08-20: Seismic Qualification of Cooling Towers by Shake-Table Testing

The International Building Code (IBC) establishes qualification requirements for equipment, such as evaporative cooling equipment, to resist seismic loads. Where certification of seismic resistance is required, the basis for certification must be by analysis, testing, or experience data. For designated seismic system equipment that must remain operable following an earthquake, the most reliable basis for certification is shake-table-testing. The Code-recognized test standard AC156 provides a generic methodology for verifying post-earthquake functionality. This paper will focus on seismic qualification by shake-table testing per AC156's, and make more recommendations specific to evaporative cooling equipment for verification of post-test functionality.