Author: Simpson Strong-Tie

For more than 50 years, Simpson Strong-Tie has focused on creating structural products that help people build safer and stronger homes and buildings. Considered a leader in structural systems research, testing and innovation, Simpson Strong-Tie is one of the largest suppliers of structural building products in the world. The company is committed to helping customers succeed by providing exceptional products, full-service engineering and field support, product testing and training. Simpson Strong-Tie works closely with industry professionals to provide code-listed, field-tested products, and value-engineered solutions. Its product lines include Structural Connectors, Fasteners, Wood and Steel Strong-Wall® prefabricated shearwalls, Anchor Tiedown Systems for multi-story buildings, Quik Drive® auto-feed screw driving systems, and Anchor Systems for concrete and masonry. Simpson Strong-Tie products are known for their consistent quality and availability as well as for helping structures resist high winds, hurricanes and seismic forces. Simpson Strong-Tie has a national sales force and field engineers that are available to assist with specification and jobsite issues. Products are distributed nationally through an extensive network of distributors and dealers.

Case Study: Gruening Middle School’s Seismic Damage Repair Solution

It can be a challenge to repair an earthquake-damaged structure.

During the 7.1-magnitude 2018 Anchorage earthquake, Gruening Middle School in Eagle River sustained more damage than any other school in the Anchorage School District. Review of the school showed the existing masonry walls suffered damage and separation from the roof. During the retrofit design, the Reid Middleton structural engineering team (Anchorage) determined the masonry walls weren’t adequately reinforced to meet current code requirements. They were seeking an easy-to-install strengthening solution that wouldn’t add significant weight to the building.

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Dr. Lucy Jones: Mitigation Creates Community Resilience

A Shinto shrine in the Japanese coastal town of Minamisanriku has been the center of its community for centuries. In 1960, a tsunami generated by the great Chilean M9.5 earthquake swept into the ocean bay and damaged the shrine. The priest’s house situated at a higher elevation than the shrine had been spared any damage. The community came together and not only repaired the shrine but moved it up the hill, 50 feet above its previous location, to protect it from future events. 

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Building Safe and Strong with Flood-Resistant Construction Workshops

Flooding is one of the few natural disasters that occur commonly throughout all regions of North America. The causes of floods can differ depending on the region, but the impact is nearly always the same. Recent floods have caused billions of dollars in damage annually to structures near the coast as well as inland.
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Introducing Excellence in Engineering Fellow: Juan Carlos Restrepo

We’re excited to introduce the recipient of the 2018–2019 Excellence in Engineering Fellowship: Juan Carlos Restrepo.

This is the second year of the fellowship, a successful partnership between Build Change, a Denver-based international nonprofit social enterprise, and Simpson Strong-Tie, a global leader in innovative structural solutions.
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NOVA airs episode featuring Strong Frame® Special Moment Frame Testing for NEES-Soft

SEP_3617_group_photoNOVA, the highest rated science series on television, recently aired a segment on the Colorado State University-led NEES-Soft project that tested Simpson Strong-Tie® Strong Frame® special moment frames as a seismic retrofit solution for soft-story buildings. Simpson Strong-Tie and our special moment frame were prominently featured in the clip. You can watch the entire “Making Stuff Safer” episode on PBS here.

Upcoming Steel Deck Institute Webinars: 10/23 and 11/13

SDI logoSteel Deck Institute (SDI) is hosting a “Designing With Steel Roof Deck” webinar on October 23 and November 13 at 11 a.m. EST. The webinar is intended to expand participants’ knowledge of steel roof deck by introducing them to the benefits, manufacturing processes, shapes, properties, and finishes of this product. The basis of the presentation is SDI’s new Roof Deck Design Manual, which will be provided to participants. Various roof deck design considerations will be explored as well as an overall coverage of fasteners and industry construction practices.

CANAM/United Steel Deck and Vulcraft will be presenting. Simpson Strong-Tie will be moderating the webinar and providing two PDHs (0.2 CEUs) for participants. Click here to sign up for one of the webinars.

Congratulations to our Structural Engineering Blog One-Year Anniversary Winners!

To celebrate the first-year anniversary of the launch of our Structural Engineering Blog, in April we hosted a sweepstakes inviting you to comment on the blog or sign up for blog email updates. The five winning entries received a Simpson Strong-Tie Prize Pack, consisting of:

Congratulations to our winners:

T. Anderson – Oakland, California

S. Amren – Western Springs, Illinois

V. Eskelsen – Ballwin, Missouri

R. Kelley – Grandville, Michigan

D. Klostermeyer – Papillion, Nebraska

If you’d like automatic email updates when a new blog entry is posted (usually once a week), sign up here.

Remember to Enter To Win by Tuesday, 4/30

Remember to enter to win the Structural Engineering Blog one-year anniversary contest by Tuesday, April 30! April 2013 marks the one-year anniversary of the Simpson Strong-Tie® Structural Engineering Blog. To celebrate, we are holding a contest for our blog readers.

Everyone who posts a comment or subscribes to receive email notifications to the blog (new subscribers only) from now until April 30, 2013 will be entered to win one of five Prize Packs. The Prize Pack consists of:

The contest is open to U.S. and Canadian residents (except Quebec) only. One entry per person. Five entries will be randomly selected to receive a Prize Pack. You can read the Official Rules here.

Good luck!

Structural Engineering Blog: One-Year Anniversary

Photo credit: Thinkstock.
Photo credit: Thinkstock.

This month marks the one-year anniversary of the Simpson Strong-Tie® Structural Engineering Blog! To celebrate, we are holding a contest for our blog readers and sharing a few interesting statistics about the blog, along with our Top 5 Blog Posts from April 2012 to today.

Everyone who posts a comment or subscribes to receive email notifications to the blog (new subscribers only) from now until April 30, 2013 will be entered to win one of five Prize Packs. The Prize Pack consists of:

The contest is open to U.S. and Canadian residents (except Quebec) only. One entry per person. Five entries will be randomly selected to receive a Prize Pack. You can read the Official Rules here.

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