Algerian Seismic Building Code: Main Features of the New Draft Rpa 2015

Abstract eng:
Algeria is an earthquake prone area and is periodically stricken by seismic events that could trigger important human and material Losses such as the "21st May, 2003 Boumerdes Earthquake (Mw 6.8)" which resulted in more than 2300 dead and 10 000 injured people and more than 3 billions US Dollars of damage. To reduce the earthquake damage, one of the main countermeasures is, of course, the strict application of the requirements of the seismic code and other building regulations. The Algerian experience in the field of seismic risk reduction has begun after the major earthquake of EL Asnam (Mw 7.2) of 10th of October 1980 which resulted in the death of 3000 people and about 3 billions of US Dollars of damage. Immediately after this dramatic event, the government has enacted the first national seismic code entitled “Règles parasismiques algeriennes RPA 81”. Since then, this code has been periodically updated, taking into account the continuous progress of earthquake engineering research at national and international levels and the specific experience of Algerian professionals (academia and practitioners). In this framework, a new draft of the seismic building code (RPA 2015) is in way to be finalized by an ad-hoc working group, after more than five years of efforts. In the present paper, the main features and contents of this draft document are presented.

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