The anchorage of nonstructural components like mechanical and electrical equipment is an important element of ensuring life safety that doesn’t always get the same attention as the structural engineering required for the building itself. The key standard that governs design loads is ASCE 7. This blog post explores updated equations in the newest edition of the standard, ASCE 7-22, specifically Chapter 13, which covers seismic design of nonstructural components. We’ll walk step by step through an example of anchoring a piece of equipment to a concrete slab inside a Risk Category IV building in a high seismic area.
Author: Kamryn Miller
Kamryn (Froehle) Miller, PE earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering with a structural emphasis from Washington State University. She began her career in consulting, focusing on structural design of industrial and commercial projects, before transitioning into her current role as a Field Engineer with Simpson Strong‑Tie’s Northwest Branch, supporting Colorado and Wyoming. In this role, Kamryn provides design and specification support, delivers technical training, and works closely with structural engineers throughout the region. She is an active member of the Structural Engineers Association of Colorado (SEAC), where she currently serves as Secretary on the Board of Directors. Kamryn is passionate about strengthening the structural engineering community and inspiring the next generation of engineers.