Secure Fixtures and Appliances for Earthquakes

When the earth shakes, things fall over. If those things happen to be heavy and bulky, like shelves and appliances, they can cause considerable damage on the way down.

The Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) offers advice to protect your property, customers and employees:

Ceilings, Lights and Hanging Fixtures

• Secure suspended ceilings with chain straps, plumber’s strapping or a minimum of 14-gauge wire.
• Compression struts can keep suspended ceilings from shaking around too much.
• Secure lights and hanging fixtures to joists or other supports with chain straps, plumber’s strapping or a minimum of 14-gauge wire.
• Install plastic sleeves over fluorescent lights or use shatter-resistant tubes.

Cabinets, Cases and Shelves

• Secure floor fixtures to walls and floors using L-brackets or Z-brackets. Be sure that the brackets are screwed into studs or other structural supports. If you’re attaching them to brick or concrete, use plastic anchors to provide more stability.
• Free-standing shelves and cabinets can be made more stable by putting them back-to-back. Attach them to each other with screws, brackets or steel straps.
• Heavy items on shelves can also fall down and cause damage. Use adhesives such as Velcro® or museum wax to keep them from flying around. Adding a lip to your shelves can also help.

Appliances

• Make sure to lock any wheels or rollers.
• Use coated wire to tie them in place. Attach the wire to the wall with a screw-eye and to the appliance with a snap-hook fastener. It should attach to the upper half of the appliance.
• Replace any rigid gas or water connections with flexible hoses to prevent breakage when they shift. Some building codes may require professional installation.

Water Heaters

• Secure the tank with plumber’s strapping and heavy-duty shelving brackets.
• Replace rigid water and gas connections with flexible hose.

For more information on these procedures, see the following IBHS articles:

• Ceiling, lights and hanging fixtures
• Bookcases and shelves
• Cabinets
• Large appliances
• Water heaters (up to 50 gallons)

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