Case Studies: Vibration Isolation Design

Rail Vibration - Transworld House, Old Street, London

This site at the Old Street and City Road roundabout is subject to structural noise and vibration from underground rail lines passing close by. Spectrum was appointed by Waterman Group to undertake noise and vibration investigation in the basement of the former Transworld Building and develop outline vibration isolation mitigation for a new residential 50 storey tower building. A revised scheme for the site now shows a lower building with a larger footprint.

Pump house Structure Borne Noise Isolation – Keadby Power Station, Lincolnshire

Cooling water for this CCGT Power Station is provided by very powerful pumps at the side of the River Trent. These are set underground in concrete casings and structure borne noise from the units is prevented from passing up through the walls of the building and re-radiating as audible noise through the introduction of a rubber vibration isolation running all round the building. The vibration isolation bearing is protected by a red weatherproof strip seen in this photo.

Underground Cinemas – Underground Trains, Piccadilly, London

London’s luxury Apollo Cinema (Vue Cinemas) is London’s only full digital, fully 3D facility. It comprises 5 luxury Screens. Spectrum were appointed to complete its acoustic design and ensured that each screen was acoustically cocooned by floating each on space on its own rubber anti-vibration system. The reason for this is that a network of underground train lines pass under the building. Our acoustic tests before conversion work started had found structure borne train noise was clearly audible within most of the building.

Statoil Mariner Platform, UK North Sea

Space restrictions on offshore platforms mean that necessarily quiet office areas often have to be located close to machinery areas which may be subject to high levels of noise and vibration. In order to meet the strict noise criteria required by the Norwegian Norsok standards, Spectrum advised RDS/KCA Deutag and DSME on the vibration isolation of an area of around 400m2 offices and meeting rooms using anti-vibration mounts and a spring-mounted ceiling system.

Jack-up Concrete Floating Floor – Bedford College Arts Building, Bedfordshire

Spectrum designed this heavy vibration isolated floating floor for the scenery workshop area of this arts building, to prevent structural noise and vibration from affecting highly sensitive adjoining recording and TV studios, and live performance spaces. Installation work was undertaken by Mason Industries.