Selection of an appropriate plant layout

In the early stages of the design of the plant, a preliminary layout of the main facilities should be prepared this should be periodically reviewed to achieve the most suitable solution for the seismic design. All procedures for seismic design should be firmly based on a clear appreciation of the consequences of past destructive earthquakes, and this knowledge should be adopted and realistically applied. In this preliminary work, the considerations mentioned in this section should be taken into account to reduce the effects of earthquakes on SSCs. 

In the preliminary design stages, seismic effects (in terms of forces and undesired torsional or rocking effects) should be minimized by the appropriate selection of a structural layout applying certain general criteria, such as  

To reduce undesirable differential movements between structures, consideration should be given to locating the structures, to the extent practicable, on a common foundation structure, or at least avoiding different 

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