Floor vibrations are, in many cases, virtually unnoticeable. You may have felt a slight tremor underfoot in a high-rise office or a modern open-plan workspace or felt a computer screen shake when foot traffic is high. No matter how discreet, such signs are ignored at your peril. Research now proves that floor vibration significantly impacts human performance, productivity and, as a result, business profitability. Despite being an invisible issue, excessive floor vibration is a major concern in building design and serviceability – one that’s all too often overlooked.
A recent study, co-authored by Alex Pavic, CALMFLOOR co-founder and conducted at the University of Exeter, has demonstrated just how disruptive floor vibration can be in terms of cognitive function. The findings show that even barely perceptible vibrations slow down reaction times, impair concentration and increase work inefficiency.
The good news is that there’s a low-carbon, cost-effective solution that eliminates this problem instantly: CALMFLOOR’s active mass dampers (AMDs). We take a closer look at the results of the University of Exeter study and explore how revolutionary AMD technology can counter the damaging effects of excessive floor vibration – and herald a new era of building design. Indeed, CALMFLOOR’s pioneering active vibration control not only solves problematic building vibration instantly in existing buildings, it presents a revolutionary approach to the design of new buildings and those requiring a change of use with architects freed from a multitude of design constraints.
How floor vibration affects productivity
Most modern buildings are designed with lightweight materials and long-span floors to reduce construction costs and carbon footprints. However, this shift has led to an increase in floor flexibility, which, in turn, has made vibration issues more common. Just as concerning is that while current building guidelines set ‘acceptable’ vibration limits, they fail to account for how floor vibrations impact workplace efficiency.
Key findings from the study:
- Employees working in buildings with excessive vibration take up to 80% longer to complete tasks.
- Subtle floor movements impair concentration and reaction times without people consciously realising it.
- Workplace productivity losses due to vibration can translate into significant financial costs for businesses.
This means that, even in buildings designed to meet existing vibration standards, workers are unknowingly underperforming and losing precious time and efficiency every day. For environments where precision and focus are critical, such as financial trading floors, law firms, laboratories and data centres, the impact can be staggering.
Why floor vibration should be a recognised environmental stressor
While businesses are acutely aware of workplace stressors like temperature, lighting, air quality, and noise, vibration is all too often overlooked. Yet, the Exeter study proves it’s just as critical for human comfort and performance.
Consider this: If office lighting was flickering at random intervals, wouldn’t it be seen as a problem? Similarly, vibration disrupts cognitive function in ways that are less obvious – but just as damaging. It’s time for floor vibration to be recognised as an essential factor in workplace design and performance.
The financial cost of ignoring floor vibration
- Lost productivity: If your employees take 80% longer to complete tasks, that directly affects profitability.
- Higher operational costs: Inefficient workforces require additional hours, impacting overall output.
- Reduced tenant desirability: High-end businesses demand premium office spaces with optimal working conditions.
For building owners and asset managers, ignoring floor vibration isn’t just a minor oversight, it’s an issue that can impact rental demand, tenant retention, operational efficiency and building value
Why traditional vibration control methods fall short
Historically, the only solutions for reducing floor vibration have been heavy concrete and steel reinforcements or passive-tuned mass dampers (TMDs). These methods are:
- Expensive: Retrofitting buildings with traditional methods incurs high costs, including materials, labour and downtime.
- Inefficient: Passive dampers only target a single vibration frequency, leaving other problematic vibrations unaddressed.
- Environmentally unsustainable: Using more concrete and steel increases embodied carbon, which undermines sustainability goals.
The alternative? CALMFLOOR’s revolutionary active mass dampers (AMDs).
A game-changing solution: CALMFLOOR active mass dampers (AMDs)
CALMFLOOR’s patented vibration control technology provides an instant, low-carbon and cost-effective solution that eliminates excessive floor vibration without structural intervention.
- Reduces vibration by up to 90%: Active vibration control far exceeds traditional solutions
- Quick and non-intrusive installation: CALMFLOOR AMDs can be deployed in hours, with no structural modifications required.
- Lightweight and sustainable: At just 67kg (148lbs) per unit, CALMFLOOR significantly cuts down on embodied carbon.
- Supports Net Zero goals: Reducing material use aligns with carbon reduction initiatives.
- Enhances building value: Makes buildings more attractive to high-end tenants who demand premium workspaces.
Is your building suffering from excessive vibration? Here’s how to fix it
If you suspect your building, from office and life sciences environments to retail and hospitality spaces, has a vibration problem, there’s an easy way to find out – and resolve it fast. CALMFLOOR offers the world’s only try-before-you-buy floor vibration control service , allowing you to test and quantify the impact of vibration before making a commitment.
The bottom line: Excessive floor vibration is an invisible drain on workforce efficiency, business productivity and tenant comfort and satisfaction. With CALMFLOOR’s AMD technology, you can eliminate this problem in just hours, without the cost, disruption or environmental impact of traditional methods.
Contact us today to arrange a demonstration and take the first step toward a more productive, sustainable workspace.