Bracelok enews - June 2021

BRACELOK® announce new wall bracing product

The team at BRACELOK® are proud to announce a new ICC-ESR certified product for the demountable wall market!

Building on the success of BRACELOK® RETRO in ICC and OSHPD projects, BRACELOK® DEMOUNTABLE (SPT-10D) has been designed and certified specifically for demountable wall systems.

Whether you’re using aluminum or steel head track, glass or other finishes, BRACELOK® DEMOUNTABLE (SPT-10D) is specifically designed with a screw down or bolt up base plate for ease of installation.

Click here for the BRACELOK® DEMOUNTABLE (SPT-10D) and our traditional BRACELOK® Retro product cut sheet, both of which will continue to be supported.

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BRACELOK® Project Success

Clinica Sierra Vista – Bakersfield, California
Medspace Innovations Walls can be deployed with their integrated cabinetry which includes sinks that accommodate their renowned vacuum plumbing system. For more information on this unique proposition go to https://medspaceinnovations.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MSI-Look-Book-2nd-Gen-Master.pdf

BRACELOK® RETRO was used to seismically secure the integrated wall systems from MedSpace Innovations within this comprehensive healthcare organization in Bakersfield.

Clinica Sierra Vista serves the primary medical, dental and behavioral health needs of about 200,000 people in Kern and Fresno in California’s Central Valley.

Innsbrook Technology Center – Glen Allen, Virginia
Holoform® is a brand of Oldcastle Building Envelope and is backed by a network of manufacturing and distribution facilities across the U.S. and Canada. It includes 28 glass tempering and fabrication, two aluminum extrusion, three finishing, 20 fabrication and 30 hardware distribution locations.

We are proud to have assisted Barton Malow, working for their client Dominion Energy, on the seismic bracing of the Holoform product systems used in this 280,000 SF renovation and 64,000 SF addition.

BRACELOK® RETRO proved to be an efficient method to secure the Holoform walls in this project. It should be noted that this active facility has to remain powered and online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.


North West Eye Surgeons – Seattle, Washington
Northwest Eye Surgeons has a network of 7 locations and BRACELOK® RETRO was again chosen to seismically secure the MedSpace Innovations integrated wall systems for this project.

North West Eye Surgeons perform thousands of restorative and cosmetic procedures each year, including laser vision correction, corneal surgery, cataract surgery, vitreoretinal surgery, glaucoma surgery and laser treatments.

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Talk To Us Today

BRACELOK® and GRIDLOK® are the seismic wall and ceiling brace solution for Hospitals, Schools, and Community Colleges across North America.


With HCAI (OSHPD) certifications, these products reduce interstitial clashes and increase seismic resilience over conventional methods and at a lower installed cost. Specify and install with the confidence you deserve.

Click here to contact our team or phone (619) 917 1688.

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Bracelok enews - March 2021

We have good news for K-12 schools, Community Colleges and other DSA facilities. DSA now allows GRIDLOK® suspended ceiling bracing to be substituted for the IR-25.13 approach. GRIDLOK® and BRACELOK®, our wall bracing solution, both have OSHPD OPM’s and it is that standard that has been adopted for all DSA projects.

GRIDLOK® works with all Armstrong®, CertainTeed®, and USG® heavy duty ceilings. GRIDLOK® is more resilient, lowers cost and requires fewer braces per square ft in higher seismic areas and reduces the embedment of deck anchors. Overall reduced cost with greater resilience.

Architects, engineers, GC’s, and ceiling contractors can easily take advantage of GRIDLOK® ceiling bracing or BRACELOK® partition wall bracing using the OSHPD OPM details:

GRIDLOK® OPM

BRACELOK® OPM

Project focus - Kaiser Permanente and GRIDLOK®

Project: Kaiser Permanente, Ontario, California
Engineer: Saiful Bouquet Structural Engineers
Architect: HMC Architects
Installation: Sound Control

Saiful Bouquet, Structural Engineers specified GRIDLOK® for a project ay Kaiser Permanente in Ontario, California. The successful bidder to implement the ceiling project was Sound Control.

