Blue Bangers in Bellevue

It all started with a simple email to "Ask Simpson Anchors," our Help Desk on the Simpson website.

Rod Lee, a project manager for Western States Fire Protection, asked about using our Blue Banger Hanger (BBH) for construction of the Overlake Hospital in Bellevue, Washington. His e-mail indicated that the local Fire Marshall would not approve the Blue Banger Hanger but would approve a competitor's product because of its "material and weight requirements." This statement was in fact incorrect, as the competitor's product didn't have any specific material or weight attributes that would make it any more or less fire resistant or better for a seismic bracing anchor.

Wendy Allen, from our Anchor Systems group, called Rod to get to the bottom of the issue. She explained:

"It turned out that the Fire Marshall wanted the ASCE-7 calculations for our product to make sure that it could be used for a seismic bracing application. Rod and I spent some time figuring out what application the Blue Banger Hanger would be used for, with required loads, zone of influence angles and other relevant information.

"I then spent a few hours calculating the values, allowable seismic forces, and the allowable angles of the seismic bracing, specific to the Overlake Hospital job. I sent the calculations to Rod, who submitted them to the Fire Marshall. The Fire Marshall approved the use of the Blue Banger hanger, and at last count, Rod had installed 150 BBHs and would be installing 150 more every week for the duration of the project – likely for each of the 5 floors on the $57 million structure."

Wendy reported, "A month or so later, I got an e-mail from Scott Spitzer, the Fire Protection project manager for the Group Health Hospital – right next to the Overlake Hospital. Scott had heard that I helped Rod out and requested that I do the same calculations for him, so that he too could use the Blue Banger Hanger on his project. I willingly obliged, and the Blue Banger Hanger was used on his job also."