SidePlate Products

SidePlate's™ patented connection technology uniquely provides a complete product line that offers a full spectrum of integrated connection specialty applications for a diverse set of structural framing configurations and design environments for SMRF, OMRF and IMRF.

SidePlate's product line of both Moment Frame and Braced Dual Systems, which combines Steel Moment Resisting Frames with SCBF and EBF systems, address the heightened design challenges of the 21st century, including the threat of terrorist bomb blast.

Moment Frame Systems

SureFrame™

SureFrame’s standard two-sided connection, at no extra construction cost, is ideally suited for a terrorist bomb blast “missing column” scenario. SidePlate provides a defined beam-to-beam continuity link which acts independently of the disturbed and failed column mitigating progressive floor collapse using catenary action. Other conventional post-Northridge connections such as RBS (’dogbone’) and SlottedWeb are fundamentally vulnerable to progressive floor collapse.

Uniaxial beam-to-column moment connection system
Featuring both one-sided and two-sided connections
SMRF, OMRF and IMRF design applications

SureFrame+™

Uniaxial beam-to-column moment connection system
Developed for blast strengthening of columns to mitigate the threat of “missing column” scenarios due to terrorist bomb blast
SMRF applications featuring one-sided and two-sided connections
Utilizing tube steel or built-up box columns with or without lean concrete
Eliminates the need for costly internal diaphragm plates in the column fabrication

SureFrame2™

Biaxial dual strong axis beam-to-column moment connection system
Features a dual strong axis cruciform column
Connections include two-sided corner, three-sided and four-sided configurations
Ideal for providing the required extra stiffness needed to combine a SMRF steel frame superstructure with a base isolated foundation system. This is not achievable with any other commonly used connection system.

SureBent™

This uniaxial moment connection upgrade system was developed for variable-depth beam(s) and column(s) to economically upgrade the blast resistance of pre-engineered steel frame buildings subjected to both accidental and malevolent explosion. This system is fully developed for SMRF design applications, for both new and retrofit construction. Upgrades the original steel frame capacity by 3 times at a construction cost of less than $5 per square foot.

Braced Dual Systems

SureBrace™

Features common side plates for concentrically connecting both beam(s) and brace(s) to the same column
All field-bolted brace connections use high-strength twist-off bolts with oversize bolt holes for increased erection speed and efficiency
SCBF and SMRF combination increases global frame system ductility and stiffness with a corresponding reduction in design base shear of at least 17% over a solely SCBF system, resulting in significant additional cost savings.

SureBrace+™

Features the same attributes and advantages of SureBrace plus the ability to eccentrically connect brace(s) to beam(s) for even greater system ductility
All field-bolted brace connections use high-strength twistoff bolts with oversize bolt holes for increased erection speed and efficiency
EBF and SMRF combination increases global frame system ductility and stiffness with a corresponding reduction in design base shear at least 20% over a solely EBF system, resulting in even greater additional cost savings.

SureBrace2™

Features all of the SureBrace attributes and advantages in the SureFrame2 biaxial configuration
Uses the biaxial dual strong axis cruciform column featured with the use of SureFrame2

SureBrace2+™

Features all of the SureBrace+ attributes and advantages in the SureFrame2 biaxial configuration
Uses the dual strong axis cruciform column featured with the use of SureFrame2