9/5/22, 1:05 PM 2020 National Building Code of Canada seismic hazard maps

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2020 National Building Code of

Canada seismic hazard maps
2020 seismic hazard maps of Canada show the level of seismic
hazard and an indication of the direction and steepness of the
hazard gradient across the country. Note that the colour
scale is adjusted from map to map in order to show
national variations in a sensible way. It is not intended that
values be read off these maps (hence their small scale).
Instead, values for individual sites can be determined from
the 2020 National Building Code of Canada seismic hazard
tool. Maps of spectral (Sa(T), where T is the period in seconds)
and peak ground acceleration (PGA) values are given in units
of g (9.81 m/s2). The map of peak ground velocity (PGV) is
given in m/s.

The NBC 2020 code and commentary requires seismic hazard

values for 11 intensity measures and 3 probabilities for either
a site designation of XV (Vs30 in the range of 140 - 3000 m/s) or
for XS (Site Classes E-A). Below, we provide a representative
suite of maps for a site designation of X450 (i.e., for a Vs30 of
450 m/s) at a probability of 2% in 50 years. As given in the
seismic hazard tool, the mapped values are sensitive to the
site's designation (Vs30 or Site Class) and probability.

Table of contents

Sa(0.05)
Sa(0.1)

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Sa(0.2)
Sa(0.3)
Sa(0.5)
Sa(1.0)
Sa(2.0)
Sa(5.0)
Sa(10.0)
PGA
PGV

Spectral Acceleration map for a period of 0.05 seconds for

Canada. Mean values of 5% damped spectral acceleration for
Site Designation X450 and a probability of 2%/50 years.
Spectral acceleration is contoured in g.

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Spectral Acceleration map for a period of 0.1 seconds for

Canada. Mean values of 5% damped spectral acceleration for
Site Designation X450 and a probability of 2%/50 years.
Spectral acceleration is contoured in g.

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Spectral Acceleration map for a period of 0.2 seconds for

Canada. Mean values of 5% damped spectral acceleration for
Site Designation X450 and a probability of 2%/50 years.
Spectral acceleration is contoured in g.

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Spectral Acceleration map for a period of 0.3 seconds for

Canada. Mean values of 5% damped spectral acceleration for
Site Designation X450 and a probability of 2%/50 years.
Spectral acceleration is contoured in g.

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9/5/22, 1:05 PM 2020 National Building Code of Canada seismic hazard maps

Spectral Acceleration map for a period of 0.5 seconds for

Canada. Mean values of 5% damped spectral acceleration for
Site Designation X450 and a probability of 2%/50 years.
Spectral acceleration is contoured in g.

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Spectral Acceleration map for a period of 1.0 seconds for

Canada. Mean values of 5% damped spectral acceleration for
Site Designation X450 and a probability of 2%/50 years.
Spectral acceleration is contoured in g.

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Spectral Acceleration map for a period of 2.0 seconds for

Canada. Mean values of 5% damped spectral acceleration for
Site Designation X450 and a probability of 2%/50 years.
Spectral acceleration is contoured in g.

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9/5/22, 1:05 PM 2020 National Building Code of Canada seismic hazard maps

Spectral Acceleration map for a period of 5.0 seconds for

Canada. Mean values of 5% damped spectral acceleration for
Site Designation X450 and a probability of 2%/50 years.
Spectral acceleration is contoured in g.

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Spectral Acceleration map for a period of 10.0 seconds for

Canada. Mean values of 5% damped spectral acceleration for
Site Designation X450 and a probability of 2%/50 years.
Spectral acceleration is contoured in g.

https://earthquakescanada.nrcan.gc.ca/hazard-alea/zoning-zonage/NBCC2020maps-en.php 10/12
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Peak ground acceleration (PGA) map for Canada. Mean values

of 5% damped peak acceleration for Site Designation X450 and
a probability of 2%/50 years. Peak acceleration is contoured in
g.

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Peak ground velocity (PGV) map for Canada. Mean values of

5% damped peak velocity for Site Designation X450 and a
probability of 2%/50 years. Peak velocity is contoured in m/s.

Date modified: 2021-04-06

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