KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital
Location: Singapore
Owner/Operator: KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital
Consulting Engineers: Ryobi Geosystems
KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital is the largest medical facility of its kind in Singapore. Occupants of labs located in a Hospital basement complained about perceptible continuous vibration within their working areas that lasted for hours almost every day. The vibration, which could be felt on desks, floors and machines in lab and office areas, were also affecting their sensitive lab equipment and experiments. The source of the vibration remained unknown.
Ryobi Geosystems, a geotechnical and structural monitoring company based in Singapore contacted us to see if we were interested in collaborating with them to help identify the source of the vibration and then propose a mitigation solution. Vibration levels were monitored and measured where employees had expressed concerns. Once the signatures of the vibration at each of theses areas were identified one vibration sensor was left at the worst impacted room and the others were moved to potential sources to obtain concurrent data. These potential sources included a Chiller Room, a Corridor near a lift shaft, a Hot Water Pump and various outdoor locations between the hospital and nearby buildings and roads.
Our data analysis strongly suggested that the pumps were the source of the vibration. An inspection of the chill water and condenser water piping revealed that while selected piping locations directly above the pumps were supported by steel spring isolators, the majority of the piping was not currently vibration isolated from the ceiling above, and there was not any noticeable freedom of movement of the piping where it penetrated the wall. We have proposed proper mitigation solutions, which will soon be implemented by Ryobi G in association with local partners.
Acoustical consulting services delivered:
- Evaluated in situ vibration monitoring and measurements
- Undertook vibration engineering analysis to develop recommendations