Kevin Hoppe, the firms CEO says “this was our first project using GRIDLOK® and we are totally sold on this solution. It installs quickly, our team loved working with it, and we are helping the other AEC trades by being so flexible. It’s an all-round success- the ability to place it anywhere along the main grid and its 360 degree rotational capability is a winning combination. We are looking forward to installing GRIDLOK® at other OSHPD and DSA projects.” The architects are HMC.

GRIDLOK® bracing to walls approval

Bracing in hospital corridors is often challenging. GRIDLOK® is now certified for bracing all types of wall types. We worked with our partners to define what was needed and now OSHPD have approved this capability.

New addition to BRACELOK® range - COMING SOON!

Our work with demountable wall manufacturers has resulted in an innovation in the BRACELOK® range of wall bracing solutions. Featuring a new narrower base plate designed specifically for demountable partitions, it will complement our existing BRACELOK® RETRO, while providing the opportunity to connect to narrower top plate using either screws or bolts.

Expected bulk delivery in April, with the ability to order immediately on our online store.

Ceiling Seismic Bracing Innovation at Sound Transit

Sound Transit is the provider of light rail, commuter rail and bus service in the Central Puget Sound area. As Sound Transit expands the network of service, accompanying supporting infrastructure is required.

The Sound Transit Operations and Maintenance Facility East Buildings are a new light rail operations and maintenance facility that accommodates the inspection, service, maintenance, storage, and deployment of 96 light rail vehicles on the east side of Lake Washington. This 165,000 square foot facility includes 30,000 square feet of suspended acoustical ceilings.

The need to install the suspended acoustical ceilings in compliance with the current seismic bracing code requirements led Acoustical Design Inc. to use the GRIDLOK seismic bracing solution that has an ICC-ESR Evaluation Report for the installation of seismic bracing pods. The ICC-ESR Evaluation Report provides an easy method to provide “deferred submittal” information to gain approval of the seismic restraint system of the suspended acoustical ceilings.

Kip Cramer of Acoustical Design Inc., the acoustical ceiling installation contractor on this project, choose the GRIDLOK seismic bracing system for the ease of approval using the ICC-ESR report, and to take advantage of using 2 rigid diagonal struts in lieu of the traditional 4 wire diagonal brace. These diagonal struts allowed for easier installation in the congested plenum of the project.

GRIDLOK was developed in highly seismic active New Zealand and is now installed in almost every new building in New Zealand. The GRIDLOK system has been rigorously tested in New Zealand and in the United States and has ICC-ESR certification and California OSHPD OPM (preapproval) certification for use in Hospitals.

The Cities of Seattle and Bellevue have reviewed the GRIDLOK system and the ICC-ESR reports.

Bryce Hodgson, President of Plenum Inc, GRIDLOK and BRACELOK’s North American distributor, said “The installation of the product at Sound Transit is a good example of a contractor led initiative in bringing these solutions into the Pacific Northwest.

We have had significant adoption in many States since we entered the US market, just as COVID was impacting the industry, after having previously firmly established the product in New Zealand and Australia.

We regard Kip Kramer and his team at Acoustical Design as exactly the right type of partner to bring innovative solutions into this market. They have been in business for many years, have a sterling reputation, and stay at the forefront of innovation by recognizing that their competitors have often been slow to change their practices” said Hodgson.

In many cases improvements in seismic practice only come about because of a major earthquake, which is how the BRACELOK partition wall solution, and the GRIDLOK suspended ceiling solutions came into existence.

After the 2011 Christchurch, New Zealand earthquake, where 185 lives were lost, there was a recognition that traditional wire and post installations were inadequate for bracing ceilings in high seismic zones. Now any heavy-duty grid from Armstrong, CertainTeed or USG can now be used with GRIDLOK knowing that they have both ICC-ESR and OSHPD OPM pre-approvals.

The General Contractor for Sound Transit was Hensel Phelps, a National Construction Company with its Headquarters in Colorado. The full contract for this project had an award amount of approximately $219 million. 

The Sound Transit network has plans to expand their light rail system which will more than double in size and the light rail fleet will more than triple from 62 to 214 vehicles. 

