Vibration damping – reduces vibrations in office environments
Limit structure-borne noise and vibrations that affect work peace and comfort
In office environments, disruptive noises often arise that are not transmitted through the air, but through vibrations in the building's structure. When technical equipment, installations, or movements cause vibrations in floors, walls, or ceilings, the sound can travel and be heard in several parts of the office. Vibration damping is a measure aimed at reducing these vibrations and thus reducing structure-borne noise that affects the working environment.
What is vibration damping?
Vibration damping involves limiting how mechanical vibrations are transmitted from a source to the building's structure. Unlike sound insulation, which stops airborne sound between rooms, and sound absorption, which reduces echo and reverberation in the room, vibration damping focuses on reducing the actual movement in the structure. The measure is often directed at contact points where vibrations are transmitted, for example between a machine and the floor or between an installation and a wall.
Common problems with vibrations in offices
In office environments, vibrations are often experienced as a dull hum, recurring shaking, or low-frequency disturbances. Common sources are ventilation units, fans, server equipment, printers, coffee machines, and other technical equipment. Even installations that are permanently mounted in walls or ceilings can cause vibrations that spread through the building's frame and affect several work areas at the same time.
How do vibrations spread in office buildings?
When a machine or installation vibrates, the movement is transferred to the surface and conducted through the floor, walls, and ceiling. This means that the disturbance is not always experienced where the source is located, but in adjacent offices, meeting rooms, or common areas. Since vibrations travel efficiently in solid materials, special measures are required to break this mechanical transmission.
Vibration damping in different parts of the office
In offices, vibration damping is mainly used on floors, machines, and technical equipment, as well as on walls and ceilings where installations are attached. Floors are a common route for vibrations from equipment to spread, while walls and ceilings can act as transmitting surfaces. By adapting the measure to where the vibrations occur, the disturbances can be reduced more effectively.
Why choose vibration damping in an office environment?
Vibration damping contributes to a significantly improved working environment by reducing low-frequency noise, humming, and shaking that otherwise affect concentration and well-being. This measure is often crucial for problems that cannot be solved with sound insulation or sound absorption alone. In many offices, vibration damping is combined with other acoustic measures to create a more stable, professional, and comfortable sound environment.
Well-thought-out advice for best results
For the best effect, it is important to identify where the vibrations occur and how they spread throughout the building. A common mistake is to treat only the room where the disturbance is heard, even though the source is often located elsewhere. By focusing on vibration transmission at the source, structure-borne noise and vibrations can be reduced more effectively and in the long term.
Vibration damping is therefore a key measure for reducing disturbing structure-borne noise and creating a quieter and more comfortable office environment.