Building Services (HVAC) Vibration Isolation

Mason UK are greatly experienced in isolating building services (HVAC) and equipment to reduce vibration transmission. We can support the design of plant isolation systems, starting from the source of vibration, through to associated services and structural connections. Often a range of piping and ductwork services shall need the same level of isolation of the source and the requirement can extend throughout the building. 

Several factors need to be considered:

  1. What are the project requirements – is there a mechanical or acoustic specification?
  2. Is the source of vibration (a booster pump for example) on anti-vibration mounts? Flexible connectors should be considered to prevent pipe failure and allow movement.
  3. Temperature change – are the pipes likely to expand and contract with varying temperatures? Expansion compensators and/or pipe guides may be required to allow for this movement.
  4. Is adjoining pipework fixed to the floor, walls or ceiling? A combination of Isolation hangers and floor mounted isolators (spring & rubber) will uphold the vibration isolation at the source and allow a small amount of movement and expansion.

Mason UK is equipped to assist with the design, selection and specification of isolators, taking the above points into account. We can also provide calculations, installation drawings and provide site support. See the below image of a SKID in BIM format (Building Information Modelling) that Mason produced for a prestigious pipe system isolation project.

SKID of a complex pipe isolation system designed and produced by our engineers in BIM format.

We are able to supply the following:

  • 3D drawings for BIM compliance.
  • Flexible connectors for thermal expansion and movement allowances.
  • Array of connectors to suit a wide range of chemical, temperature and pressure requirements.
  • Vee connectors for seismic and large deflection applications.
  • Bespoke designs to meet requirements.
  • Control rods and cables for tied requirements.
  • Pipe isolation systems incorporating anti-vibration hangers, mounts and more.
  • Piping guides to allow movement for horizontal and riser systems.
  • Expansion compensators to allow for temperature variation. 

The above list outlines ways in which we can help on your project, but it is not exhaustive. If you have any building services (HVAC) vibration isolation requirements, please contact our experienced team of engineers. 

Specification Documents

If both the deflection of the structure and nature of the equipment is known, the following specification documents can help when generating a vibration isolation specification for HVAC applications. Our engineers are on hand to assist and give advice as necessary.

Related Products

Please see the following product pages to find out how we can help with your project:

Anti-Vibration Rubber Mounts & Pads

Anti-vibration mounts & pads supplied by Mason U.K. are manufactured from high quality bridge-bearing neoprene or L.D.S rubber. Both materials are certified to meet or exceed applicable standards.

Spring Mounts

Mason UK has a complete range of spring mounts both open, enclosed and restrained. Spring mounts are typically used for applications where low frequency (sub 8Hz) vibrations are present.

Isolation Hangers

Acoustic isolation hangers are an excellent way of preventing airborne noise from below passing into the building structure, or preventing noise/vibration from the floor above entering the room below.

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.

Air Springs

Air Springs are typically used to isolate equipment that is very sensitive to vibration. They provide very high levels of isolation, can reach very low natural frequencies and are essentially resonance free. They would typically be used in but not limited to, research and medical facilities, and precision manufacturing environments.

Flexible Pipe Connectors

There are many types of flexible pipe connectors produced by Mason Industries. They can be broadly categorised into two groups; rubber expansion joints and stainless steel flexible connectors.

Rubber Expansion Joints

There are many types of flexible pipe connectors and expansion joints produced by Mason Industries. This page gives a brief overview with links to more specific product details.

Stainless Steel Flexible Pipe Connectors

Stainless steel connectors are used where movement is required between two pipes or pieces of equipment. They are mainly required when pipes have to bridge building expansion joints or to allow for movement of mechanical equipment.

Expansion Compensators & Housed Expansion Joints

Expansion Compensators and Housed Expansion Joints are fundamentally a bellows that is protected by and guided within a pipe housing. They are also designed to give improved stability.

Pipe Guides, Anchors & Adjustable Sliding Guides

Mason Adjustable Sliding Guides (ASG) are pipe guides that can be installed in any orientation. They come is a range of standard sizes to suit pipes from 20mm to 300mm in diameter. Larger Guides are available on request. Full details can be found in the attached bulletin below.

Thrust Restraints

Thrust restraints are recommended for all fan heads and for axial or centrifugal fans when the air thrust exceeds 10% of the equipment weight.