Corus claims it has proved its case that steel doesn't vibrate too much to be used in health buildings.
The Design guide on the vibration of floors in hospitals was produced to advance the case for steel in medical buildings where worries about vibration might previously have prevented its use.

Chichester Treatment Centre saved 40% of the steel framed structure's floor costs by using the recommendations of the guide.

Perception 'is wrong'
The Steel Construction Institute is publishing the guide after a six-year research project commissioned by steel company Corus. It tackles the general perception that vibration is too much of a possibility for steel to be used for quiet environments, such as the operating theatres and precision laboratories of hospitals.

Research that involved both the Steel Construction Institute and Arup Advanced Technology Group clearly indicates the perception is wrong.

Information gained from unprecedented in situ dynamic testing of existing floors and leading edge numerical modelling showed that steel composite floors came well within the minimum vibration requirements set by the NHS.

"We now know and can prove that composite steel floors and beyond them steel frames have vibration characteristics suitable for the most demanding health environments," said the guide's co-author Dr Stephen Hicks of the SCI.

Source

Construction Manager

Postscript

To obtain the vibration design guide, visit www.corusconstruction.com/hospitals.
You can also request a copy by sending an email to corus@irsdirect. co.uk