Publishers of the Manual of Code Compliance Guidelines on Earthquake Resistance of Architectural, Mechanical & Electrical Components and Systems
Manufacturer and supplier of Seismic Wire Rope/Cable Bracing

Manufacturer and supplier of Seismic Wire Rope/Cable Bracing

Publishers of the Manual of Code Compliance Guidelines on Earthquake Resistance of Architectural, Mechanical & Electrical Components and Systems

 

© 2002 Loos & Co., Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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