MEP Seismic &

Wind Provisions of
ASCE 7-10
Prepared for the 2017 Rochester
Engineering Symposium
Richard Sherren, P.E.

1
 New York State Model Building
Code
The state of New York has adopted the 2015
International Building Code as its model building
code.
ØThe seismic provisions for nonstructural
components (MEP components) are found in
ASCE 7-10 Chapter 13.
ØThe wind provisions for roof top equipment
are found in ASCE 7-10 Chapter 29.

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Seismic Provisions

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 Change of Nomenclature
Occupancy Category becomes Risk Category.

ØOccupancy Category I – Risk Category I

ØOccupancy Category II – Risk Category II
ØOccupancy Category III – Risk Category III
ØOccupancy Category IV – Risk Category IV

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 Seismic Design Category
ASCE 7-10 Section 13.1.2
• The Seismic Design Category is determined by
the Structural Engineer of Record.
• It is found on the 1st sheet of the structural
drawings where the basis of design is
specified.
• This Seismic Design Category applies to all of
the nonstructural components in the building.

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 Component Importance Factor
ASCE 7-10 Section 13.1.3
q The Component Importance Factor, , will
have a value of either 1.0 or 1.5. It is different
from the Structural Importance Factor, .
q The Component Importance Factor is
assigned by the Engineer of Record for the
system or equipment under consideration.

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 if:
1. The component is a life safety component, that is
required to function following an earthquake.
2. The component contains, supports, or moves
substances that are highly toxic or explosive.
3. The component is in or attached to a Risk Category IV
building, and is needed for the continued operation of
that facility, or the failure of the component could
impair the continued operation of the building.
4. The component contains, supports or moves highly
toxic or explosive material and is in or attached to a
building that has been classified as a hazardous
occupancy.
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 General Exemptions
ASCE 7-10 Section 13.1.4
1. Nonstructural Components in Seismic Design
Category A are exempt. (ASCE 7-10 Section 11.7)
2. Mechanical & Electrical Components in Seismic
Design Category B are exempt.
3. Mechanical & Electrical Components in Seismic
Design Category C are exempt if their = 1.0.

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 General Exemptions
ASCE 7-10 Section 13.1.4
4. Mechanical & Electrical Components in Seismic Design
Categories D, E, or F where the following apply;
a. = 1.0.
b. The component is positively attached to the structure.
c. Flexible connections are provided between the component
and attached duct, piping, or conduit, and either;
i. The component weight is 400 lbs or less and its C.G. is 4 ft.
or less above the floor; or
ii. The component weighs 20 lbs or less, or for distributed
systems, 5 lbs/ft or less.

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 Designated Seismic Systems
ASCE 7-10 Section 13.2.2
1. Active mechanical & electrical systems that must
remain operable after an earthquake must be
certified by the manufacturer through shake table
testing or experience data unless the component
can be demonstrated to be “inherently rugged”.
2. Components containing hazardous materials that
have = 1.5 must be certified as maintaining
containment following an earthquake by analysis,
shake table test, or experience data.

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 Consequential Damage
ASCE 7-10 Section 13.2.3

The failure of an essential or nonessential

architectural, mechanical, or electrical
component shall not cause the failure of an
essential component.

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 Component Anchorage
ASCE 7-10 Section 13.4
1. Component attachments are to be bolted
welded, or otherwise positively attached to
the building structure w/o counting on
frictional forces due to gravity.
2. A continuous load path of sufficient strength
and stiffness is required between the
component and the building structure.

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Design Force in Attachment
ASCE 7-10 Section 13.4.1
0.4
= 1+2
ℎ

For Concrete Anchorage

≤ 6.0

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 Component Anchorage
ASCE 7-10 Sections 13.4.2.1-13.4.2.3
ü Anchors in concrete are to be designed per
ACI 318 Appendix D. New requirements lead
to larger and/or more anchors.
üAnchors in masonry are to be designed per
TMS 402/ACI 530/ASCE 5.
üPost installed anchors in concrete are to be
prequalified for seismic applications per ACI
355.2.

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 Power Actuated Fasteners
ASCE 7-10 Section 13.4.5
v Power actuated fasteners in concrete or steel
are not to be used for sustained loads or
seismic braces in Seismic Design Categories D,
E, or F unless approved for seismic
applications.
vPower actuated fasteners cannot be used in
masonry unless approved for seismic loading.

