Evaluating the Vibration Performance of Existing and Future Building Structures for Laboratory Tenants

Major cities were recently experiencing a large demand for life science and biotech spaces, which led to the possibility of using existing building spaces or new developments for lab space rather than their original or intended usage. The vibration requirements of a building are a critical concern when it is intended for laboratory use - these requirements often flow down and affect the structural design. For buildings that were not designed as sensitive facilities, an evaluation process is often necessary to assess suitability. Fitness-related amenity spaces, often desired by developers, further complicates the design of vibration sensitive facilities. Whether it be new construction or re-use of an existing building, the vibration consultant plays a key role in the ultimate success of the facility. This paper discusses the latest test and analytical methods being used by the author for evaluating the vibration performance of existing and future building structures. The main vibration sources under consideration are environmental, footfall activity, and fitness amenity spaces.