Earthquake-resistant building

Earthquake-resistant buildings offer the best protection in the event of an earthquake. The earthquake risk can be reduced in particular by making new buildings earthquake-resistant from the outset and improving the earthquake resistance of existing buildings during conversion or renovation - where necessary and proportionate.

Earthquake-resistant construction means

• Protecting people from collapsing structures
• Limiting damage to structures
• Maintaining the functionality of important structures in the event of an incident
• Limit consequential damage from earthquakes (e.g. due to fire, loss of production, etc.)

New buildings

New buildings must be designed and built to be earthquake-proof in accordance with sia standards. According to the Building Act (see BauG Art. 69 and BauV Art. 39), the currently valid structural standards SIA 260ff apply.

Important terms and parameters of the SIA standards

The seismic hazard and significance of a structure are determined by three important parameters of the applicable SIA 261 standard

Earthquake zone: Liechtenstein is located in earthquake zone 2 

Soil class: Classification of the local subsoil into one of 6 defined classes A to F with corresponding amplification potential of earthquake effects. Information on the subsoil class can be found in the geodata portal.

Structure class (BWK): Classification of the structure in one of 3 defined structure classes depending on importance and damage potential. The relative influence on the standardized earthquake effects varies from 1.0 (BWK I) to 1.5 (BWK III).

Conversions, repairs

A planned conversion or a planned repair provides an opportunity to clarify whether an earthquake safety inspection is appropriate. Such an inspection clarifies whether the structure is sufficiently earthquake-proof or whether earthquake safety measures need to be included.

Secondary building components, installations and equipment (SBIE)

Earthquakes can cause extensive material damage to non-structural components, installations and facilities. It therefore makes sense to secure these elements to withstand earthquakes. However, if secondary components or fixed installations endanger people, the supporting structure or the function of important installations, the requirements of SIA standard 261 apply.

Building permit procedure

Liechtenstein legislation explicitly requires compliance with the applicable standards of the Swiss Society of Engineers and Architects SIA. This must always be confirmed as part of the building application using the "building application form regarding natural hazards". In the case of larger objects (> 15,000m3) or for building classes II and III, an additional earthquake preliminary design report must be prepared and a test engineer and to confirm this using "Form for final acceptance of construction work regarding natural hazards"