Steel Buildings in Europe

Part 10: Model Construction Specification 10 - 16 One fundamental issue in EN 1998-1 is the definition of the seismic action. Given the wide difference of seismic hazard and seismo-genetic characteristics in the various member countries, the seismic action is herein defined in general terms. The definition allows various Nationally Determined Parameters which shall be confirmed or modified in the National Annexes. National choice is allowed through clauses listed in the Foreword to EN 1998-1. Additional contract document requirements According to § 2.1(2) and (3) of EN 1998-1, target reliabilities for the no- collapse requirement and for the damage limitation requirement are established by the National Authorities for different types of buildings on the basis of the consequences of failure. Contract documents shall specify the Importance Class of the individual project (see 4.2.5 of EN 1998-1). Depending on the Importance Class of the structure and the particular conditions of the project, contract documents shall specify whether or not ground investigations and/or geological studies shall be performed to identify the ground type (A, B, C, D, E, S1 or S2), according to Table 3.1 of EN 1998-1. Contract documents shall specify the seismic zone of the individual project (according to the zonation map, decided by the National Authority, and found in the National Annex to EN 1998-1). Contract documents shall specify according to which concept earthquake resistant steel buildings shall be designed to (DCL, DCM or DCH). According to 6.2(8) of EN 1998-1, the required toughness of steel and welds and the lowest service temperature adopted in combination with the seismic action shall be defined in the contract documents.