If you have to tackle a significant construction project in a typically crowded Australian city, you need to be particularly careful before you start work. A project like this may call for extensive excavation, earth movement, drilling and even blasting, and in addition to the relevant permissions and licenses, you will need to mitigate your risk. In particular, you'll want to keep vibration to a minimum from both a reputational and a safety point of view, so how can you achieve this?

More Than an Annoyance

It doesn't take much to create vibration when you're engaged in major works like this. Such vibration can be annoying to businesses and occupants nearby, and this is why you need to monitor the situation carefully.

Yet vibration can quickly trigger damage from both a cosmetic and a structural perspective. If you do not reduce that vibration, you may become the subject of a court case and face costly legal action.

Vibration Monitoring

To offset this risk as much as possible, bring in experts in vibration monitoring. They will have the necessary sensors and equipment to record whatever goes on, but most importantly, they'll have the experience and knowledge to know how to proceed.

Crucial Evaluation

To begin with, the experts will evaluate the entire construction site and surrounding areas. They will ask you about your proposed construction methods, which will help them develop an accurate model to predict the consequences of vibration. They'll then work with you to come up with a construction plan and investigate ways to mitigate the effect of vibration where at all possible.

This information may need to be written into the project spec and advised to all contractors so everyone is on the same page. Crucially, the experts will also take into account any stipulations laid down by local authorities or adjoining communities regarding noise control and disturbance.

Accurate Measurements

The equipment can measure disturbance using seismographs and other technology to measure "peak particle velocity" when construction gets underway. They can also determine the vibration frequency and give you ongoing advice as the job unfolds.

The Best Approach

Don't risk damage to your reputation, costly lawsuits or delays to your project by turning a blind eye to the risks of vibration. Instead, bring in the experts from the beginning. They will conduct their assessment and help you stay within safe limits while you work towards achieving your goal.

For more information on construction vibration monitoring, contact a professional near you.

Share