SAMPLE
Piping Toolset — Calculation Report
generated by calc-core · 2026-07-21
ProjectSample Project — Demonstration Only Job No.SAMPLE-001 Client—
CalculationASME B31E Seismic Design Force Calculator (Fp) Calc byPiping Toolset (calc-core) Checked byUNCHECKED — sample
Date2026-07-21 Rev0 BasisASME B31E seismic design force

1 · Design inputs

A piping component on a rack at roof level (z/h = 1) at a high-seismic site. S<sub>DS</sub> = 1.0 g from the site hazard data; a<sub>p</sub> = 2.5, R<sub>p</sub> = 6 and I<sub>p</sub> = 1.0 taken from the governing edition for this component; operating weight W<sub>p</sub> = 1,000 lb.

Spectral acceleration SDS1.0g
Amplification factor ap2.5—
Response modification Rp6—
Importance factor Ip1.0—
Height ratio z/h1.0—
Operating weight Wp1,000lb

2 · Method

Base equation for the horizontal force on a nonstructural component, ASCE 7 ¶13.3.1 Eq. (13.3-1):

Fp = 0.4 · ap · SDS · Wp · (1 + 2z/h) / ( Rp / Ip )

The result is then clamped between the minimum of Eq. (13.3-3) and the maximum of Eq. (13.3-2):

0.3 · SDS · Ip · Wp  ≤  Fp  ≤  1.6 · SDS · Ip · Wp

lateral coefficient = Fp / Wp

where SDS is the design spectral response acceleration at short period (g), ap the component amplification factor, Rp the component response modification factor, Ip the component importance factor, z/h the attachment height ratio (0 at grade, 1 at roof), and Wp the component operating weight. The calculator reports the unbounded Fp,raw, both bounds, the governing value, and which of the three expressions produced it — so the clamp is visible rather than silent.

3 · Calculation

  1. Height amplification: 1 + 2·z/h = 1 + 2·1 = 3 — the roof-level maximum. At grade (z/h = 0) this term would be 1, cutting the force by two thirds.
  2. Base equation: Fp = 0.4·ap·SDS·Wp·(1+2z/h) / (Rp/Ip) = 0.4·2.5·1.0·1,000·3 / (6/1) = 3,000 / 6 = 500 lb.
  3. Lower bound: 0.3·SDS·Ip·Wp = 0.3·1.0·1.0·1,000 = 300 lb.
  4. Upper bound: 1.6·SDS·Ip·Wp = 1.6·1.0·1.0·1,000 = 1,600 lb.
  5. 500 lb lies inside 300–1,600 lb, so neither clamp is active and the base equation governs: Fp = 500 lb.
  6. Lateral coefficient: Fp/Wp = 500 / 1,000 = 0.5 g applied horizontally to the component's operating weight.

4 · Results COMPUTED

Fp raw — base equation500lb
Lower bound 0.3·SDS·Ip·Wp300lb
Upper bound 1.6·SDS·Ip·Wp1,600lb
Fp — governing design force500lb
Lateral coefficient Fp/Wp0.5g
Governing expressionbase equation—

5 · Verification statement

The result values above are locked as fixture b31e-seismic.json, case “SDS=1.0, ap=2.5, Rp=6, Ip=1, z/h=1, Wp=1000 -> base governs”, tolerance 0.000001, in the calc-core continuous verification gate (see https://pipingtoolset.com/trust/validation.html). Allowable-stress and factor data are user-supplied inputs; citations: ASCE/SEI 7, Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures — ¶13.3.1, horizontal seismic design force on nonstructural components: base Eq. (13.3-1) with the maximum of Eq. (13.3-2) and the minimum of Eq. (13.3-3). · ASCE/SEI 7 — ¶13.3.2 (7-10/-16 numbering), seismic relative displacements / anchor movement; outside the scope of this calculator. · ASME B31E, Standard for the Seismic Design and Retrofit of Above-Ground Piping Systems — seismic qualification of piping and the equivalent-static lateral-coefficient practice used here; seismic input is taken from the governing building code. · ASME B31.3, Process Piping — ¶302.3.6, allowable stresses for occasional loads, against which the resulting seismic stress is checked. · Factor values (S<sub>DS</sub>, a<sub>p</sub>, R<sub>p</sub>, I<sub>p</sub>) are user-supplied from the governing edition — no code table values are embedded.

SAMPLE REPORT — auto-generated from a verification fixture to show the report format. Not a project calculation. ⚠ Engineering-aid tool. Public code equations; allowable-stress and factor data are user-supplied. Results MUST be independently verified and reviewed by a qualified/licensed engineer before any design, fabrication, or operation decision.