Earthquakes around the world

According to data from expert seismologists, there are at least 20.000 earthquakes every year. In the last 500 years, some XNUMX million people have lost their lives due to earthquakes and seaquakes. These are shocking figures, especially considering that most deaths are caused by buildings collapsing or tremors leading to explosions.

And the situation is only set to worsen, given that millions of people live and work in large earthquake-prone cities.

Earthquakes in Italy

Italy is an earthquake-prone country. Anyone building or restructuring must comply with specific earthquake regulations, designed to protect the lives of the people living there.

In line with the latest international regulations, Italy provides technical standards according to which a building must be able to withstand minor earthquakes without any serious damage, and stronger earthquakes without collapsing or causing casualties.

In 2003, the Italian Government set out the criteria for a new national earthquake classification system, based on the most recent studies and assessments of seismic risk. Seismic risk is the probability that a given area will be affected by an event exceeding a certain threshold of intensity or magnitude, in a certain time interval (usually 50 years).

1 Zone – It is the most dangerous area, in which earthquakes of catastrophic magnitude can occur

2 Zone – There is a high probability of strong earthquakes in this area

3 Zone – Strong earthquakes can occur in this area but the event is rare.

4 Zone It's the least dangerous area. Earthquakes are rare.

The Boldrin Group’s earthquake safety efforts

The aim of Seismic Device – set up as a division of NRG Tech in 2012 – is to tackle the complex and extremely interesting matter of seismic safety.

Complex, because it is governed by very specific stringent regulations, both as regards constructing and maintaining buildings and plants.

Interesting, because it provides another opportunity for us to bring order to chaos, creating tools and solutions to monitor structural and seismic movements and gas leaks, both remotely and in real time.

Seismic Device Systems

SISMA BUILDINGS^®: designed to be used specifically in public buildings (hospitals, schools, industrial and artisanal buildings) and private buildings (condominiums, skyscrapers, shops), this Seismic Device system has a control unit with three seismic sensors and a flammable or toxic gas leak detector. The three SISMALOCK sensors^® remote devices detect the presence of a seismic event and send it to the control panel with a standard 4÷20 mA signal, proportional to its energy. From here, based on the chosen configuration, acoustic warning devices, solenoid valves, electric aspirators, or other devices are activated to alert the personnel in charge and allow them to resolve any gas or water leak resulting from damage to the pipes.

EARTHQUAKE FACTORY^®: it is particularly suitable in the applications of industrial plants considered sensitive or RIR (major accident risk) such as: chemical, nuclear, pharmaceutical, storage of toxic and flammable gases or fluids, inserted in contexts of SEVESO and SIL 3 regulations. 

The SISMA FACTORY Seismic Device system^® analyzes the situation at the time of the earthquake and establishes if and when it is appropriate to intervene to block/switch off the systems. In fact, in some cases where human lives or environmental disasters are not at risk, intervening to stop the activity could cause worse damage, such as blocking energy supplies or shutting down extremely delicate production and industrial processes.

SISMALOCK EVO^®: developed for use in applications of industrial plants considered sensitive or RIR (major accident risk) such as: chemical, nuclear, pharmaceutical plants, toxic and flammable gas or fluid storage, inserted in contexts of SEVESO and SIL 3 regulations, the Seismic Device system is made up of three connected sensors, capable of detecting seismic/telluric events and communicating it to the FF2 control unit.

The mechanical signal perceived by the device is converted into an electrical signal, analyzed by means of proprietary algorithms, and used to activate safety devices (for example solenoid valves for dangerous fluids, evac alarm systems, sirens).

SISMA LOCK seismic detector^® : combined with a safety solenoid valve for gas, the device controls its closure in the event of a seismic event (with analysis of accelerations on the 3 axes over time and frequency).

The device has a relay alarm output that can be used for remote signaling and to cut off electricity, thus avoiding possible sources of ignition of fire or explosions.