The design spectra and accelerograms provide the basis for qualification of equipment and for analysis of structures and equipment using the response spectrum technique.