PSI - Issue 70

Anchal kaw et al. / Procedia Structural Integrity 70 (2025) 161–168

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NSEs can be categorized into the following three groups on the basis of their use and function: - a) Content of building: - It includes furniture, equipment, false ceiling, door and window frames and panels, infill wall materials, elevators and escalators. b) Appendages to building- It includes horizontal and vertical elements projecting out of building such as chimneys, stone cladding, facades, overhead water tanks etc. c) Services and utilities: - It includes services that are essential for proper functioning of building such as electricity cables, water supply pipes, HVAC duct system, firefighting system, oxygen pipes, drainage pipes etc. NSEs are classified into two types depending on their behavior during earthquakes namely a)Acceleration sensitive NSEs which include heavy and relatively stiffer items that can topple or fall during an earthquake therefore affecting the building functionality. b) Deformation-sensitive NSEs which include light and flexible items that are subjected to pull and shear during earthquake and they undergo relative displacements at ends. During events like earthquake there is risk of failure of two major components namely SEs and NSEs. The SEs are designed to resist the seismic forces whereas the NSEs are not designed to resist the seismic forces hence they are more susceptible to the damage induced by earthquake forces. The main aim of this study is to consider the effect of lateral forces acting on NSEs in Indian seismic design codes in a detailed manner and it involves comparative study of lateral forces acting on NSEs between Indian codes (IS 16700)(Standard, 2023.) and international codes (Eurocode 8).(EN 1998-1: Eurocode 8: Design of structures for earthquake resistance – Part 1: General rules, seismic actions and rules for buildings, 2004)

(a)

(b)

(c) (d) Fig.1 Common NSEs in a building (a) Pneumatic pipe (b) Multiple pipe (c) HVAC Duct system (d) Cable tray

1.1. Importance of non-structural elements NSEs are those elements which do not contribute to primary load bearing mechanism of the building. Failure of NSEs during earthquake can result in financial losses, hinder the escape route of building by blocking them, interfere with the occupant safety by falling on them, cause loss of lives and it can render building nonfunctional. The cost of NSEs will vary for different type of buildings. For Critical and lifeline structures such as hospital buildings, emergency centers etc. these constitute upto 90% of total building cost. In case of hospital buildings failure of NSEs can hinder the working of healthcare facilities. Hospital building has maximum number of non-structural elements