Active floor vibration control for museums and heritage environments
Protect heritage buildings, historical artefacts and visitor experience with CALMFLOOR active mass dampers (AMD)
Museums and historic spaces hold centuries of craftsmanship, yet their sensitive structures and irreplaceable contents are under constant threat from modern movement and the resulting floor vibration left unmanaged, these vibrations cause cracking, delamination and fatigue in historical materials that cannot be replaced.
CALMFLOOR addresses this directly. Each compact AMD weighs just 67 kg (148 lbs) and delivers precise, active floor vibration control that protects historic structures and artefacts without structural change, added weight or operational disruption.
A silent threat to priceless heritage
With annual visitors reaching the millions, historic buildings were never designed for the dynamic loads of today’s environment. Crowds in constant motion, local underground transport networks and 24-hour mechanical plants all drive ground-borne vibrations through floors and walls that were not engineered to support them.
Constant low-frequency vibration induces cracking in plaster, stone or masonry, detachment of decorative finishes, plus accelerated fatigue in timber and mortar joints. Even extremely low vibration levels – far below the threshold of structural damage – can harm delicate artefacts.
Vibration research from conservation institutions such as the British Museum and the Galleria dell’Accademia demonstrates artefact deterioration at vibration levels as low as .05g – magnitudes below levels engineers deem structurally significant. Real-world examples of vibration-induced artefact damage include:
- Tiles loosened from pine resin on the Aztec turquoise mosaics
- Loss of terracotta and paint from the Figure of Isis-Aphrodite
- Tails of two Benin ivory leopards were worked loose from their sockets
- Hairline cracks and micro-fractures on Michelangelo’s David
Left unmanaged, floor vibration causes irreversible damage to significant cultural assets – underlining the need for precise vibration control in museums.
For visitors, perceptible floor motion, low-frequency rumble and rattling fixtures undermine calmness and comfort, eroding the serene atmosphere that defines museum and heritage spaces.
Preservation without intervention
Traditional, carbon-intensive fixes – adding structural steel, timber or concrete – present complex challenges, staggering costs and risk damage to heritage buildings and their contents. CALMFLOOR provides a conservation-led, non-intrusive alternative to structural stabilisation.
CALMFLOOR AMDs control these problematic floor vibrations at the source with discreet, out-of-the-box, intelligent damping technology, which is ideally suited to heritage environments. Each compact AMD unit provides immediate, targeted stabilisation—no loss of floor space, no structural change, no downtime.
Simulation-led analysis identifies vibration hotspots with precision, ensuring each unit is placed exactly and only where it’s needed. AMDs are installed in hours on floor slabs, within beam webs or within ceiling voids – museums and historic buildings can remain fully open to staff and visitors throughout.
Once activated, CALMFLOOR instantly reduces floor vibration by up to 90%, safeguarding building fabric and historic collections from its impact without altering structure, weight or appearance.
CALM Connect provides live system insight and performance data to verify control and support ongoing conservation management.
Book your free Technology Access session for more information
Ideal for:
National museums and art galleries
Heritage buildings with fragile plaster, mosaics or frescoes
Historic libraries and archives
Visitor attractions near vibration sources such as roads or railways
Conservation laboratories and restoration workshops
Exhibition halls with heavy visitor traffic or flexible floors
Retrofit upgrades where structural intervention is not possible
Safeguarding the past with future-proof technology
Museums and historic buildings are tasked with being both guardians of the past and sustainable spaces of the future.
CALMFLOOR is the only floor vibration control system that delivers on both.
Every dimension of heritage value – architecture, artefacts and atmosphere – is protected with CALMFLOOR AMD. Its patented technology targets floor vibration at the source – preventing damage to fragile interiors and priceless collections. All achieved with no compromise on costs, structure or energy efficiency.
Engineered for effortless relocation, CALMFLOOR AMD units evolve with the building itself – providing absolute stability as exhibition layouts, load patterns and floor uses change. This is future-proof vibration control for every phase of a building’s life, securing the legacy of your estate.
With negligible whole-life carbon impact, CALMFLOOR combines ultra-low manufacturing footprint and minimal operational emissions with significant embodied-carbon reductions, enabling heritage estates to navigate the challenge of Net Zero performance targets without compromise.
Protection is reputation
Reputation is key to driving footfall, securing donations and unlocking exhibition and research prospects. Leveraging CALMFLOOR’s sustainable and preservation-focused approach, the protection of culturally-significant assets becomes a powerful public statement – strengthening institutional integrity and visitor trust decisively.
Sector-specific benefits
Up to 90% floor vibration reduction for unmatched heritage conservation
Lightweight 67 kg (148 lbs) – no structural change to historic fabric
Installation in hours – zero disruption to operations or visitor experience
Simulation-led placement ensures targeted, data-driven protection
Portable and relocatable units adapt as exhibitions evolve
Supports Net Zero targets through embodied-carbon reduction
Real-time performance monitoring via CALM Connect smart portal
Peace of mind with CALM Care support and maintenance
Setting the benchmark for heritage floor vibration control
CALMFLOOR resolves the conflict between preservation and progress. From classical art galleries to contemporary science museums, CALMFLOOR delivers immediate, experience-defining floor vibration control – without compromise to structure, space or ambience. Every installation eliminates the need for invasive, carbon-intensive reinforcement – facilitating Net Zero targets through lower embodied carbon.
Safeguard culturally-significant assets, visitor experience and reputational integrity with CALMFLOOR AMD technology.
