Does equipment meet seismic requirements
Does equipment meet seismic requirements
(OP)
Dear everyone,
I work for a company that is installing some new electrical power backup equipment.
I need to make sure it meets the seismic requirements as set forth by the project engineer. (I am in facilities)
These are the guidelines for the building:
A.Seismic-Restraint Loading:
1.SiteClass as Defined in the NCSBC: D.
2.Assigned Seismic Use Group or Building Category as Defined in the NCSBC: I.
a.Component Importance Factor: 1.0.
b.Component Response Modification Factor: 1.25 (Lighting Fixtures), 2.5 (Equipment), and 3.5 (Conduit).
c.Component Amplification Factor: 1.0.
3.Design Spectral Response Acceleration at Short Periods(0.2 Second): 0.346.
4.Design Spectral Response Acceleration at 1.0-Second Period: 0.179.
5.Seismic Design Category: C.
And this is what the equipment manufacturer has provided:
Lateral design seismic force at center of gravity of cabinet is 1.5G.
Vertical design seismic force at center of gravity of cabinet is 0.75G.
Where,Z = 1.0
I = 1.0
K1 = 2.5
K2 = 2.0
K0 = 0.3
How can I prove/disprove the equipment meets the requirements?
Thank you!
I work for a company that is installing some new electrical power backup equipment.
I need to make sure it meets the seismic requirements as set forth by the project engineer. (I am in facilities)
These are the guidelines for the building:
A.Seismic-Restraint Loading:
1.SiteClass as Defined in the NCSBC: D.
2.Assigned Seismic Use Group or Building Category as Defined in the NCSBC: I.
a.Component Importance Factor: 1.0.
b.Component Response Modification Factor: 1.25 (Lighting Fixtures), 2.5 (Equipment), and 3.5 (Conduit).
c.Component Amplification Factor: 1.0.
3.Design Spectral Response Acceleration at Short Periods(0.2 Second): 0.346.
4.Design Spectral Response Acceleration at 1.0-Second Period: 0.179.
5.Seismic Design Category: C.
And this is what the equipment manufacturer has provided:
Lateral design seismic force at center of gravity of cabinet is 1.5G.
Vertical design seismic force at center of gravity of cabinet is 0.75G.
Where,Z = 1.0
I = 1.0
K1 = 2.5
K2 = 2.0
K0 = 0.3
How can I prove/disprove the equipment meets the requirements?
Thank you!






RE: Does equipment meet seismic requirements
RE: Does equipment meet seismic requirements
They aren't being the most cooperative. But no one at my company (including me) knows if the equipment meets or doesn't meet.
I was hoping to figure it out, regardless if the manufacturer goes to a 3rd party engineer....
Thanks!
RE: Does equipment meet seismic requirements
RE: Does equipment meet seismic requirements
RE: Does equipment meet seismic requirements
RE: Does equipment meet seismic requirements
Refer to Sections 13.2.1 and 13.2.2 in ASCE 7-05.
RE: Does equipment meet seismic requirements
RE: Does equipment meet seismic requirements
If you don't stand your ground, you're just deferring their day of reckoning to some time in the future and another engineer to be the hard guy. And don't do their work for them. If they say the equipment has been tested to 1.5g (H) and .75g (V), then make them provide results in a format that follows the new I-codes.
RE: Does equipment meet seismic requirements
Yes, this is a huge issue and many manufacturers will have difficulty getting their products certified in time.