Equipment rack

An earthquake resistant structure including a generally rectangular base frame member, first and second elongate side members extending from opposite sides of the base member in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the base member, a generally rectangular top member coupling the free ends of the side members, and means for securing the base member to a support surface, wherein the securing means is adapted to prestress and distort the base member so as to transfer force from the base member to the side members whereby to raise the vibrational response of the structure to a value at which earthquake induced vibration of the structure is inhibited.

A method of mounting an equipment rack for supporting communications equipment on a support surface, the rack including a generally rectangular base member, first and second side members extending from opposite sides of the base member in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the base member, a top member coupling the free ends of the side members, and means for securing the base member to the support surface, wherein the method includes prestressing the base member via the securing means so as to transfer force from the base member to the side members whereby to raise the vibrational response of the rack to a value at which earthquake induced vibration of the rack is inhibited.