Simpson Strong-Tie Webinar Series Provides Solutions and Resources for Retrofitting Concrete and Masonry Buildings

Pleasanton, Calif. — Simpson Strong-Tie, a leader in engineered structural product lines and innovative testing, announced the launch of the Strong Retrofit webinar series designed to educate engineers, structural designers, architects and building owners about the different solutions available for retrofitting unreinforced masonry (URM), CMU and concrete structures for improved performance against seismic forces.

Earthquakes pose a major threat to buildings that have not been engineered to current codes and standards. Retrofitting these structures is critically important for minimizing risks to life, as well as to help prevent costly property losses and business disruptions that disasters can cause when a structure doesn’t conform to the most modern codes.

To help engineers and designers understand various retrofit solutions, Simpson Strong-Tie has developed a series of four Strong Retrofit webinars. Each webinar highlights relevant design considerations from IEBC, HBC or ASCE 41, and features additional topics, new research, takeaways, industry design guides, and other tools to make retrofit projects easier and more effective.

“Strong building retrofits protect life, property and businesses from disasters,” says Simpson Strong-Tie Development Manager Aniket Borwankar, who will host a webinar on seismic retrofitting of concrete buildings using fiber-reinforced polymer solutions. “With all the different and sometimes unknown site conditions, not to mention variations in codes, standards, products and design guides, retrofits can be challenging. We’re excited to offer this series dedicated to helping the building community evaluate and compare easy-to-implement, proven solutions.”

The four-webinar series launches on September 9, and attendees are welcome to register for any or all of the programs by clicking the links below:

Thursday, September 9

Unreinforced Masonry Building Retrofit Using Adhesive Anchorage, Shotcrete and Helical Ties  

Presenter: Wendy Allen, P.E., Field Engineering Manager

Thursday, September 16

Unreinforced Masonry Building Retrofit Using Connectors, Fasteners and Strong Frame® Moment Frames 

Presenter: Phillip Hui, P.E., Branch Engineer

Thursday, September 30

Concrete, CMU and URM Building Retrofit: FRP Design Basics for Gravity and Lateral Forces

Presenter: Sarah Outzen, P.E., CSS Field Engineer

Thursday, October 7

Concrete Building Seismic Retrofit Using FRP

Presenter: Aniket Borwankar, Development Manager, CSS