The Need for Seismic Bracing
Seismic bracing of ducts and pipes is a requirement that depends on many factors such as the area’s seismic record, the size, and contents of the duct or pipe. While the requirements affect new construction the most, several jurisdictions, such as California, require stringent seismic bracing retrofits of certain existing facilities.
PSE Solution
Our goal is to make facilities safer and more prepared for earthquakes. Be they hospitals that need to be operational after an earthquake or facilities processing hazardous materials that need to be contained after an earthquake. PSE has a dedicated branch of engineers and designers that provide our clients with seismic bracing engineering and design for new construction as well as code retrofits. Whether it is equipment anchorage or distribution system bracing, our approach is simple – send a mobile dedicated team of engineers and designers to the facility to audit existing conditions, to determine the most economical way of adequately bracing vulnerable items using readily available and approved components, and to provide easy-to-follow stamped construction drawings for the work to be done right the first time. From braced and moment frames to cable and strut bracing, our team is expert in the right tools for the job. We place heavy emphasis on coordinating with the client, the contractor, and involved authorities to determine availability and preferences of components to be used in our design. This ensures project efficiency and is beneficial for all parties.
In many instances the solution is a simple one, requiring a standard detail from our design library that has been used over and over. In other situations, complexities of systems and site congestion require unique and creative yet cost effective designs. We are no stranger to such situations.
Our team of engineers has the expertise to shine in such situations and deliver the best-fit solution. A Common problem associated with retrofit projects is the lack of or inaccuracy of construction drawings of piping systems. Our team of engineers and designers, with years of field as-builting experience, avoids this common problem by taking measurements, making observations of the existing conditions, and performing the design all on-site. There really is no substitute.
Cost
A multitude of variables contributes to the overall cost of a seismic retrofit project. We are committed to finding creative ways of minimizing the effects of variables we run across to save our client time and money and be competitive. Here is a brief list of items that negatively impact the cost, and subsequently the schedule, of a retrofit project:
• Site congestion and access to pipe
• Accessibility of structure to brace against
• Availability of existing construction documents
• Site access and protocol
• Items above ceiling grids
Brochures/Contact Information
Click here to view a brochure on our seismic bracing services. If you have any questions or would like to know more, please do not hesitate to contact us. Art Mirzoyan, engineer (801) 676-1547