ISO 23469-2005 PDF

Full title and description

Bases for design of structures — Seismic actions for designing geotechnical works (ISO 23469:2005). This International Standard provides guidance for specifying seismic actions to be used when designing geotechnical works and related buried or underground structures, foundations, retaining walls, earth and rockfill structures, dams, landfills and similar works.

Abstract

ISO 23469:2005 gives general guidelines for defining seismic input and actions for geotechnical design, covering buried structures (tunnels, box culverts, pipelines, underground storage), foundations (shallow and deep), retaining and quay walls, pile-supported wharves and piers, earth and rockfill dams and embankments, landfill and waste sites, and gravity dams. The recommendations are intended to be applicable to both new and existing geotechnical works while noting that more specific procedures may be required for assessment of existing structures (see ISO 13822).

General information

• Status: Published (international standard; edition under periodic review).
• Publication date: November 2005 (Edition 1 — published 11 November 2005 in ISO catalogue records).
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 93.020 (Geotechnics) / 91.080.01 (Structures of buildings in general).
• Edition / version: Edition 1 (2005).
• Number of pages: 85 pages.

Scope

Provides guidelines for specifying seismic actions (seismic input) to be used in the geotechnical design of a wide range of earthworks and geotechnical structures: buried and underground structures, shallow and deep foundations, retaining and quay walls, pile-supported wharves and piers, earth and rockfill dams and embankments, gravity dams, landfill and waste sites, and similar works. The guidance is intended to be sufficiently general for new and existing works while cross-referencing more specific assessment guidance where needed (for example ISO 13822 for existing structures).

Key topics and requirements

• Definition of seismic actions applicable to geotechnical works and recommended approaches for specifying seismic input.
• Application guidance for buried structures (tunnels, culverts, pipelines) and underground storage.
• Guidance for foundations (shallow and deep) including consideration of soil conditions and site effects.
• Recommendations for retaining structures, quay walls and pile-supported wharves and piers under seismic loading.
• Considerations for earth and rockfill dams, embankments, gravity dams, landfills and waste sites in seismic regions.
• Notes on applicability to both new and existing works and cross-reference to assessment procedures for existing structures.

Typical use and users

Used by geotechnical and structural engineers, design offices, consultants, infrastructure asset owners, regulatory authorities and researchers involved in seismic design and assessment of geotechnical works and underground constructions. The standard supports preparation of national/regional design guidance and project-specific design briefs where seismic actions for geotechnical elements are required.

Related standards

Key related documents include ISO 13822 (Bases for design of structures — Assessment of existing structures), which provides procedures for assessing existing structures, and ISO 2394 (General principles on reliability for structures), which provides reliability principles underpinning design and assessment. These documents are often used together when seismic actions and the assessment of existing geotechnical works are required.

Keywords

seismic actions, geotechnical design, buried structures, foundations, retaining walls, dams, landfills, soil-structure interaction, seismic input, ISO 23469.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 23469:2005 is an International Standard titled "Bases for design of structures — Seismic actions for designing geotechnical works" that gives guidance on specifying seismic actions for geotechnical and earth-works design.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers guidance for defining seismic input and actions for a range of geotechnical works including buried/underground structures, shallow and deep foundations, retaining/quay walls, pile-supported wharves and piers, earth and rockfill dams, gravity dams, landfills and similar works. It is written to be applicable to both new and existing works, with cross-references to assessment standards for existing structures.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Geotechnical and structural engineers, consultants, design offices, infrastructure owners, regulators and academics dealing with seismic design or assessment of geotechnical structures.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The 2005 edition (Edition 1) is the published version; ISO records show the standard was reviewed and confirmed (most recently confirmed in ISO metadata in 2022) and remains the current published edition, with periodic review status noted in ISO catalogue entries. ISO has also recorded work toward a revision/updated work item (ISO/AWI 23469) in its lifecycle tracking. Users should check national adoption and the ISO catalogue for any updates after confirmation dates.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: ISO 23469 sits within the "Bases for design of structures" family of documents managed under ISO/TC 98 and is commonly used alongside related standards such as ISO 13822 (assessment of existing structures) and ISO 2394 (general principles on reliability for structures).

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Seismic actions; geotechnical works; buried structures; foundations; retaining walls; dams; landfills; soil-structure interaction; seismic input; reliability.