What is Seismic Bracing Cable?
article by Central Wire Group of Companies, Loos & Co. published on CentralWire.com
Today’s buildings are designed to withstand seismic activity better than ever before, as such, the need to secure non-structural items in the buildings is crucial to avoid damage during an earthquake. Having bracing cables installed dramatically limits damage from earthquakes.
Loos & Co. Seismic Bracing products can help prevent much of the damage caused by earthquakes, that some home and business owners may not think about.
Seismic bracing cable is a listed, reliable, lightweight, easy to install, cost effective, way to secure fire sprinkler systems and a host of other mechanical, electrical, and plumbing applications. It allows designers to fit braces in tight areas where traditional rigid pipe bracing can not and installers to use less material and have 30% quicker installs.
In today’s blog we will be going over why Seismic Bracing Cable is important, how it works to limit earthquake damage, and where it is commonly used in building construction.
Why is Seismic Bracing Needed?
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 secured 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. Our FBS compliant product is listed with 3rd party testing facilities UL and ICC, as well as approved for use with CPVC piping.
Let’s walk through how this bracing actually works to avert accidents, and where this cable is used.
How Does Seismic Bracing Work?
Seismic Bracing secures overhead, non-structural building components, such as ductwork and sprinkler lines, to structural elements like beams or structural supports. 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 over the equipment and helps it stays 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 allows the unit to move in harmony with the structure helping keep the critical non-structural components of a building in tact reducing the likely hood of catastrophic failure. Buildings today don’t fail, internal systems do.
Seismic Bracing to Handle Seismic Loads
Our variety of Seismic Bracing bulk cable and Sway Brace kit products have breaking strengths from 920 pounds all the way up to 7000 pounds, offering the durability this application requires. This strength is also supported by easy installation.
These products can be installed efficiently, and their lightweight make-up and convenient spools allow one individual to handle installation, rather than an entire group.
The entire Seismic Bracing product line includes Crimping Tools, Cable Cutters, full Sway Bracing kits and Attachment Hardware, meaning we are a one-stop-shop for your entire bracing project.
Where is it Used?
Loos & Co. bracing is found in commercial and residential buildings all across the globe, including hospitals, universities, airports and semiconductor facilities. Used to secure everything from plumbing and fire sprinkler systems to ductwork and suspended lighting, these products can be installed in new construction, orretrofitted to existing buildings where space and design options are limited. Loos & Co Seismic Bracing cables can also be used in rooftop applications, such as wind mitigation.
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 traditional rigid and pipe type bracing. Unlike Rigid Bracing, Loos & Co cable seismic bracing does not have a length limitation for installations
Save Time and Money by Using Loos & Co. Seismic Bracing Products
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 Engineer’s Tools, a user-friendly, web-based design calculator that generates code-compliant designs in just minutes.
For more information about these safety systems, visit Loos & Co. www.LoosSeismicBracing.com, www.loosco.com, and www.CentralWire.com
