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).
Zone
1
2
3
4
Seismicity
Very low
Low
Moderate
Medium
Seismicity agr
0.4m/s2
0.7m/s2
1.1m/s2
1.6m/s2
Seismic zoning of France (2015-2023)
The French overseas departments, overseas territories and overseas collectivities each have a specific seismicity.
Zone
French Guiana
Reunion Island
Mayotte Island
Martinique Island
Guadeloupe Island
Seismicity
Very low
Low
Moderate
Strong
Strong
Reference peak ground acceleration on rock agr
0.4m/s2
0.7m/s2
1.1m/s2
3.0m/s2
3.0m/s2
Seismicity of overseas departments
Zone
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
New Caledonia
Wallis and Futuna
Saint Martin
Saint Barths
Seismicity
Very low
Moderate
Strong
Strong
Strong
Reference peak ground acceleration on rock agr
0.4m/s2
1.1m/s2
3.0m/s2
3.0m/s2
3.0m/s2
Seismicity of overseas territories and overseas collectivities
You can check if your building is concerned on the french regulations on LEGIFRANCE. Here is the summary:
Zone/Importance class
Normal risk
Special risk
I
II
III
IV
Zone 1
No
Yes
Zone 2
No
Yes
Zone 3
No
Yes
Zone 4
No
Yes
Zone 5
No
Yes
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 class
Description
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.