1. Microseismic shock. Recorded by a single seismograph or by seismographs of the same model, but not by several seismographs of different kinds; the shock felt by an experienced observer.
  2. Extremely feeble shock. Recorded by several seismographs of different kinds; felt by a small number of persons at rest.
  3. Very feeble shock. Felt by several persons at rest; strong enough for the direction or duration to be appreciable.
  4. Feeble shock. Felt by persons in motion; disturbance of moveable objects, doors, windows, cracking of ceilings.
  5. Shock of moderate intensity. Felt generally by everyone; disturbance of furniture, beds, etc., ringing of some bells.
  6. Fairly strong shock. General awakening of those asleep; general ringing of bells; oscillation of chandeliers; stopping of clocks; visible agitation of trees and shrubs; some startled persons leaving their dwellings.
  7. Strong shock. Overthrow of moveable objects; fall of plaster; ringing of church bells; general panic, without damage to buildings.
  8. Very strong shock. Fall of chimneys; cracks in the walls of buildings.
  9. Extremely strong shock. Partial or total destruction of some buildings.
  10. Shock of extreme intensity. Great disaster; ruins; disturbance of the strata, fissures in the ground, rock falls from mountains.

Richter [1958, p650] describes this as the most commonly used form of the Rossi – Forel [R.F.] Scale.

References

Richter C F, 1958, Elementary seismology, Freeman, San Francisco, 653p

.