Vibration Isolation

of Buildings

Vibration Isolation of Buildings

Attractive sites in central and convenient

locations sometimes have one disappointing
disadvantage vibrations or structure borne
noise, caused by
subway or other railway lines,
heavy truck traffic on uneven roads
or neighbouring bridges,
heavy machinery in neighbouring
industrial facilities.
Vibrations and noise limit the general value
of such properties.
The extent of these vibrations when measured on the subsoil is at the beginning
often underestimated. Only in the finished
building, the consequences are fully felt with
floors vibrating, and walls and floors being
the radiating surface of secondary noise.
Counter-measures are then nearly not at all
possible any more or will require a lot of
time and money.

Conventional foundations cannot prevent

the transmission of disturbing vibrations into
the building. Measures at the vibration
source are often not possible or not sufficient. Structural measures in the building
are in most cases not successful and
may furthermore limit the creativity of the
architect.
Special measures on foundation level may
become necessary to preserve chances for
the erection of a residential or office building,
a hotel or senior home, a concert hall, a
conference centre or a modern facility with
vibration sensitive production without risks
for people, machines or the buildings themselves.
Base isolation by spring support offers this
chance.

It is therefore the responsibility of building

owners and architects to investigate this
problem early to avoid subsequent problems.

Prestressable spring unit for vibration isolation of buildings

Vibration Isolation Systems

for Buildings
Elastic support systems designed by
GERB for buildings result in vertical natural
frequencies of 3 to 5 Hz for special applications down to 2 Hz when taking the
building itself as a rigid body into account.
Corresponding to the natural frequencies
is the efficiency of isolation starting at
frequencies as low as 5 Hz or even less.
This does not only efficiently eliminate
the transmission of structure borne noise,
but also 80 % and more of vibrations with
frequencies of 10-20 Hz, which are often
found near railway lines and which are
amplified especially on floors inside the
building, and well perceived especially
on higher floors. For higher frequencies
the efficiency of isolation is even higher.
The system keeps vibration levels below
the limits according to DIN 4150, Part 2
even under difficult conditions.
The GERB base isolation system for buildings consists of spring units and has
been used worldwide for decades in vibration isolation of heavy machinery with
high static and dynamic loads.

The worldwide first residential building spring supported

for vibration isolation, 4 Hz Berlin, Germany 1986

Since 1985 the GERB system has been

successfully used for base isolation of
buildings including the application for
seismic protection. Before that time,
spring systems had already been installed
in more than 500 cases to protect buildings against differential settlement in
subsidence areas. For earthquake protection, too, GERB spring units combined
with Viscodampers are in use in different
countries.

Sheraton Hotel Charles de Gaulle Airport

Paris, France

GERB Spring Units

GERB spring units consist of high quality
steel coil springs installed between steel
plates or welded steel casings. The elements
may comprise different numbers of springs
and can therefore be provided for different
load capacities (100 2,000 kN).
Helical springs have linear load deflection
lines over the whole load range. They are
therefore most suitable for base isolation of
buildings allowing lowest natural frequencies.
Vibration isolation starts at frequencies as
low as 5 Hz.

Spring units below Bridgewater Concert Hall

The transmission loss in the element may

be increased by additional measures, for
example, the GERB CDRS (Coil Resonance
Damping System) provides further reduction
of transmission in the acoustic frequency
range.

Bridgewater Concert Hall with 3.5 Hz system Manchester, GB

IMAX Cinema with 3.5 Hz isolation system London, GB

Residential houses with 3.5 Hz isolation system London, GB

Complex of buildings above an underground line

on 5 Hz spring units Berlin, Germany

System Design and Installation

The design of an elastic support system is
done on the results of a preceding vibration
survey. Types and numbers of spring units
will be defined in cooperation between
architect, the structural engineer and GERB.
Non-prestressable spring unit

A large list of standardized spring units with

different load capacities is available to
choose from which makes it easy to adapt
the spring system to the actual static loads.

