Loos & Co., Inc., manufactures and sells Pre-Stretched, Color
Coded, Break Strength Certified, Seismic Wire Rope/Cable Bracing
for use in satisfying the requirements of the Laws, Codes, Standards
and Specifications for Earthquake Resistance of Architectural, Mechanical
and Electrical Components and Systems.
These braces are Underwriters Laboratories Listed® for use
in satisfying the requirements of NFPA-13 for all pipe sizes and
are pending OSHDP Pre-Approval (California Office of Statewide Health
Planning and Development Fixed Equipment Anchorage Pre-Approval)
for hospitals and other State regulated facilities. Further, these
braces have been pre-engineered for use in satisfying the earthquake
bracing of all the Model Codes and Standards for all non-structural
building components and systems.
For detailed product images and application specifications, click
either link below.
Loos & Co., Inc., Seismic Wire Rope/Cable Bracing is
the least expensive seismic sway bracing on the market and it is
the fastest to install. The AISI Standard for structural wire rope/cable
includes a requirement for pre-stretching wire rope/cable , a requirement
for using permanent end fittings that are recommended by a cable
manufacturer, and a requirement that permanent end fittings develop
the break strength of the wire rope/cable. The Loos & Co., Inc.,
Seismic Wire Rope/Cable Bracing products satisfy these requirements
and, therefore, may be used with the best safety factor. This reduces
the sizes required to carry the earthquake loads and the smaller
sizes employ less expensive end fittings that are faster to install.
In addition to the above qualities and since these sway braces
act in tension only, they have the following significant engineering
advantages over combination tension/compression braces that employ
rigid brace elements, such as angle, channel type strut, pipe, etc.
:
Loos & Co., Inc., Seismic Wire Rope/Cable Braces are not
limited in length by the length to least radius of gyration ratio
( 1/r ) of 200 to resist buckling because they act in tension only.
This precludes the need to consider brace length limitations in
the brace design and field installation under real world job conditions.
Rigid brace components act in compression 1/2 of the time under
earthquake loading and the length limitations for the 1/r of 200
must be considered in the design and is almost impossible to control
under changing field conditions.
No seismic brace, in itself, can resist vertical upward movement,
other than the effect of the angle of the brace acting with the
dead load of the braced component, to control the vertical upward
reaction to the horizontal earthquake load (swinging motion). Vertical
resistance to upward movement, when required, is usually addressed
through the hanger at the sway brace. Vertical downward reactions
to the horizontal earthquake loads are a different story. When a
rigid component brace takes horizontal earthquake loads in compression,
there is a vertical downward reaction on the hanger at the sway
brace that is in addition to the dead load of the component that
can tear the hanger out of the structure. Seismic Wire Rope/Cable
Bracing acts in tension only and, therefore, there is no downward
vertical reaction to consider in the design of the hangers.
The permanent end fittings on the Seismic Wire Rope/Cable
Braces, including the field connection made in accordance with the
installation instructions, are Certified to maintain the break strength
of the cable by Loos & Co., Inc., (a cable manufacturer as required
by the AISI Standard). Therefore, there is no need to determine
the sway brace assembly strength by calculating the allowable loads
with varying safety factors for the brace fittings, as is the case
for most braces.
Loos & Co., Inc., pre-stretches its Seismic Wire Rope/Cable
(as required by the AISI Standard) under loads equal to the maximum
allowable design load, which exceeds the minimum required by the
AISI Standard and effectively pretests every foot of Seismic Wire
Rope/Cable. Pre-stretching removes "construction stretch"
(permanent elongation) to put the cable in its "elastic range",
where it should act like a very stiff shock absorber and help to
dampen earthquake loads.
Loos & Co., Inc., Seismic Wire Rope/Cable is color coded
along its entire length for easy visual field verification to distinguish
it from "cable off the shelf", for which, there would
be no way to verify the strength or compliance with the AISI Standard.
Loos & Co., Inc., Seismic Wire Rope/Cable Bracing is UL
Listed with published UL Load Ratings. The UL Listing criteria is
per NFPA-13 and that Listing criteria is based on the Building Codes
referenced AISI and ASCE Standards for Structural Applications of
Steel Cables for Buildings.
Flexible tension only sway bracing components, such as Loos &
Co., Inc., Seismic Wire Rope/Cable Braces, are only acceptable
sway bracing materials for vibratory loads to avoid transmission
of sound or vibration through the seismic sway brace (cable must
be left slack.)
Loos
& Co., Inc., Seismic Wire Rope/Cable Braces are the fastest
to install and will reduce seismic sway bracing costs.
ADVANTAGES OF OUR SEISMIC WIRE ROPE/CABLE
BRACES
* UL LISTED *
The only prestretched, color coded, break strength certified wire
rope/cable bracing
* DOCUMENTED CODE COMPLIANCE *
for
UBC, BOCA, SBCCI, IBC, OSHPD, FEMA, NFPA, ASCE, SMACNA & ASHRAE
* SHIPPED WITH CERTIFICATE OF PRESTRETCHING &
MIN. BREAKING STRENGTH *
* ENGINEERING ASSISTANCE FOR PREPARING CODE COMPLYING
DESIGNS *
* DAMPENS THE EFFECTS OF SEISMIC LOADS *
* IDEALLY SUITED FOR SEISMIC RESTRAINT OF ISOLATED
SYSTEMS *
* UNLIMITED BRACE LENGTH *
Our braces are not restricted in length due to buckling.
* NO INCREASED TENSION LOADING ON SYSTEM HANGERS
& THEIR ANCHORAGE *
Unlike braces that resist seismic loads in compression.
* EASE & ADAPTABILITY OF INSTALLATION *
* EASIER & FASTER FOR ONE MAN TO INSTALL *
* REDUCED DESIGN, MATERIALS & INSTALLATION COST
*
* MADE IN U.S.A.*
Loos & Company, Inc.
901 Industrial Blvd.
Naples, FL 34104
1-800-321-LOOS (5667)
Fax: 1-239-643-4558
Email: fsd@earthquakebrace.com
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