WHAT WE DO
A highly specialized firm of engineers and support staff dedicated to acting as a seamless extension of your design team.
Our unique seismic force resisting systems prevent beam and column damage and offer repairability via replacement of a single component: the bottom fuse plate. This patented, innovative technology creates structures with higher resiliency, simplified installation, improved schedule, and cost savings to the overall project. Our design team works with your design team to provide a resilient design option that is economical with exceptional performance.
“We are committed to providing excellent service that results in the highest possible cost saving solutions to every client.”
~Dr. Paul Richards, VP | Inventor
DuraFuse Frames Mission Statement
Using our patented technologies, we collaborate with clients to design economical buildings that can rapidly return to operation after damaging earthquakes.
DuraFuse Frame Core Values
DuraFuse Frames core values are:
• Passion: We are driven to design buildings that enable resilient communities.
• Collaboration: We are an extension of each client’s design team, working towards a common objective.
• Innovation: We continually advance our technologies to lead the profession in economical resilient design.
OUR UNIQUE PROCESS
As a company rooted in research, development, and design, we are constantly striving to improve or process and our technology. We strive to be an extension of your design team through the services we offer.
BRAINSTORMING
We are ready to jump in and join the design team to ensure the best possible outcomes for the Owner, General Contractor, Architect, Engineer, Fabricator, and Erector. The DuraFuse license fee is included in the fabrication cost with no costs associated for the Engineer of Record. Design Assist and Value Engineering are simply part of the general services we offer.
MODELING
DuraFuse Frames are designed with an R-factor of 8 and exceed the requirements for Special Moment Frames in AISC 341. The DuraFuse Frame connection is modeled as fully rigid and can be easily incorporated into common software systems such as ETABS and RAM.
We provide assistance with the connection design (calculations, details, and schedules) at no cost to the Engineer of Record. Additionally, we provide final review and approval of the necessary drawings and 3D models associated with your DuraFuse project.
COMPLETION
Upon completion of your DuraFuse Frames project design, expect to receive high quality and detailed drawings for a smooth transition to production.
MEET OUR PEOPLE
Our unique seismic force-resisting systems prevent beam and column damage and offer repairability via the replacement of a single component: the bottom fuse plate. This patented, innovative technology creates structures with high-er resiliency, simplified installation, improved schedule, and cost savings to the overall project. Our design team works with your design team to provide a resilient design option that is economical with exceptional performance.
Contact us today and let us assist you on your next project.
DuraFuse Frames Story
Building codes ensure that buildings will be safe during earthquakes. During severe earthquakes, buildings are expected to be damaged with no provisions requiring repair and re-occupancy considerations. Designing structures using this approach balances safety with initial construction cost. The consequence is that earthquake induced damage may not be economical or feasible to repair.
In the aftermath of the 1994 Northridge Earthquake, Dr. Paul Richards was a graduate student at the University of California San Diego doing research on steel connections. His research showed that the post-Northridge connections being used for new construction were safe for earthquakes, but would be impractical to repair afterwards. This thought stayed with him through his career and then as he transitioned into academia.
Upon commencing his faculty position in 2006, his research efforts focused on developing concepts for steel structures that would improve structure performance in major seismic events. After seeing the large number of buildings demolished after the 2011 earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand, he refocused his research efforts. His objective became designing economical steel buildings that were repairable after earthquakes. The work took time, effort, and several iterations until the DuraFuse Frames connection was born.
Dr. Richards teamed with experienced steel fabricators to refine the connection to ensure it was economical, met all performance requirements, and was repairable. The connection was tested extensively at full-scale in the lab and on a shaking table to demonstrate its performance and repairability. DuraFuse Frames, LLC was formed to provide engineers, contractors, and building owners with this proven technology for steel moment frame structures. DuraFuse Frames provides moment frames that are economical, high-performing, and repairable. DuraFuse Frames delivers confidence in performance during an earthquake and easy repairability after an earthquake at a lower cost than all other moment frame options. DuraFuse Frames is leading the way to economical new construction and retrofitted existing buildings that are not sacrificed in the next major earthquake.