Because earthquakes are more likely to occur in some places than others, the codes and standards for seismic-prone buildings and areas require seismic bracing of mechanical equipment. Before you can correctly select and specify mechanical equipment and products for installation in seismic zones, however, having a basic understanding of the best practices for mechanical equipment installation is pivotal to ensure effective seismic design. This course written by Steven Liescheidt, PE, CCS, CCPR discusses the fundamentals of how to attach mechanical equipment to a building to minimize earthquake damage. Many attachment examples are presented throughout the course (e.g. anchoring and the use of special "seismic restraint devices"). While this course doesn't cover specific code requirements, it provides a solid overview of the practical requirements for installing mechanical equipment requiring seismic bracing.

Learning Objectives

• How to install mechanical equipment for seismic applications
• Attachment types
• Anchors
• Special cases
• Anchor selection guide
• Cast-in-place anchors
• Lag bolts
• Seismic terminology
• Rigid Floor-mounted Attachments
• Roof-mounted attachments
• Suspended attachments
• Vibration isolation attachments
• Wall mounted attachments
• Specific equipment type installations – chillers, compressors, fans, pumps
• Specific equipment type installations – air handlers, coils, heat exchangers
• Specific equipment type installations – VAV boxes, silencers, fan coil units
• Specific equipment type installations – furnaces, humidifiers, water heaters
• Specific equipment type installations – cooling towers, evaporative and fluid coolers
• Control panel installations
• Housekeeping pad installations
• Residential equipment installations