CBC requirements for seismic anchorage of temporary equipment

[hm_structural]

Hi everyone,

I am working on a public utilities funded pipeline relocation project. The site is heavily water logged due to rains and in SDC-D with a SDS = 1.06. I have a set of 6 bypass pumps (12.5kips wt each) which can be classified as "temporary equipment" per CBC-22 section 1617A.1.18 and requires seismic anchorage per section 13.1.4.5a.

I am receiving a lot of pushback from the contractor and the project leads from within to not anchor these pumps as this is not a general practice according to their past experience. The site in question is in Utah so the CBC section does not technically apply. IBC has not adopted this code section. The only IBC section which I found to address temporary sections 3103 which calls for conformance for safety.

I still feel that it is prudent to anchor these pumps for a life safety purpose. I am also skeptical if these pumps will be "temporary" as I think they might become "permanent" in the future.

Any thoughts on this code applicability and anchorage requirements?

 

[SlideRuleEra]

I am working on a public utilities funded pipeline relocation project.
I am receiving a lot of pushback from... the project leads from within to not anchor these pumps...
The site in question is in Utah so the CBC section does not technically apply. IBC has not adopted this code section.
The only IBC section which I found...
I still feel that it is prudent to anchor these pumps for a life safety purpose.
I am also skeptical if these pumps will be "temporary" as I think they might become "permanent" in the future.

You are making too many assumptions just to try to prove a point. Back off. Write a letter to the public utility expressing your concerns, the reason for those concerns, and your recommendations... then accept the answer you get and don't quibble.

In some states public utilities are exempt from building codes for work directly related to their business... a requirement this project may meet.

 

[TLHS]

With temporary equipment is also generally a question of consequence of failure. Pumps are generally low center of gravity and not much of an overturning risk. Even if the math says overturning will happen it's unlikely that the center of mass overturns to toe. Is sliding of the pumps a life safety risk?

 

[hm_structural]

There are 6 pumps set next to one another, combined weight of 75 kips on the mat. Sliding could damage the structures next to it but I would not qualify it as a life safety issue.