Seismic/Wind

Requirements of the 2015

NBC (Canada)
 Kinetics Noise Control
• Established in 1958 as a noise and vibration control manufacturer

• International Headquarters is in Dublin, OH, a suburb of Columbus.

• Manufacturing facilities in Dublin, OH and Norwalk, CA

• Direct offices in:

– Los Angeles, CA
– Hong Kong
– Cambridge, ON, Canada

• Fiberglass KIP pad was the first product introduced

• HVAC, Interiors, Architectural, Industrial, Silencers, Home/Pro

Theater, Building Isolation
Current Code 2015 NBCC

Previous Code 2010 NBCC

Is Seismic Restraint Required on
my Project and/or what
Components can be Exempted?

There are No General Mechanical

Equipment Exemptions for
Buildings that are Classified as
Post Disaster
For Buildings where the Seismic
Acceleration term IEFaSa(0.2) is
Less than 0.35 and the Building
is not Classified as a Post
Disaster Structure,

There is no General Requirement

for Seismic Restraint
In the 2015 Code, a Very Poorly
Worded Addition was Made to
4.1.8.18 (2)

It was Intended to Allow the

Equipment Exemption to Apply
to Post Disaster Structures if the
Structure is Seismically Isolated
or if it Includes Energy
Dissipation Features
Based on This Interpretation, all
Non-Critical Structures as well
as all Critical Structures that
have Seismic Isolation or
Absorption Components do not
Require Restraint for their
Internal Mechanical Systems as
Long as the Design Seismic
Acceleration is less than 0.35g
Unlike other Common Codes,
There are very few Equipment
Specific Exemptions Listed in
the Code
 Suspended Equipment and
Components

Free Swinging Components that

do not Interconnect with other
Systems and have Supports
sized to take 2 x Dead Weight
and that will not Impact other
Components or Structure are
Exempt
 Unlike Seismic, If Equipment is
Exposed to Wind, it must be
Capable of Resisting the Wind
Forces. There are no Exemptions
for Wind
 Michigan Ave, Chicago

Hurricane Sandy
Designing for Seismic Restraint
 NBCC Code is LSD Based

(Limit States Design)

Structural Safety Factors are

Taken on the Load Side of the
Equation, not the Component
Side
 Many Component Capacities
have Ratings that are ASD Based

(Allowable Stress Design)

These Ratings are Based on

Applying the Safety Factor to the
Component Side of the Equation
 It is Critical to Know and
Recognize when you are
Working with a Mixture of ASD
and LSD Loads and Ratings

The Relationship (LSD/ASD) in

the NBCC is 1.5 for Seismic and
1.4 for Wind
 Load Combinations

(1.25 D or .9 D) + 1.5 S

(1.25 D or .9 D) + 1.4 W

Whichever “D” Factor Produces

the Worst Result
Seismic Force Design Equation

Vp = 0.3 Fa Sa(0.2) IE Sp Wp

Focus on How this Relates to

Non-Structural Mechanical
Systems
 Vp = 0.3 Fa Sa(0.2) IE Sp Wp

0.3 – This is a Factor that

Reduces the Mapped Force at a
Period of 0.2 Sec to the
Response Level for Typical Non-
Structural Components (Which
have a Considerable Shorter
Period)
 Vp = 0.3 Fa Sa(0.2) IE Sp Wp

Fa – This Factor Tailors the

Mapped Ground Acceleration
Based on the Soil Conditions
Under the Structure
Soil Factor Table
 Vp = 0.3 Fa Sa(0.2) IE Sp Wp

Sa(0.2) – This is Derived from the

Mapped Ground Acceleration PGA
and Represents Amplitudes at a
Frequency of 5 hz (0.2 second
period). PGA for Various Cities
can be Found in Appendix C
(Div B)
Ground Acceleration Table
 Vp = 0.3 Fa Sa(0.2) IE Sp Wp

IE – This is the Importance Factor

and it Ranges from 0.8 to 1.5
Depending on the Importance
Assigned to the Structure in
Table 4.1.8.5
 Vp = 0.3 Fa Sa(0.2) IE Sp Wp