Project: Sound Transit Operations and Maintenance Facility East

Location: Bellevue Washington

General Contractor: Hensel Phelps

Specialty Contractor: Acoustical Design Inc

Product: GRIDLOK Ceiling Bracing

Manufacturer: www.bracelok.com

Successful launch of BRACELOK® at the Healthcare Delivery Conference

This was the first year BRACELOK® have attended this event, and it far exceeded our expectations. With 450 enrolments there was a very high level of interest in our bracing solutions for part high walls (BRACELOK®) and suspended ceilings (GRIDLOK®).

 “Ever since we launched in the U.S., we have invested heavily in obtaining both ICC, LARR, and OSHPD certifications always believing that the Healthcare market would eagerly accept these solutions” said Scott Simpson, Chief Technical Director.

“Within days of the conference we had made significant presentations to groups who saw the benefit to the Healthcare construction market, and we connected with many more who want us to present over the next few weeks” said Simpson.

Bracelok’s proven solutions BRACELOK® and GRIDLOK® originated in seismic New Zealand, following the devastating Christchurch earthquake of 2011 where 185 people lost their lives.  BRACELOK® has subsequently spent significant amounts to ensure that the world’s most rigorous standards for bracing, as established by OSHPD and ICC have been exceeded, with our patented solutions.

People in the industry respect the fact that BRACELOK® came into the U.S. market on the basis that we would first obtain the certifications and then go to market with these solutions, rather than promise that we would obtain these certifications. Now we are calling on Architects, Structural Engineers, General Contractors and Specialty installers, with a fast-growing list of users.   

With an ability to order online, and a fulfilment center in Los Angeles, customers who order before noon, get the product shipped to them the same day, with a range of delivery options. We have reduced the friction in getting these solutions by enabling delivery direct to the work site, or to any other location.

With the Healthcare Delivery Conference success, we are now looking forward to the next healthcare event -ASHE PDC Summit 2020 in San Antonio March 23-24 – where we expect more than 1700 attendees, and where we will be at Booth 735. 

If you have any questions you can reach our team on 619 917 1688.

CertainTeed® releases new Seismic Technical Guide

CertainTeed® releases new Seismic Technical Guide, including a section on wire limitations and GRIDLOK® Rigid Bracing benefits and effectiveness in conjunction with Certainteed® heavy duty grid.

To view cliclk here: https://www.certainteed.com/resources/CTC-Seismic-Suspension-Systems-Tech-Guide.pdf

BRACELOK Online Store Opens for Business

Seismic bracing for wall and ceiling systems has never been easier – with our ICC-ES and OPM certifications, fast access to BRACELOK™ and GRIDLOK® is now available. 

Simply visit our easy to use online store to place your order anytime.

Pay by credit card, local taxes calculated for you and order before noon for same day shipping.

Shipping from our Hawthorne, Los Angeles fulfilment center (near SpaceX) ensures efficient delivery to construction sites nationwide.

If you have any questions you can reach our team on 619 917 1688.

BRACELOK™ Builds Resilience in Federal Courthouse

Sandra Day O’Connor Courthouse

The team at BRACELOK™ are proud to have been involved in the seismic upgrade of the Sandra Day O’Connor Courthouse in Phoenix, Arizona.

It was a pleasure to work with project architect Harley Ellis Devereaux, CBRE, Bering Strait Corporation’s Eagle Eye and the GSA Architect on this Federal building.

The pre-approval of BRACELOK™ through the OSHPD OPM accreditation service in California provided confidence to all parties in our pre-engineered, seismic wall bracing solutions for this project in Arizona.

We want to thank all of the project teams for their collaboration and coordination on this important piece of Federal infrastructure.

For more information on our certifications and drawing files please click here.

A swarm of 1,000 earthquakes hit Southern California — how nervous should we be?

The seismic storm that unleashed more than 1,000 small earthquakes in San Bernardino and Riverside counties these last three weeks elicited what has become a typical reaction in quake country.

To some, the “swarmageddon” 40 miles east of downtown Los Angeles brought fear that a bigger threat was coming. To others, as long as they didn’t feel a shake, it was easy to just put it out of their minds.