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

CRITICAL STRENGTH POINTS FOR ALL TYPES OF SWAY BRACES

The terms "Sway Brace Fitting", "Sway Brace" & "Structure Attachment Fitting" as shown above are the terms used in the UL Listing for sway brace devices.

SWAY BRACE DEVICE INFORMATION

STRENGTHS OF TENSION ONLY (CABLE TYPE) SWAY BRACE DEVICES

STRENGTHS OF TENSION/COMPRESSION (PIPE TYPE) SWAY BRACE DEVICES

The strengths of 1, 2 & 3 above are based on a single UL "Load Rating" for the Cable Type sway brace assembly that is comprised by these three components.

4. The strengths for the fasteners are provided in NFPA-13 1996 Table 4-14.4.3.5.6.

5. The ability of the structural component, to which the sway brace is attached,
to take the seismic loads is the responsibility of the engineer responsible for the structure.

1. The strength of the "Sway Brace Fitting" is based on the UL "Load Rating".

2. The strength of the "Sway Brace" (pipe) is based on NFPA-13 1996 Table 4-14.4.3.5.5.

3. The strength of the "Structure Attachment Fitting" is based on the UL "Load Rating".

4. The strengths for the fasteners are provided in NFPA-13 1996 Table 4-14.4.3.5.6.

5. The ability of the structural component, to which the sway brace is attached, to take the seismic loads is the responsibility of the engineer responsible for the structure.

NOTE: NFPA-13 requires that the MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE HORIZONTAL LOAD for sway braces be based on the weakest component of the brace with safety factors and adjusted for the brace angle from vertical. The UL "Load Ratings" represent the allowable load with safety factor in the direction perpendicular to the pipe. Therefore, the UL "Load Rating" must be adjusted according to the brace angle from vertical to determine the allowable horizontal load on the UL Listed sway brace components and assemblies, and which one is the weakest.

Underwriters Laboratories Listed®

There are four manufacturers of UL Listed sway brace devices. Three of them manufacture pipe type sway brace fittings. One of them (Loos & Co., Inc.) manufactures cable type sway brace assemblies. The Loos & Co., Inc. cable type sway brace assemblies have been UL Listed according to their load carrying capacity since September of 1996. The sway brace devices of the three pipe brace device manufactures were re-Tested and re-Listed according to their load carrying capacity between December of 1996 and January of 1997.

NOTE

UL LISTED SWAY BRACE DEVICES ARE NOT BEING USED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THEIR LISTING, IF THE UL "LOAD RATING" OF THE COMPONENTS IS NOT CONSIDERED IN THE SWAY BRACE DESIGN.

SEISMIC WIRE ROPE/CABLE BRACING™ DESCRIPTIONS & UL "LOAD RATINGS"

BRACE SIZE	12	18	36
COLOR CODE	RED	WHITE	BLUE
MINIMUM BREAK STRENGTH	900	1650	4000
ALLOWABLE LOAD (lbs.) W/ 1.5 SAFETY FACTOR *	600	1100	2667
ALLOWABLE HORIZONTAL LOAD (lbs.) @ 30 - 44 DEGREES FROM VERTICAL	300	550	1333
ALLOWABLE HORIZONTAL LOAD (lbs.) @ 45 - 59 DEGREES FROM VERTICAL	424	778	1886
ALLOWABLE HORIZONTAL LOAD (lbs.) @ 60 - 90 DEGREES FROM VERTICAL	519	952	2307

* UL "LOAD RATING"
NOTE: Both the Loos & Co., Inc. AutoLISP Program and the Brace Selection Tables in the Loos & Co., Inc. Manual base the strength of the sway brace assembly on the weakest component, which can be the fastener to the structure. For this reason the sway brace selection tables are organized according to the type of fastener used. When the horizontal load carrying capacity of the selected sway brace assembly is lower than the values in the above Table, it is due to the fact that the fastener is the weakest component of the sway brace assembly.

Loos & Company, Inc.
901 Industrial Blvd.
Naples, FL 34104
1-800-321-LOOS (5667)
Fax: 1-239-643-4558

Email: fsd@earthquakebrace.com