Sp – This Factor is Made up of a

Bunch of Terms

Sp = Cp Ar Ax / Rp
 Sp = Cp Ar Ax / Rp

Sp – Special Note: By Default

Equipment is Assumed to be
Flexible or Flexibly Mounted
unless it can be shown to have a
period of less than 0.06 S
 Sp = Cp Ar Ax / Rp

Cp – This is the Component

Factor and it Deals with How a
Component Reacts to a Load.
Table 4.1.8.18 Provides Factors
For Various Types of
Components
 Sp = Cp Ar Ax / Rp

Ar – This is the Attachment

Factor and it Deals with the
Affects of Having a Rigid versus
Non Rigid Components and
Attachments. Table 4.1.8.18
Provides Factors For Various
Conditions
 Sp = Cp Ar Ax / Rp

Ax – This is the Elevation Factor.

The Dynamic Forces in a
Structure Increase as you move
up it in Elevation. It equals

1 + 2 * Equipment Elevation /
Roof Elevation
 Sp = Cp Ar Ax / Rp

Rp – This is the Durability Factor.

The more Rugged the
Equipment, the Bigger the
Number. Values for Various
types of Equipment can be
Found in Table 4.1.8.18
Components Table
 Anchorage

Friction Due to Gravity Cannot

be Considered

Powder/Power Actuated or Drop

in Anchors not Permitted for
Tensile Loads
 Anchorage

For Non-Ductile Connections

(Powder Actuated Fasteners or
Adhesives) – Rp = 1.0

For Shallow Anchors

(Less L/d < 8) – Rp = 1.5
 Anchorage

For Wall Mounts

(Ductile) a Min SF of 2.0 is

Required

(Non Ductile) a Cp = 2.0, Rp = 1.0

 Vp = 0.3 Fa Sa(0.2) IE Sp Wp

Wp – Is the Operating Weight of

the Equipment or Component
 Wind Force Design Equation

Because the Design Pressure for

Equipment is not well Defined in
NBCC, Following the Same
General Rules as for the Building
Seems Appropriate

p = Iw q Ce Ct Cg Cp
 p = Iw q Ce Ct Cg Cp

Iw – Wind Importance Factor

which Ranges from 0.8 to 1.25
Depending on the Building
Function
 p = Iw q Ce Ct Cg Cp

q – Hourly Wind Pressures with a

1:50 Chance to be Exceeded in
any Given Year. Local data can
be obtained from Appendix C
(Div B)
NBC Wind Table
 p = Iw q Ce Ct Cg Cp

Ce – Exposure Factor equals

(Equip Elev / 10)0.2 for Open
Terrain
or
0.7(Equip Elev / 12)0.3 but not
less than 0.7 for Cluttered
Terrain
 p = Iw q Ce Ct Cg Cp

Ct – Topographic Factor
Applicable to Buildings, not
Components

Set to a value of 1.0

 p = Iw q Ce Ct Cg Cp

Cg – Gust Factor is to be set to a

Value of 2.5 for Connections for
Components and Equipment to
Structure (It is set to 2.0 for the
MFRS of the Structure itself)
 p = Iw q Ce Ct Cg Cp

Cp – is the Ext Pressure Factor.

For Anchorage it should Equal the
sum of the Windward and Leeward
Coefficients + Simultaneously the
Worst Vertical Coefficient

Safe Values are 1.8 for Horizontal

and -1.3 for Vertical
 Vertical Wind Loads Can be
Substantial and much like the Wing
of a Plane are Driven by the Flow
of Air over the top of Equipment
 Applying Seismic and Wind
Loads to Equipment

It is mostly about Geometry and

Understanding the Mounting
Conditions
 The ASHRAE
HVAC
Applications
Handbook,
Chapter 55 offers
some Analytical
Guidance for
Simple Cases
 Use ASHRAE with Caution.
Chapter 55 does not offer
Guidance on any Except for the
Simplest Cases

