Carbon is now at the forefront of design and construction decisions so it’s unsurprising that one of the most frequent questions we’re asked is: what is the carbon footprint of a CALMFLOOR unit?

The answer is simple: CALMFLOOR’s lifecycle footprint is minimal, and far lower than traditional vibration-control methods.

The lifecycle footprint

Assuming a 50-year service life, one CALMFLOOR active mass damper (AMD) unit has a footprint of around one tonne of CO₂e.

This figure is made up of:

  • 480kg CO₂e from manufacturing, including material extraction, production and assembly
  • 500kg CO₂e from operation over 50 years, lower when powered by renewable energy

Each AMD weighs 67kg (148lbs) and can operate continuously for decades without structural change, disruption or invasive reinforcement.

Why conventional reinforcement carries more carbon

Traditional vibration control typically relies on adding structural steel or concrete. One tonne of steel carries about three tonnes of embodied CO₂e. Reinforcing an entire floor quickly multiplies emissions into the hundreds of tonnes.

CALMFLOOR avoids this by addressing vibration directly. Instead of adding unnecessary material, compact AMDs add damping to achieve the same performance outcome with a fraction of the emissions.

Six CALMFLOOR units or 88 tonnes of steel?

In a recent study of a tower with a 1,400m² composite steel-concrete floorplate spanning 15m, the conventional strengthening route required 88 tonnes of additional steel. That equates to 264t CO₂e.

The same vibration reduction was achieved with six CALMFLOOR units. Their combined lifecycle footprint across 50 years was 6t CO₂e.

To put this into context: the 264t CO₂e embodied in the additional steel is equal to running 264 CALMFLOOR units for 50 years. Yet the floor required only six.

Precision without compromise

Structural reinforcement controls vibration inefficiently by adding material to increase stiffness and mass. The result is disruptive, expensive and carbon-intensive.

CALMFLOOR takes a different route. AMDs add damping to target vibration hotspots with precision, reducing vibration by up to 90% with:

  • minimal material demand
  • no structural intervention
  • shorter installation times
  • proven embodied carbon savings

A new benchmark for sustainable vibration control

The lifecycle footprint of CALMFLOOR is clear: around 1t CO₂e per unit over 50 years. This is a fraction of the carbon cost of conventional reinforcement, while delivering equal or greater vibration performance.

For owners and specifiers, the choice is decisive. With CALMFLOOR, vibration control does not come at the cost of significant embodied carbon.

Talk to CALMFLOOR about vibration solutions that deliver precision performance and sustainable outcomes.

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