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Eaton’s TOLCO seismic bracing solutions help protect people and non-structural components during an earthquake.
For over 60 years, the mechanical, electrical, and fire protection trades have relied on TOLCO seismic bracing solutions.
The National Earthquake Information Center locates about 20,000 earthquakes around the globe each year, or approximately 55 per day. According to long-term records, we expect about 16 major earthquakes in any given year. That includes 15 earthquakes in the magnitude 7 range and one earthquake magnitude 8.0 or greater.
Seismic braces attach equipment to structural members, allowing them to move with the structure during an earthquake. This requires bracing in two directions. First, lateral braces, also called transverse braces, are installed across or perpendicular to the system. Second, longitudinal braces are installed parallel to the system.
Seismic bracing also uses rod stiffeners to keep the whole system strong enough to be braced. To break it down even further, a seismic bracing assembly consists of three items: a system brace, a brace member, and structural attachment. The assembly connects the structure such as a beam or ceiling, to a brace member which could be cable, channel, or pipe to a non-structural support, such as pipe, trapeze, cable tray, duct, and more.
Seismic bracing is categorized as cable bracing or rigid bracing. Both can be used in mechanical, electrical, and plumbing applications.
View our cable brace system attachments and rigid bracing attachments.
Understanding codes and standards for seismic bracing solutions can be confusing. Eaton’s B-Line series Seismic Engineering Service team can help. Our seismic experts are here to help you from pre-bid to inspection, so you can feel confident you have the right solution to meet codes and standards.
Watch the video: Why consider Eaton’s seismic engineering services?
When compared to other cable bracing methods, the B-Line series seismic bracing cable kit is up to 50% faster to install.
Chlorinated polyvinyl chloride pipe (CPVC) is a type of durable, long-lasting pipe that is chemical resistant and is used in mechanical and fire protection system applications. Just like iron pipe size (or IPS), it is critically important to brace CPVC to reduce risk to people and equipment during seismic activity and vibration.
Explore our popular CPVC solutions:
Without good vibration control, expensive equipment may fail faster, produce inaccurate results, and even make noise. In addition to vibration caused by motors, fans, and other equipment, some installations may suffer from seismic activity that can create acute and damaging levels of vibration. If frequencies of vibration are allowed to pass into the structure, they may cause significant damage to the building and surrounding systems.
As CPVC pipe becomes an increasingly attractive alternative to (IPS) steel, the traditional seismic bracing systems used to hang and hold these sprinkler pipes fail to accommodate the unique differences of CPVC. In fact, traditional seismic braces available on the market may be putting fire sprinkler systems at risk of failure, rather than safeguarding them as intended. Yet with properly designed seismic bracing, CPVC can be confidently deployed in applications across the industry.
The Eaton TOLCO Fig. 3000 Brace safely and completely mitigates the disparities of CPVC. Unlike competitive offerings, the Fig. 3000’s patented “gap and barrier” design prevents compression by resting between the brace member and the CPVC pipe.
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