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Seismic Support of Electrical Equipment

Steven G. Liescheidt, P.E., CCS, CCPR


Course Outline

This seven hour online course discusses some fundamental basics of how to attach electrical equipment to a building to minimize earthquake damage. There are many attachment examples shown in the source document for this course including anchoring and the use of special devices called seismic restraint devices. This course and the source document do not supersede code requirements; however, it provides a good fundamental basis for understanding the practical requirements for installing mechanical equipment requiring seismic bracing. Users of the information in this course and the source document assume all liability arising from such use.

This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of course materials.


Learning Objective

At the conclusion of this course, the student will:

Intended Audience

This course is intended for electrical and structural engineers.


Benefit for Attendee

Attendee of this course will be able to better understand some specifics on how to install seismic support, anchors and bracing for electrical equipment.

Course Introduction

The guide used in this course was prepared under Cooperative Agreement EMW-2001-CO-0379 between the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the American Society of Civil Engineers. This guide contains the following sections: • Equipment: Arranged according to different kinds of electrical equipment such as computer racks, control panels, lighting, substations, etc. Raceways/Conduits/Cable Trays: Covers the different ways to install raceways, conduits, and cable trays. Attachment Types: Gives instructions on installing equipment in different arrangements known as attachment types. Anchors: Shows many different types of anchors used to connect equipment to a building. • Special Cases: Covers housekeeping pads, and other unique applications.


Course Content

This course is based on the document Installing Seismic Restraints for Electrical Equipment, FEMA 413/December 2004:

Seismic Support of Electrical Equipment

Please click on the above underlined hypertext to view, download or print the document for your study. Because of the large file size, we recommend that you first save the file to your computer by right clicking the mouse and choosing "Save Target As ...", and then open the file in Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you still experience any difficulty in downloading or opening this file, you may need to close some applications or reboot your computer to free up some memory.

Course Summary

The guide used in this course shows engineers and equipment installers how to attach electrical equipment to a building to minimize earthquake damage. Many attachment examples are presented, including anchors and the use of special devices called seismic restraint devices. Seismic restraint devices include vibration isolation systems, cable or strut suspension systems, roof attachment systems, and steel shapes.


Related Links

For additional technical information related to this subject, please visit the following websites:

Federal Emergency Management Agency – www.fema.gov
American Society of Civil Engineers – www.asce.com
Vibration Isolation & Seismic Control Manufacturers – www.viscma.com


Quiz

Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.

Take a Quiz

DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.