Developments of Seismic Design Code for High Pressure Gas Facilities in Japan

The Seismic Design Code for High Pressure Gas Facilities was established in advance of other industrial fields in 1982. Only exception was that for nuclear power plants. In 1995, Hyogoken Nanbu earthquake brought approximately 6,000 deaths and more than 100,000 M$ loss or property in Kobe area, Japan. This unexpected serious event enforced us that industrial facilities should pay to special considerations of their damages including ground failure due to the liquefaction. Their strong ground motions brought serious damages to urban structures in the area. Thus, the Seismic Design Code of the High Pressure Gas Facilities were improved to include 2 step design assessments, that is, Level 1 earthquake (operating basisearthquake, the probable strong earthquake in the service life of the facilities), and Level 2 earthquake (safety shutdownearthquake, the possible strongest earthquake with extremely low probability of occurrence). For Level 2 earthquake, the ground failure by possible liquefaction shall be taken into account. In regard to Level 1 earthquake, the system must be remained safety without critical damage after the earthquake, in addition to no leakage of “gas”. In regard to Level 2 earthquake, the required seismic performance is that peventing systems must be remained without gas leakage, and stable. It means a certain non-elastic deformation without gas leakage may be allowed. The High Pressure Gas Safety Institute of Japan has set up the Seismic Safety Promotion Committee to modify their code in advance of other industries, and continue to investigate more reasonable seismic design practice for more than 5 years. Andthe final version of the guideline has been established for the design practices both in Level 1 and Level 2 earthquakes. This paper explains the activities of the committee, their new design concepts and scope of applications.