The User is Warned of this and

Instructed to Evaluate Each Case
to Ensure that a Credible Analysis
is being Performed
The Primary Issue is that the Math
gets much more Complicated as
New Variables are Introduced

In addition there are far too many

Different Cases for ASHRAE to
Address them all in a Reasonable
Amount of Space
 Analytical Variations
Hard Mounted Restraint Groupings
2 Pt Attachment Seismic/Wind Isolators
3 Pt Attachment Isolators Separate Rest
4 Pt Attachment Coil Springs
> 4 Pt Attachment Elastomeric Springs
Perimeter Array Single Axis Rest
Grid Array 2 Axis Rest
Uneven Spacing 3 Axis Rest
Floor Mounts Captured Sprg Isolators
Wall Mounts Open Sprg Isolators
Suspended Comb Base/Cable
 Analytical Variations

There are Many Others as well

Each of These Distributes

Loads to the Restraints and to
the Equipment Anchorage in a
Different Fashion that must be
Understood and Addressed
Basic Shear Analysis
Anti Rotation Analysis
Simple Overturning Analysis
Vertical Force Analysis
Two of these Impact Shear Loads
Two of these Impact Tensile Loads
 Typical Shear Analysis

This Analysis can be Performed

in one of a Couple of Different
Ways
 Typical Shear Analysis
(Opt 1)
Load
Component 1
assumes the
CG is Centered
and the
Restraint Load
is Evenly Split
 Typical Shear Analysis
(Opt 1)
Load Component
2 Locates the
True CG,
Computes a
Rotational
Moment and
Resists it at the 4
Corners
 Typical Shear Analysis
(Opt 2)
The Equipment is
Broken into Areas
that are linked to
“Local” Restraints
and Weights are
Assigned that are
Consistent with the
Actual CG
 Typical Shear Analysis
(Opt 2)

The Lateral
Force at Each
Restraint is then
the Local Mass x
the Effective
Seismic
Acceleration
 Typical Shear Analysis
(Opt 2)

This is True
Regardless of
the Direction of
the Lateral Load
 Typical Shear Analysis

The Appropriate Loads are Then

Summed for a Total Shear Load
 Overturning Analysis

For a Typical Arrangement with

Restraints at the 4 corner Locations,
The Process Focuses Starts with a
Computation of the Weight on the
most Lightly and Heavily Loaded
Locations
 Overturning Analysis

These Weights are Factored Using

the Load Combination Equations
with the Lightest Reduced to .9 x Wt
and the Heaviest Increased to 1.25 x
Wt
 Overturning Analysis

If Applicable, any Vertical Factors

are Computed based on the Nominal
Weight at the 2 Worst case corner
Locations
 Overturning Analysis

If Applicable, any Vertical Factors

are Computed based on the Nominal
Weight or Affected Areas at the 2
Worst case corner Locations. In the
Case of Seismic, These can be + or
– Loads. For Wind they are always
Uplift.
 Overturning Analysis

Similar to the Lateral Loads, For

Rocking, there are also 2
Optional Analytical Methods
Overturning Analysis
(Opt 1)
Based on the
Restraint
Spacing, it is
Possible to
Compute the
Worst Case Load
Angle
Overturning Analysis
(Opt 1)

Q
Overturning Analysis
(Opt 1)

Using Sin/Cos
Factors, Compute the
Maximum
Overturning Force
for the Corner
Locations
 Overturning Analysis
(Opt 1)
Sum the Worst Case Condition

Uplift = Lightest Load, Vert Up Load,

Overturning Uplift

Download = Heaviest Load, Vert

Down Load, Overturning Download
Overturning Analysis
(Opt 2)

Using a Spreadsheet
or Similar, Compute
the X and Y
Component Force for
Each Degree of Angle
– 0 to 360 for the
Overall Unit
Overturning Analysis
(Opt 2)

Compute X Plane
Reactions, Compute
Y Plane Reactions
And
Sum them
 Overturning Analysis
(Opt 2)
Sum the Worst Case Conditions

