Thermal Bridging and Structural Thermal Breaks

There is an increasing trend for buildings and spaces to have multiple uses, therefore it is critical that designers consider disturbing noise and vibration frequencies, their harmonics, and the natural frequency modes of the floor and structure to ensure sufficient levels of noise and vibration isolation are achieved. Vibration control measures can be incorporated to provide vibration mitigation as well as enhance airborne and impact noise reduction. Incorporating a high-performance sound insulation system for noise or vibration isolation is often far more cost effective than the necessary increase in size and weight of steel or concrete required to suitably stiffen a structure. As the vibration is isolated at source, the acoustic performance is also generally much higher.

This seminar explains the effects of vibration on buildings and industrial plants and explores the relevant acoustic criteria as well as options to manage/isolate these effects. It provides an introduction into the scope, limitations and costs of the available solutions to incorporate vibration controls into structures, from system design all the way through to the practicalities of installation.