Bloomingdale, NJ – Sept. 13, 2009 VMC Group, a world leader in innovative shock, seismic, vibration and noise control products, announced today that it received pre-approval from the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD) for its AWRS, MS and MSS seismically rated vibration isolation products.
OSHPD’s Facilities Development Division, responsible for reviewing and approving new construction for California's hospitals and skilled nursing facilities, approved VMC Group’s anchorage for fixed hospital equipment, including its AWRS spring flex mountings and its MS and MSS seismic isolators. The OSHPD pre-approval (OPA) is valid for the current California code cycle which is based on the International Building Code (IBC) 2006.
This OPA approval by OSHPD is granted to products which are required to seismically anchor equipment to the building structure in the event of an earthquake. The approval guarantees the product has been seismically tested and validates the seismic rating on the product.
"We are pleased to have received this approval from OSHPD. Like OSHPD, VMC Group is concerned with assuring the safety of all buildings, including hospitals and health care structures," said John Wilson, Jr., chief executive officer, VMC Group. "This preapproval of our products will make it easier for specifying engineers, installing contractors and equipment dealers to utilize products that are in compliance with the California Building Code 2007. Additionally, it will help them minimize their exposure to risk and liability.”
VMC Group’s next generation seismic mounts, the MS and MSS series isolators, combine open spring mountings within a rugged welded seismically rated steel housing. To minimize the code required seismic loads on the isolated equipment, the housing is designed to limit equipment motion to ¼” in horizontal directions due to wind or seismic loads. The MS style isolator has internal spring adjustment while the MSS type incorporates an external adjustment bolt that also acts as a single point attachment to the equipment. Both isolators are designed to maintain low profiles similar to that of our non-seismic vibration isolators and both are available with 1” and 2” deflection springs. Each style of mount has a load range from 50 lbs. to 6,500 lbs. The MSS isolator is well suited for emergency power generator set applications and is the only product for this market that carries a current OSHPD OPA number. The AWRS style isolator is well suited for higher deflection spring applications or higher loads.
