Seismic Bracing
Seismic Bracing
(OP)
Ok, once again I'm looking from information about seismic bracing. I was walking a projejet the other day and I came across two things that did not look right to me. So I got back to the office and started to search NFPA 13 chapter 9 to see if the seismic installation is IAW to code, so far I have not been able to find the correct answer so I'm I calling to all the experts out there.
QUESTION ONE
1. Can you brace the lateral brace to the longitudinal brace? In other word one or the other are not braced directly to the sprinkler pipe.
2. The sprinkler company anchored the seismic bracing to the mortar of the block wall not to the block itself or the structural. Is this right?
Thanks in advance for any information that you can provide.
QUESTION ONE
1. Can you brace the lateral brace to the longitudinal brace? In other word one or the other are not braced directly to the sprinkler pipe.
2. The sprinkler company anchored the seismic bracing to the mortar of the block wall not to the block itself or the structural. Is this right?
Thanks in advance for any information that you can provide.





RE: Seismic Bracing
#2 is a bit more interesting. What type of anchor did they use. It is my understanding that you can't use expansion anchors in block walls. I had a structural engineer tell me that many years ago. You have to use epoxy type anchors in block walls. He was saying that the block is not capable of handling the expansion forces. I would consult a structural guy on the use of anchors in the mortar.
Travis Mack
MFP Design, LLC
www.mfpdesign.com
RE: Seismic Bracing
Thanks for the information provided. I was not aware of the 4 way brace that you indicated above. They are not using any brace they are simply connecting a brace clamp to the other brace pipe, no especial gismo at all.
As for the anchoring I do not know if the used epoxy anchor, I have not been able to take a close look. But still they did not penetrate the block the drill the hole in the mortar( between the blocks) which to looks like that is even weaker that the block himself.
RE: Seismic Bracing
I really think you need a structural engineer opinion on the anchoring system. It seems like it would not be adequate, but a structural PE should determine for sure.
Travis Mack
MFP Design, LLC
www.mfpdesign.com
RE: Seismic Bracing
RE: Seismic Bracing
Thanks for the information, can you provide guidance as to where in NFPA 13 does this is prohibited. I have look in chapter 9 but I have not come across, or I keep missing it.
regards
Lou
RE: Seismic Bracing
RE: Seismic Bracing
RE: Seismic Bracing