Did you know that most of the destruction generated inside of buildings during an earthquake is not actually caused by the quake itself? The damage is actually triggered by improperly supported gas lines, sprinkler systems, and electrical trays that rupture and arc, producing floods, fires, or other hazards. These situations can be costly and dangerous, creating headaches for business owners long after the ground stops shaking. That is why it is important to employ code-compliant seismic bracing from Loos & Co. to defend against system failures before they happen. So how does this bracing actually work to avert accidents, and where is it used?
How Seismic Bracing Works
Seismic bracing secures overhead, non-structural building components, such as ductwork and sprinkler lines, to structural elements like beams or ceilings. As the building shakes during an earthquake, anchored systems are allowed to move relative to their supports, so the two components shift as one unit, rather than resist each other by swaying in different directions. This alleviates stress on the equipment and ensures it stay securely in place. By bracing the equipment on each side, with either two or four cables depending on the application, the cable generates opposing forces that create tension and immobilize the unit.
Where is it used?
Loos & Co. bracing is found in public buildings all across the United States, including hospitals, universities, and airports. Used to support everything from plumbing and fire sprinkler systems to ductwork and suspended lighting, these products can be installed in new construction, or retrofitted to existing buildings where space and design options are limited. Loos cables can also be easily anchored to the building structure no matter how far away the anchoring point may be, which offers a cost-saving alternative to rigid and pipe type bracing.
Seismic safety systems can be created with the help of our bulk cable or Sway Bracing Kits which use pre-stretched, color-coded galvanized aircraft cable and various attachment fittings to affix suspended equipment to a stable mounting point. For help designing your mounting configurations, Loos offers Engineers’ Tools, a user-friendly, web-based design calculator that generates code-compliant designs in just minutes. For more information about these safety systems, visit https://loosseismicbracing.com/our-products or contact our experts at https://loosseismicbracing.com/contact-us.