Uplift = Lightest Load, Vert Up Load,

Overturning Uplift

Download = Heaviest Load, Vert

Down Load, Overturning Download
 Special Cautions

When Dealing with Overturning

Loads, Isolated Systems do not
Behave like Hard Mounted
Systems
No Clearance, All Restraints
Resist Overturning Load
With Clearance, Only Corner
Restraints Resist Overturning
Load
 Special Cautions

Single Direction vs Multi Direction

Restraints
 Special Cautions

Open vs Contained Spring Isolators

Open vs Contained Spring Isolators
Isolators Supporting Weight
Open vs Contained Spring Isolators
Isolators With Weight Removed
 Special Cautions

Isolators with Separate Snubbers

Isolators With Separate Snubbers
(Unweighted)
 Special Cautions
Cable Restraints

Lateral Forces Generate

Compressive Loads in Support Rod
 Special Cautions
Struts

Lateral Forces Generate Both

Compressive and Tensile Loads in
Support Rod
 Special Cautions
Be Wary of Secondary Overturning,
Even on Suspended Equipment
 Cable Restraint Selection

Using Nomographs to Select Cable

Restraints for Distribution Systems
Select Pipe Size of Component
Weight and Restraint Spacing
Find the Appropriate Seismic
Force Level
Read Cable/Anchor Size Based on
Cable Angle
 Cable Restraint Selection
Determine the Need for a Rod
Stiffener
Sample Case – Assume 45
lb/ft(67kg/m) Pipe, 10 ft (3m)
Support Spacing, 30 ft (9 m)
Restraint Spacing, 60 Deg Cable
Angle, 34 in (86mm) Hanger Rod
Lgth, .62 in (16mm) Hanger Rod
Dia and 1.0 g Acceleration
Determine the Compressive Load
in the Rod Based on the Seismic
Acceleration
Rod Size Required for No Stiffener
Rod Stiffener Required for Smaller
Hanger Rods
Max Spacing Between Stiffener
Clamps Based on Hanger Rod
Diameter
Housekeeping Pads
These Critical Components Form
the Load Path from the
Equipment to the Building and
can be used to Distribute the
Concentrated Loads at
Equipment Mounting Points into
Less Concentrated Loads at the
Structural Attachment Points
They are also Used to Provide
the added Embedment Depth
Required to get a Reasonable
Capacity out of Larger
Equipment Anchors
 Design Guidelines are
Available Online in the Kinetics
Seismic Design Manual

Key Features
Reinforcement
Structural Link to Floor Anchors
Seismically Rated Anchorage
Containment Steel
Housekeeping Pads
 Load Path

The Entire Load Path must be

Considered
 Unexpected Loads

Equipment Attached Decorative

Screens add to Both Wind and
Seismic Loads
 Unexpected Loads

Wind Screens are not Effective

Protection Against Wind
Seismic/Wind Restraint Types
 FHS

Common, Inexpensive
Seismic/Wind Restraint
 FLS, FLSS, FTS

Plate Type Restraint, Used

Commonly on Frames and Cooling
Towers
 Titan

Plate Type Restraint, Upgrade to

the Older FLS, FLSS, FTS Design
 FMS

Modular, High Capacity

Seismic/Wind Isolator/Restraint
 RD-S

High Deflection Housed Neoprene

Seismic Isolator
 KSR

Light Duty Isolation Rail

 ESR

Pedestal Type Isolation Curb

 ESR II

Medium Duty Structural Isolation

Curb
 MegaCurb

Heavy Duty Structural Isolation

Curb
 Cable Restraint

Properly Installed Cable Restraint

 Cable Restraint

Improperly Installed Cable

Restraint
 Helpful Information

www.kineticsnoise.com
Kinetics Seismic Design Manual
FEMA 412 Installing Seismic Restraints for Mechanical Equipment
FEMA 413 Installing Seismic Restraints for Electrical Equipment
FEMA 414 Installing Seismic Restraints for Duct and Pipe

www.viscma.com
FEMA 412, 413, & 414 and Other Helpful Information

ASHRAE
“Wind Loads and Anchorage Requirements for Rooftop Equipment” by
Timothy A. Reinhold
Thank You for your Attention