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 Friction Clips
ASCE 7-10 Section 13.4.6

Friction clips are not to be used for resisting

sustained loads as well as resisting seismic
loads. C-type beam clamps and large flange
clamps are permitted for hangers if they are
equipped with restraining straps equal to those
found in NFPA 13 Section 9.3.7.

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 Electrical Components
ASCE 7-10 Section 13.6.4
ØElectrical Components with = 1.5 require
seismic restraint.
• I believe that this is referring to electrical equipment,
transformers, and control boxes.
• Most electrical equipment in Risk Category IV
buildings will fall under the essential category and be
assigned = 1.5.
• Due to the dangerous nature of high voltage
equipment, I would suspect that most would be
given = 1.5.
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 Electrical Distribution Systems
ASCE 7-10 Section 13.6.5.6
1. Seismic Restraints are not required where either;
a. Trapeze supported raceways where the total weight of
the raceway supported by the trapeze assemblies
weighs less than 10 lbs/ft.
b. The raceway is supported by hangers and each hanger is
12 in. in length or less from the raceway support point
to the structure. Where rod hangers are used, they
must be equipped with swivels to prevent inelastic
bending of the rod.
2. Seismic restraints are not required for conduit less than
2.5 inches in trade size regardless of the value of .
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 Ductwork
ASCE 7-10 Section 13.6.7
1. Seismic Restraints are not required for ductwork where
either;
a. Trapeze supported ductwork where the total weight of the
raceway supported by the trapeze assemblies weighs less
than 10 lbs/ft.
b. The ductwork is supported by hangers and each hanger is 12
in. in length or less from the duct support point to the
structure. Where rod hangers are used, they must be
equipped with swivels to prevent inelastic bending of the
rod.
2. The duct is less that 6 ft2 in diameter, or weigh less than 17
lbs/ft.
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 Ductwork
ASCE 7-10 Section 13.6.7

The preceding exemptions do not apply to

ductwork that is designed to carry toxic, highly
toxic or flammable gases. They also do not
apply to duct work used for smoke control.

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 Ductwork
ASCE 7-10 Section 13.6.7

Ductwork fabricated and installed in accordance

with standards that have been approved by the
authority having jurisdiction are deemed to
meet the requirements of ASCE 7-10 Chapter 13.

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 Ductwork
ASCE 7-10 Section 13.6.7

Components that are in-line with the duct and

weigh 75 lbs. or less do not require independent
support or seismic bracing. They should be
positively attached to the duct with mechanical
fasteners.

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 Piping Systems
ASCE 7-10 Section 13.6.8.3
Seismic restraints are not required where one of the following
applies.
1. Trapeze supported pipe where no pipe exceeds the size limits
for the various seismic design categories and component
importance factors and the total weight of the pipe is less
than 10 lb/ft.
2. The piping is supported by hangers that are 12 in. or less in
length from the top of the pipe for clevis hung pipe, and from
the top of the trapeze assembly for trapeze supported pipe
to the supporting structure. Where hanger rods are used
they are to be equipped with swivels to prevent inelastic
bending of the rod.
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 Piping Systems
ASCE 7-10 Section 13.6.8.3
3. For piping with an ≥ 4.5 seismic restraints are not
required for;
a. Seismic Design Category C, = 1.5, and the nominal pipe
size is 2 in. or less.
b. Seismic Design Category D, E, or F, = 1.5, and the nominal
pipe size is 1 in. or less.
c. Seismic Design Category D, E, or F, = 1.0, and the nominal
pipe size is 3 in. or less.

With the introduction of ≥ 4.5 in the code language, and the

addition of a plumbing category to Table 13.6-1, there are no
longer any size exemptions for Drain, Waste, and vent lines.
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 ASME Pressure Piping
ASCE 7-10 Section 13.6.8.1

Pressure piping systems and their supports that

have been designed and constructed in
accordance with ASME B31 are deemed to meet
the requirements of ASCE 7-10 Chapter 13.

