Welding study and sismeic study by GDF
Although moderate in France, the seismic activity can have consequences on industrial infrastructures in some regions; Thus the the French Regulator has updated – by decrets - the legislation for buried gas pipelines regarding earthquakes
The decrets contains the seismic zoning which divides France in 5 zones of increasing seismicity and introduce the notion of " normal not retroactive risk " as well as the notion of " special retroactive risk “
For gas infrastructures, the new regulations concern the new domestic networks but also imposes to check the statutory conformity of existing ones with regards to their criticality (SEVESO)
So, for any project of installation of pipes in zones of seismicity 3, 4 or 5 for the distribution, the operators will have to present in the administrative file of authorization a technical argument proving that the future pipe is sized to resist the seismic loads fixed in the order
The new legislation imposes the establishment of a specific methodology adapted to the distribution networks, thus including PE
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