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Seismic zones map - France

What are the French seismic zones according to Eurocode 8 ?

In France, the division is specified in the law (not in the national annex). The French metropolitan area is divided into four seismic zones identified from 1 to 4 (The map below was created from this data).

Zone1234
SeismicityVery lowLowModerateMedium
Seismicity agr0.4m/s20.7m/s21.1m/s21.6m/s2
Eurocodes - Seismic zones map - France (2015-2023) Seismic zoning of France (2015-2023)
The French overseas departments, overseas territories and overseas collectivities each have a specific seismicity.
ZoneFrench GuianaReunion IslandMayotte IslandMartinique IslandGuadeloupe Island
SeismicityVery lowLowModerateStrongStrong
Reference peak ground acceleration on rock agr0.4m/s20.7m/s21.1m/s23.0m/s23.0m/s2
Seismicity of overseas departments
ZoneSaint Pierre and MiquelonNew CaledoniaWallis and FutunaSaint MartinSaint Barths
SeismicityVery lowModerateStrongStrongStrong
Reference peak ground acceleration on rock agr0.4m/s21.1m/s23.0m/s23.0m/s23.0m/s2
Seismicity of overseas territories and overseas collectivities

Is my new building concerned ?

You can check if your building is concerned on the french regulations on LEGIFRANCE. Here is the summary:
Zone/Importance classNormal riskSpecial risk
IIIIIIIV
Zone 1NoYes
Zone 2NoYes
Zone 3NoYes
Zone 4NoYes
Zone 5NoYes

Buildings at normal risk are classified into four categories of increasing importance, from category I with low stake in category IV which gathers the strategic and essential structures crisis management.

Importance classDescription
I
  • Buildings in which there is no human activity requiring a long-term stay.
II
  • Individual dwellings.
  • Establishments open to the public (ERP) of categories 4 and 5.
  • Collective dwellings less than 28m high.
  • Offices or non-ERP commercial establishments, h≤28m, max. 300 pers.
  • Industrial buildings that can accommodate up to 300 people.
  • Parking lots open to the public.
III
  • Category 1, 2 and 3 ERP.
  • Collective dwellings and offices, h>28m.
  • Buildings that can accommodate more than 300 people.
  • Health and social establishments.
  • Collective energy production centers.
  • Schools.
IV
  • Buildings essential to civil security, national defense and maintaining public order.
  • Buildings ensuring the maintenance of communications, production and drinking water storage, public energy distribution.
  • Buildings ensuring aviation safety control.
  • Health facilities necessary for crisis management.
  • Weather centers.

Example of results given by the software

See the features of Eurocodes Zoning for seismic analysis in France
Available in English/French, otherwise «Google Translate»!

B1 - Localization

French flag
6.9511° , 43.4979°
1019565m , 6274536m
Large map
Simple map
06590 Théoule-sur-Mer, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

B2 - Elevations

Elevation map to calculate orography factor
Coordinates6.9536°, 43.4972°6.9455°, 43.4994°6.9455°, 43.4994°6.9368°, 43.5019°
Elevations9m244m244m54m
Obstacle effective height H235m190m
Slope actual length Lu / Ld698.4m754.4m
Slope angle Φ33.7%25.2%
Horizontal distance site/top x483.1m
Elevation at the place of construction58m

B3 - Building

common structure
50years
8.0m
15°

B4 - Terrain categories

Terrain map
Sectors1234
CategoriesIIIb00IIIb
Radius R of the angular sector : 300m

C1 - Snow NF EN 1991-1-3/NA (may 2007) + A1 (july 2011)

A2(sk,0 = 0.45kN/m2)
MANDELIEU-LA-NAPOULE,ALPES-MARITIMES (06)
sk,58m = 0.45kN/m2

s50ans = 0.45kN/m2

sad = 1.0kN/m2

C2 - Wind NF EN 1991-1-4/NA (march 2008) + A1 (july 2011) + A2 (september 2012) + A3 (april 2019)

2(vb,0 = 24.0m/s)
THEOULE-SUR-MER, ALPES-MARITIMES (06)
3
Sectors1234
Sector definitionfrom 330° to 60°from 60° to 150°from 150° to 240°from 240° to 330°
Fundamental value of the basic wind velocity vb,024.0m/s
Shape parameter K0.2
Exponent n0.5
Annual probability of exceedence p0.02
Probability factor cprob1.0
Directional factor cdir1.00.850.851.0
Basic wind velocity vb24.0m/s20.4m/s20.4m/s24.0m/s
Reference roughness length z0,II0.05m
Roughness length z00.5m0.005m0.005m0.5m
Terrain factor kr0.2230.1620.1620.223
Height above ground z8.0m
Minimum height zmin9.0m1.0m1.0m9.0m
Roughness factor cr(z)0.6451.1931.1930.645
Obstacle typeisolated hills
Exposure type-upwind-downwind
Factor depending on the type and dimensions of the obstacle s max0.00.80.00.8
Orography factor* co(z)1.01.2351.01.112
Mean wind velocity vm(z)15.5m/s30.1m/s24.3m/s17.2m/s
Turbulence factor kl0.9231.01.00.923
Standard deviation of the turbulence σv4.943m/s3.299m/s3.299m/s4.943m/s
Turbulence intensity Iv(z)0.3190.110.1360.287
Air density ρ1.225kg/m3
Exposure factor ce(z)1.3473.842.7741.55
Peak velocity pressure qp(z)475.1N/m2978.9N/m2707.1N/m2546.7N/m2
Peak wind velocity for Serviceability Limit States vp(z),SLS100.3km/h143.9km/h122.3km/h107.6km/h
Peak wind velocity for Ultimate Limit States vp(z),ULS122.8km/h176.3km/h149.8km/h131.7km/h
* The orography factor is calculated for a well individualized obstacle (an emergent zone compared to a general ground without marked relief)

C3 - Seism Code of the Environment - Article D563-8-1 (09/01/2015) + JORF n°0248 of 24/10/2010 text N°5

2 (0.7m/s2)
Theoule-sur-Mer, Alpes-Maritimes (06)
A seismic analysis may be required for this building. You can check if your building is concerned on LEGIFRANCE.