SidePlate Frequently Asked Questions

• What is SidePlate™?
  
  

  SidePlate™ is a proprietary steel frame connection technology developed and owned by SidePlate Systems, Inc. SidePlate is ideally suited to protect structures against terrorism, seismic events or other natural disasters.

  SidePlate's patented geometry provides a physical separation between the face of column and end of beams, eliminating complex strain concentrations inherent with 'traditional' connection geometries. All moment load transfer from the beam to the column reverts back to simple statics, and is accomplished with plates and shop fillet welds using predictable equivalent force couples and basic engineering principles.

  The parallel full-depth side plates are designed with adequate strength and stiffness to force all significant plastic behavior of the connection system into the beam, in the form of ductile hinging at a predictable distance of approximately 1/3 the depth of the beam away from the end of the side plates.

  Minimum rotational capacities using SidePlate moment connection technology meet the requirements of FEMA 350, 2002 AISC Seismic Provisions, ICBO and COLA.

  
  The award winning, proprietary SidePlate™ connection has been proven in laboratory and real world tests and can be trusted for use in all steel framed structures. SidePlate's versatility of product line is unique to the steel frame industry. It includes nine, easy to specify product types, useful for virtually any design application and/or condition, making design and implementation an effortless process for the engineer.

  SureFrame™	SureFrame+™	SureBrace™	SureBrace+™
  SureFrame2™	SureFrame2+™	SureBrace2™	SureBrace2+™
  SureBent™