Engineering-led support screening tool for pipe, ductwork and containment supports.
Checks applied load, moment, deflection and anchor adequacy for cantilever brackets and symmetrical trapeze supports.
| Check | Demand | Capacity / limit | Utilisation | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | ||||
| Output | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| — | ||
For design guidance only. Always verify with a qualified engineer, manufacturer-tested support data and project-specific anchor / structural design.
About this bracket & support load adequacy calculator
This free bracket and support load adequacy calculator is an engineering-led screening tool for pipe, ductwork and containment supports. It checks the applied load, bending moment, deflection and anchor adequacy of cantilever brackets and symmetrical trapeze supports, returning a governing utilisation, a pass / caution / fail verdict and a maximum allowable support spacing. It is built for UK building-services engineers and contractors who need a fast first-pass adequacy check before confirming a support arrangement against manufacturer-tested data.
How the adequacy check works
The tool converts your service load (kg/m or kN/m) and any point-load allowance into a support reaction over the chosen spacing, then applies your service, dynamic / installation and global design factors to give a factored design load. For a cantilever it takes the fixed-end moment M = q·L²/2 + P·L; for a symmetrical trapeze it models a simply-supported cross-member of span 2×projection (UDL M = q·L²/8, midspan point load M = P·L/4). Each demand is compared with your allowable bracket load, allowable moment, deflection limit (L/180, L/200 or a custom value) and summed anchor resistance to produce a utilisation percentage. The deflection model follows standard beam theory (δ = wL⁴/(8EI), CIBSE Guide A) as a simplification without explicit E and I.
Frequently asked questions
Does this replace a structural or anchor design?
No. It is a design-assist screening tool only. The anchor check simply sums per-anchor resistance and does not resolve full anchor-group tension or shear behaviour. Always verify with a qualified engineer, manufacturer-tested support data and project-specific anchor and structural design.
What support types and services does it cover?
Cantilever brackets and symmetrical trapeze supports, for pipe, ductwork and containment. Service presets (such as filled insulated pipework or loaded cable ladder) pre-fill a typical line load, or you can enter your own known load.
How is the maximum allowable spacing found?
It is the smallest spacing across the load, moment, deflection and anchor checks. The deflection-governed spacing scales linearly with the limit-to-estimated ratio, because the bracket arm length is fixed so increasing spacing only raises the line load in proportion.