Vibration Isolation of Quantum Metrology Laboratory Equipment
Mason UK was approached by multiple contractors to provide designs, product selections and carry out site inspections for the vibration isolation of plant equipment, piping and ancillaries for the new-state-of-the-art Advanced Quantum Metrology Laboratory building at the National Physical Laboratory.
The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) began the construction of a new facility to expand their quantum science capabilities and allow them to provide technical measurement, test and evaluation of clocks, clock sub-components and solid-state quantum technologies.
To enable the above to be carried out without vibration disturbance, the plant equipment and ancillaries required carefully controlled vibration isolation. A vibration study was carried out by Colin Gordon Associates to quantify the environmental vibration and acoustic noise of a site on the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) campus. Following this, a mechanical specification was produced by ch2m which outlined both the product specification and vibration isolation schedule. This was to meet a stringent vibration isolation specification of 99 per cent isolation efficiency, and vibration criteria of VC-G throughout the laboratory. Achieving this level of isolation required us to provide careful product selection with supporting calculations, design, coordination with all parties, and regular site visits to review the installation.
Bespoke Spring Mount Height Saving Brackets
A number of air handling units (AHU) were to be isolated on spring mounts. However, the height restriction meant that we needed to design bespoke height saving brackets to allow the springs to be situated to the side of the unit and only raise the AHU a small amount. As well as specifying suitable spring mounts, we supplied these mounts with height saving brackets to allow the contractor to achieve a successful installation.
Z-brackets with SLFH spring mounts to save height.
Inertia Base Designs
The pumps and compressors required higher levels of isolation than spring mounts alone would be able to achieve. It was therefore necessary to mount these on concrete inertia bases. We designed and manufactured the inertia bases, and our site engineering team supervised their installation.
Two pumps situated on concrete inertia base and SLFH spring mounts
Mechanical pipework isolation
The laboratories and equipment required a significant amount of pipework within the service zone of the structure. The pipework required vibration isolation and decoupling from the surrounding support structure. In addition to supplying our catalogue products, we worked with the contractors to propose suitable details for side mounted pipe clamps, restricted space zones, and other difficult installations. Our 30-X series spring hangers were used to support the pipework from above. For horizontal mounting, our special design DSSB-X spring braces were used.
Installation photos
See more images from the project below.
Related products
View similar products to those installed at the National Physical Laboratory here:
Open Spring Mounts
Open spring mounts are typically used to isolating mechanical equipment, which producing lower frequency vibrations.
Restrained Spring Mounts
Restrained Spring Mounts are spring mounts supplied with a housing which restricts spring travel. This is useful when equipment is subject to wind loading or changes weight during maintenance.
Spring Mounted Inertia Bases
Inertia bases, used in conjunction with the right acoustic isolation system, are the most effective anti-vibration technique for machinery. They can vary from a simple steel frame which allows spring mounts to connect to the equipment, to large concrete filled frames to provide inertial mass.