GERB spring units are available in

prestressable version allowing easy height
adjustment of the springs and even
whenever this should become necessary
the replacement of complete elements.
GERB spring units for base isolation are
designed for high load capacities and accept
wind loads without any additional bracing
of the building.

Spring units arranged on column heads

IMAX Cinema London, GB

Adjusting a spring unit

Shanghai, China

Array of spring units with 3,500 kN load capacity

Kwai Tsing Theater, Hong Kong

High-frequency test stand for springs (GERB R & D Dept.)

GERB spring units are fixed with adhesive

pads on top and bottom sides without bolts.
Spring units may be arranged below the
basement of the building, inside the
basement, above zero level or at other
suitable places. GERB spring units do not
require maintenance. They are provided with
special long-term corrosion protection.
GERB springs are fatigue-free with nearly
unlimited lifetime.

Acceleration amplitudes (horizontal) below and above a 4 Hz-spring system

Basement floor with spring units

Vibration Isolation of Buildings

Reference List (Excerpt)

Country

Spring Supported
residential buildings
Las Rosas
Madrid, Spain

City

Project

Spring Supported Weight [tons] Vertical Natural Frequency [Hz]

Australia

Sydney

Conservatorium of Music

3,200

3.5

China

Shanghai

Concert Hall (Auditorium)

96

3.5

Germany

Berlin
Berlin
Bonn
Ingolstadt
Munich
Siegburg
Verden/Aller

Residential building
8 Residential buildings
Hotel
Office building
Office building
Multiplex Cinema
Concert hall

2,200
16,000
6,500
5,800
16,000
15,000
2,500

4.0
5.0
3.5
3.5
3.0
3.5
3.9

France

Montpellier
Paris
Paris
Paris
Paris-La Dfence
Paris
Paris
Roissy
Sceaux

Opera House
Laboratory, Institut Pasteur
Cinema Grand Ecran
Hotel Astre
Hotel Renaissance
Office/Residential building
Theatre
Sheraton Airport Hotel
Residential building

23,000
12,600
4,200
3,000
22,000
34,000
2,300
28,000
13,000

4.0
4.0
4.0
3.7
3.5
3.7
3.3
3.5
4.0

Great Britain

London
London
London
London
London
Manchester

Office building
Family houses
IMAX Cinema
Retail and office building
BBC Broadcasting building
Bridgewater Concert Hall

21,500
340
5,000
10,000
13,400
30,000

3.7
3.5
3.5
3.5
3.5
3.5

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Kwai Tsing Theatre

30,000

3.5

Netherlands

Den Haag

Culturel Centrum

2,400

3.5

Sweden

Stockholm
Stockholm

Office building
Residential building

1,000
1,350

3.5
3.5

Spain

Barcelona
Barcelona
Madrid

Hospital
Office building
Residential buildings

53,000
320
21,200

3.5
3.5
3.5

Czech Republic

Prague

Broadcasting building

8,300

3.5

USA

Atlanta, Georgia
Dallas, Texas

22 Dwellings
Convention Center

50 each
37,500

3.7
3.2

worldwide

St. Petersburg
Essen
Saint Nazaire

Chicago

Berlin
Coswig
Prague
Paris Milano

Madrid
Qingdao

New-Dehli

Bangalore

So Paulo
Crdoba

Layout: Sijades, Berlin Printed: Woeste, Essen 2005

Corporate Headquarters with Production

Subsidiary with Production
Subsidiary

For Vibration isolation of your building we offer:

Worldwide consultancy service

Engineering
Design, manufacture and delivery of spring units
Installation or supervision of installation and fine tuning to
actual loads by GERB engineers
Inspections

GERB Schwingungsisolierungen
GmbH & Co. KG
Roedernallee 174-176
13407 Berlin/Germany
Tel. +49 - 30- 41 91-0
Fax +49 - 30- 41 91-199
Sylviastrasse 21
45131 Essen/Germany
Tel. +49 -201-266 04- 0
Fax +49 -201-266 04- 40

building@gerb.de
EN ISO 9001: 2000 Certified Company

www.gerb.com