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The Great Southern California ShakeOut



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Disclaimer: The effects, descriptions, recommendations, and suggestions included in this web site are intended to improve earthquake preparedness; however, they do not guarantee the safety of an individual or a structure. The Earthquake Country Alliance (ECA) takes responsibility for the inclusion of materials from various sources on these pages. The State of California, the Seismic Safety Commission, the ECA and all contributors to this document do not assume liability for any injury, death, property damage, loss of revenue, or any other effect of an earthquake.




Chemicals

Larger imageStrip restaint for containers on an open shelf.

Source: Noson, Perbix, SSD

Purpose

To reduce the potential for risks from chemical spills.

Strip - Recommendation

Install wood or Plexiglas strips or wires to restrain containers on open shelves.

Supplies Required

  • Wood or Plexiglas strip—1/8" x 1"
  • Wood or sheet metal screws—No. 10 x 1"
  • Wire rope—No. 12 gage

Strip - Installation

  1. Attach a wood or Plexiglas strip to the shelf with wood or sheet metal screws.
    OR
    Attach wire rope to the shelf with wood or sheet metal screws.
  2. Secure the wire rope with three tight turns at each end.
  3. Provide intermediate vertical strips where horizontal strips span more than 3'. Attach vertical strips to each shelf.
  4. Place horizontal restraint high enough to restrain tall objects while allowing easy access. Provide additional horizontal restraint as required for shorter objects.

Mechanical Latches - Recommendation

Secure cabinet doors with mechanical latches.

Supplies Required

  • Mechanical latches

Mechanical Latches - Installation

  1. Provide mechanical latches on all doors. Test latches to assure that they can remain closed during severe shaking.
  2. Replace magnetic latches with mechanical latches.

Glass Containers - Recommendation

Wrap fragile bottles or dangerous materials with foam rubber or rubber bands to protect
OR
Replace glass containers with unbreakable containers.

Larger imageBottle with Rubber or Foam "Bumpers"

Source: Noson, Perbix, SSD

Supplies Required

  • Foam rubber or rubber
  • Rubber bands

Note

  • Store acids and other volatile chemicals separately and as close to the ground as possible.
  • Store heavy containers as close to the ground as possible.
  • For more information on storage of chemicals and chemical interaction contact your State Department of Ecology. For instance, the Washington State Department of Ecology has the following publication: Step-By-Step Guide for to Better LaboratoryManagement Practices, Publication No. 97-431, July 1997.


Source: School Facilities Manual Nonstructural Protection Guide

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Created in the SCEC system Last modified: March 06 2008 13:07 © 2008 Southern California Earthquake Center @
Alliance