Small vibrations. Big operational consequences.

Facilities managers live at the sharp end of building performance. When something disrupts comfort, productivity or operations, it’s on your desk – fast. Traditionally, few issues have been as persistent, frustrating and difficult to resolve as excessive floor vibration.

On paper, the structure may be compliant. In reality, low-level floor vibration undermines occupant confidence, disrupts operations and erodes the reputation and serviceability of the building. These are not theoretical problems. They show up as complaints, room changes, temporary fixes and repeated investigations that drain time and budget.

As modern buildings become lighter, more flexible and more open plan, the problem accelerates. Long spans, reduced mass and higher occupancy densities create ideal conditions for floor vibration – particularly in estates filled with sensitive technologies, building systems and demanding tenants.

CALMFLOOR gives facilities managers a way to stop vibration at source – instantly, non-intrusively and without disrupting live environments.

The compliance paradox: acceptable on paper, problematic in practice

Most problematic floors are not structurally unsafe; they’re operationally unacceptable.

Human perception thresholds sit far below engineering limits. Occupants can detect vibration at levels as low as 0.005 m/s² – long before any breaches to structural criteria are detected. This is where problems begin: not with dramatic movement, but with subtle, repeated motions that make spaces feel unreliable.

For facilities managers, this creates a familiar cycle:

  • Complaints escalate
  • Investigations confirm “compliance”
  • Temporary mitigations are tried
  • The issue persists

The result is ongoing disruption, frustrated occupants and a building that never quite performs as intended.

How floor vibration undermines building functionality

Floor vibration is rarely an isolated issue. It impacts layouts, workflows, equipment and revenue across many asset types:

Offices

Footfall, building systems and external activity transmit low-frequency vibrations through modern office floors, disrupting displays, focused work and hybrid collaboration spaces. All this drives layout changes and constant operational interventions.

Education

Crowded educational spaces and excessive foot traffic, HVAC systems and transport outside cause vibration in lecture theatres and teaching spaces. This affects presentations and concentration and leads to room changes and timetable disruptions.

Gyms and fitness studios

High-impact activities like treadmills and rowing machines in gyms generate vibrations that propagate into neighbouring spaces and floors, triggering complaints, forced relocations or restricted operating hours.

Life sciences laboratories

Precision equipment depends on lab-quality precision floor stability. Even minor vibrations can compromise results, invalidate testing and force costly rework or relocation.

When buildings can’t support their intended use, tenants lose confidence. Complaints escalate, compensation is sought, and retention suffers. All this impacts asset value, serviceability and, potentially, regulatory compliance.

Why traditional structural fixes fall short

Conventional vibration mitigation relies on adding stiffness or mass: more steel, more concrete, more timber.

For facilities managers, these approaches create serious problems:

  • Invasive works requiring shutdowns and decanting
  • Long programmes that disrupt occupancy and revenue
  • High capital costs with uncertain outcomes
  • Significant embodied carbon, which undermine Net Zero commitments

Worse still, structural fixes are often speculative. Without precise modelling, there’s no guarantee the intervention will target the real vibration modes – rendering added mass a high-risk, low-confidence solution.

Active floor vibration control built for live, managed buildings – a fundamentally different approach

CALMFLOOR active mass dampers (AMDs) reduce problematic floor vibration by up to 90% without structural change. Each compact 67 kg (148 lbs) unit installs in hours, operates silently and works across multiple vibration frequencies in real time.

There is no time-consuming, costly shutdown. No added mass. No disruption to occupants.

Deployment is simulation-led, not trial-and-error. CALMFLOOR’s vibration specialists analyse the floor’s dynamic behaviour and identify exact vibration hotspots, ensuring AMDs are placed only where they deliver maximum impact. The result is predictable, repeatable performance – with no overdesign.

Unlike carbon-intensive structural solutions, CALMFLOOR delivers stability with minimal embodied carbon, directly supporting Net Zero strategies while protecting building functionality.

Performance data-driven control for modern facility management

The CALM Connect smart portal, which comes free with the CALM Care service package, gives facilities managers unparalleled access to the data that counts:

  • Real-time and historic vibration performance data
  • Asset-level insight and long-term trends
  • Transparent verification of vibration control

This turns vibration from a hidden risk into a managed performance metric, supporting informed decisions as layouts, tenants and building use evolve.

Why facilities managers choose CALMFLOOR

CALMFLOOR directly supports the core FM mandate: keep buildings operational, occupants satisfied and assets performing long-term.

By neutralising vibration at source, CALMFLOOR:

  • Stops complaints before they escalate
  • Restores occupant confidence
  • Protects sensitive equipment, including lab equipment and AV systems
  • Preserves leasing confidence and asset value

All without disruption, added carbon or structural compromise.

Key outcomes for facilities managers

  • Up to 90% reduction in floor vibration
  • Installation in hours, with zero downtime
  • No structural change or added embodied carbon
  • Supports Net Zero targets
  • Live performance monitoring via CALM Connect
  • Protects comfort, equipment accuracy and building reputation

Control today’s complaints. Protect tomorrow’s value.

Facilities managers need solutions that work in live estates, remove uncertainty and deliver immediate results. CALMFLOOR does exactly that – safeguarding building performance and preventing minor vibration issues from becoming major operational risks.

Talk to CALMFLOOR about active floor vibration control for your estate today.