A couple of years back we had a company come in and do their dog and pony show regarding seismic bracing for mechanical systems. They specialize in the hardware but also will do the engineering and provide a complete package to the contractor for installation.
SDC A & B as has been stated in this discussion, do not require bracing on sprinkler systems. SDC C is when it begins and those requirements can be met by applying the prescribed methods within NFPA 13. When you get to SDC D then special engineering and special inspections come into play. Please don't talk about Seismic Zones as they were once shown in NFPA 13, those zones are not relevant anymore and are not used to determine the need for seismic bracing. Lastly, the info regarding the need for EQ bracing should be on the fire protection engineered drawings. This should not be left up to the sprinkler contractor to determine. Craig L. Prahl, CET Fire Protection CH2MHILL Lockwood Greene 1500 International Drive Spartanburg, SC 29304-0491 Direct - 864.599.4102 Fax - 864.599.8439 CH2MHILL Extension 74102 [email protected] -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Chris Born Sent: Thursday, March 14, 2013 11:50 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: Seismic and ASCE 7 That is a consideration, but that is one of the factors that is evaluated to determine the seismic design category. This is not an area that the average sprinkler contractor or designer should generally have to deal with or determine. As long as someone has determined the seismic design category, preferably a licensed structural engineer, the sprinkler contractor/designer should be clear of any determination as to whether seismic protection is required. If its seismic design category A or B, no seismic protection. Is required, C and above, seismic protection is required. If C, ASCE 7 acknowledges that compliance with NFPA 13 is adequate, D or above, I believe determination of loads, etc., gets more involved, Christopher Born, P.E. Clark Nexsen Norfolk, VA Sent from my iPad On Mar 14, 2013, at 11:38 PM, [email protected] wrote: > I think the most important factor is "Is it an essential facility", like > hospital, fire station, police station, after an event. a warehouse would not > be. > > Quoting Ron Greenman <[email protected]>: > >> Hmmm, maybe just my West Coast interpretation. I've never done >> anything without bracing. Bracing has always been and just got nuts >> when ASCE 7 based calcs got into the code. I just thought that was >> special West Coast stuff applied to the generic stuff. Parochial thinking on >> my part. >> >> On Thu, Mar 14, 2013 at 7:37 PM, Cahill, Christopher >> <[email protected]>wrote: >> >>> Well ... >>> 9.3 Protection of Piping Against Damage Where Subject to Earthquakes. >>> 9.3.1* General. >>> 9.3.1.1 Where water-based fire protection systems are required to be >>> protected against damage from earthquakes, the requirements of >>> Section 9.3 shall apply, unless the requirements of 9.3.1.2 are met. >>> >>> 9.3.5 has the 40/80 stuff and BL's are covered in 9.3.6. >>> >>> Only place I know of and you can't get to .5 and .6 until you get >>> past 9.3.1.1. And you can only get there from IBC/ASCE 7 SDC C or higher. >>> >>> I'm all ears (well technically eyes in this forum) if you have some >>> other sections I'm missing. Vast majority of US doesn't do any >>> bracing. Working in MN I never saw one in 16 years until I started >>> this job and work everywhere except MN. We just did a job in Boise >>> and none required (which surprised me as I figured it was close enough to >>> Yellowstone). >>> >>> Chris Cahill, PE* >>> Senior Fire Protection Engineer, Aviation & Facilities Group Burns & >>> McDonnell >>> 8201 Norman Center Drive >>> Bloomington, MN 55437 >>> Phone: 952.656.3652 >>> Fax: 952.229.2923 >>> [email protected] _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list [email protected] http://fireball.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list [email protected] http://fireball.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum