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 Fire Protection Sprinkler Systems
ASCE 7-10 Section 13.6.8.2

Fire protection sprinkler systems that have been

supported and braced per NFPA 13 are deemed
to meet the requirements of ASCE 7-10 Chapter
13.

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Seismic Restraint Devices

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 Snubbers (Bumpers)
Single Two
Axis Axis
Snubber Snubber

Three
Axis
Snubber
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 Post Type Seismic Isolator

Free Restraint
Standing Housing
Isolator

Three
Axis
Snubber

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 Plate Type Seismic Isolator
Adjustment Isolator
Spacers Top
Plate
Four
Three
Axis
snubbers

Free
Standing
Restraint Isolator
Housing
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 Single Restraint Plate Type Seismic
Isolator Isolator
Top
Plate
Free
Standing
Isolator
Restraint
Housing

Three
Axis
Snubber
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 Clip for Solid, Non-Isolated
Equipment Attachment
Bracket
Sized
Seismic
for
Anchor
a
Qualified
Specific
Per
Capacity
ACI 355.2

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 Cable Restraints for Pipe & Duct
Cable angles are
to be 30° to 60°.
These are a bit to
Steep to be
Totally Effective.

Cable Restraints
Two Cables
Required per
Location

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 Damage to Nonstructural
Component During NZ Earthquake

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Duct Saved by Cable Restraints
During NZ Earthquake

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Wind Provisions

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 Wind Loads
2015 IBC Sections 1609.1 & 1609.1.1
Ø“Buildings, structures, and parts thereof shall
be designed to withstand the minimum wind
loads prescribed herein. Decreases in wind
loads shall not be made for the effect of
shielding by other structures.”
Ø“ Wind Loads on every building or structure
shall be determined in accordance with
Chapters 26 to 30 of ASCE 7 …”

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 Wind Loads
ASCE 7-10 Chapter 29 Section 29.5
Ø This chapter defines roof top structures and
equipment to be part of the Main Wind Force
Resisting System (MWFRS) of the building.
ØDetails the horizontal wind load and the
vertical uplift wind load acting on the
equipment.
ØNote that there are no exemptions in the wind
provisions of the code or ASCE 7.

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 Uplift Loads on Equipment
ASCE 7-10 Section 29.5
Consideration of uplift loads due wind acting on
roof top equipment is now part of the code. This
will require more restraint capacity than in the
past. In ASCE 7-05 consideration of uplift forces
was only recommended in the commentary.

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 New Basic Wind Speeds
ASCE 7-10 Figures 26.5-1A, 26.5-1B, & 26.5-1C
ØRisk Category II Figure 25.1A: 115 mph for
Upstate New York.
ØRisk Categories III & IV Figure 26.5-1B: 120
mph for Upstate New York
ØRisk Category I Figure 26.5-1C : 105 mph for
Upstate New York.
ØThe wind importance factor, , is
incorporated in the basic wind speeds.

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ASCE 7-10 Wind Pressures

Although wind speeds have increased, the load combinations

Tend to lower the overall wind forces acting on the equipment.
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Exposure Category & Wind Speed

Exposure Category and Basic Wind Speed are

defined in the Basis of Design usually found on
the first sheet of the structural drawings.

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 All Pieces of Roof Top Equipment
Require Restraint Horizontally and
Vertically

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Need for Wind Restraint

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Unrestrained Solar Panels

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One Approach to Wind Restraint

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 Attach Equipment to its Curb

Screws
Attaching
Equipment
to
Curb Roof
Curb

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 Isolators for Wind Restraint

The same isolators used for seismic

restraint may also be used for wind
restraint.

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Choose the Proper Isolators

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Isolators for Condensing Units
Frame Must
be Engineered
to Transfer
Wind Loads
to Isolators

Post Type
Isolators
with Three
Axis
Restraints 50
Isolators for Cooling Towers
Dunnage Must
be Engineered
to Transfer
Wind Loads
to Isolators

Plate Type
Isolators
with Three
Axis
Restraints

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 Roof Curb for HVAC Units
HVAC Unit Must be
Securely Attached to the
Isolated Rail using
an Engineered design
to Resist the Wind Loads

Isolators
with Three
Axis
Restraints

Securely Attach
to Structure
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Effect of Wind Speed on Isolation
Efficiency

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Questions

54
Thank You for
Your Attention

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