Protect Your Property: Anchor Tall Bookcases and File Cabinets
What You Can Do
Earthquake protection can involve a variety of changes to your house and
property -- changes that can vary in complexity and cost. You may be able to
make some types of changes yourself. But complicated or large-scale changes and
those that affect the structure of your house or its electrical wiring and
plumbing should be carried out only by a professional contractor licensed to
work in your state, county, or city. One example of earthquake protection is
anchoring large pieces of furniture, such as bookcases and file cabinets, so
that they will remain upright during an earthquake. This is something that many
homeowners can probably do on their own.
Anchor Tall Bookcases and File Cabinets
During an earthquake, large pieces of furniture such as tall bookcases and file
cabinets can fall on you or members of your family. Toppled furniture can also
block exits and prevent you from escaping. Anchoring furniture so that it
remains upright not only helps prevent injuries but also helps protect both the
furniture and its contents.
You can anchor large pieces of furniture in several ways. The figure shows how
to anchor a bookcase to a wall, but the same methods can be used for other
pieces of furniture. As shown in the figure, a bookcase can be anchored with
metal L brackets and screws along its top or sides (either inside or outside)
or with screws through its back.
Tips
Keep these points in mind when you anchor large pieces of furniture:
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Make sure that all anchoring screws penetrate not just the wall but the studs
behind it as well. Screws embedded only in drywall or plaster will pull out.
Regardless of the anchoring method you use, the screws should be long enough to
extend at least 2 inches into the wall and studs.
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Before anchoring a bookcase with screws through its back, make sure the back is
sturdy enough and that it is securely attached to the sides, top, and bottom.
Some bookcases have backs made of very thin materials that are held in place
with only small screws or staples that can easily pull out. Those bookcases
should be anchored with brackets.
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If you have two or more bookcases or file cabinets that sit next to each other,
consider connecting them to one another as well as to the wall. They will be
even more stable if you do.
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If possible, move all bookcases, file cabinets, and other large pieces of
furniture away from exits so that if they do fall, they won't prevent you from
escaping.
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To prevent the contents of your bookcases from falling out, you can install a
thin metal or plastic rod, a wood dowel, or even an elastic band across the
front of each shelf.
Estimated Cost
The cost of anchoring a bookcase or file cabinet will depend on its width. In
general, if you do the work yourself, you can expect the cost to be
approximately $5 per foot. So, for example, anchoring a 3-foot-wide bookcase
will cost you about $15. This amount covers only the hardware you will have to
buy and excludes the cost of any tools you use and the value of your time. If
you hire a contractor or handyman to do the work, you will have to pay for time
as well as materials.
Other Sources of Information
Seismic Retrofit Training for Building Contractors and Building Inspectors:
Participant Handbook, FEMA, 1995
Reducing the Risks of Nonstructural Earthquake Damage: A Practical Guide,
FEMA-74, 1994
Protecting Your Home and Business from Nonstructural Earthquake Damage, FEMA,
1994