IS V2.1 As Built, Env-3 Vibration: How SiteHive Can Help You Achieve It

This article outlines how construction companies can achieve the IS v2.1 As Built Env-3 Vibration credit, highlighting how SiteHive software and devices can be used to make the process so much easier.

Vibration is an environmental aspect that can often be overlooked. Yet when delivering sustainable construction, ensuring that a project minimises its vibration effects on surrounding communities and structures is crucial. The IS (Infrastructure Sustainability Council) v2.1 As Built Env-3 credit for Vibration rewards environmental management that addresses vibration levels to maintain human comfort and prevent damage to buildings and sensitive environmental receptors.

The importance of vibration management in construction

Vibration, when not properly managed, can lead to several issues:

• Structural damage: Excessive vibration can cause damage to nearby buildings, especially older or more sensitive structures.
• Disruption or harm to workers, residents and businesses: Vibrations from construction work, particularly heavy machinery and pile driving, can cause discomfort to people living or working nearby. Vibration can impact communities significantly and, in severe cases, lead to psychological effects or hearing damage.
• Regulatory non-compliance: Many local regulations and standards require vibration monitoring, making compliance a legal obligation for contractors.

For construction projects, managing vibration is both an environmental and social responsibility, and a regulatory requirement. By addressing the potential for excessive vibrations, the credit supports projects in fostering a more sustainable, resilient and harmonious built environment.

What is the IS v2.1 As Built Env-3 Credit for Vibration?

The IS v2.1 rating tool is designed to assess and encourage sustainable practices in infrastructure projects, including construction, operation, and maintenance. The Env-3 credit specifically focuses on managing the environmental impact of vibration. 

The intent of the Env-3 Vibration credit is to manage vibration impacts throughout the project lifecycle and ensure they remain within acceptable thresholds, while also improving amenity for sensitive receptors wherever possible. Achieving the credit requires employing effective monitoring practices, engaging stakeholders, and incorporating proactive measures. Construction companies need to demonstrate that they have:

• Identified areas of potential high vibration risk.
• Implemented vibration monitoring to track levels during construction.
• Taken measures to mitigate vibrations that exceed permissible thresholds.
• Communicated appropriately with stakeholders and operational proponents.

Level 1: Laying the foundation

At Level 1, achieving the Env-3 Vibration credit involves meeting vibration goals, implementing appropriate mitigation measures, and ensuring appropriate handover to the operational phase. 

The vibration goals are set during Design and are usually based around two key parameters:

• Maintaining human comfort; and
• Avoiding damage to buildings and structures.

There are often multiple goals based on different times of the day; in relation to the type of receptor; and based on the activities being conducted. Which means that having effective, thorough and time-based monitoring is vital.

As with most things, effective monitoring is key here. SiteHive’s real-time vibration monitoring tools can significantly assist in this process as they track:

Once the project enters its operational phase, ongoing monitoring is necessary to ensure that vibration levels are within the predefined goals. SiteHive’s real-time systems continue to monitor vibration impacts, tracking levels against the operational benchmarks set during the design phase.

SiteHive Enviro enables smooth transitions and good communication by providing a complete record of vibration data throughout the project lifecycle. Key tools for this phase include:

• Project lifecycle data sharing: SiteHive Enviro ensures that all vibration monitoring data, from baseline assessments to construction and operational phases, is accessible. The system provides a complete system of record that includes continuous data, as well as rich visual waveforms of events, analysis and reports.
• Collaboration tools: Monitored data can be supplemented with notes, observations and other information, allowing project teams to document and share mitigation strategies and keeping everyone informed as the project moves from one phase to the next. SiteHive Enviro allows everyone to access information from wherever they are, so information can be available to people throughout the project as required, making it much easier when it comes to handover and beyond.

Level 2: Going above and beyond

To achieve Level 2, projects need to go beyond basic compliance by ensuring that vibration impacts are regularly reviewed, and mitigation measures are continuously updated. Engagement with external stakeholders is also critical in this stage.

Effective stakeholder engagement is a cornerstone of Level 2 compliance. By keeping the community and key stakeholders informed about vibration impacts, projects can mitigate concerns and build trust. SiteHive Enviro includes powerful communications tools that make it easy to share real-time data and provide useful reporting.

• Real-time data sharing: The Stakeholder View feature in SiteHive Enviro Pro allows projects to share a curated view of live vibration data. It’s a really easy, time-saving way to provide transparency and ensure everyone is informed. Once the view is set up based on the information you want to show, it’s self-serve – so it literally takes no time. For more details see this blog article on using real-time monitoring to proactively manage site impacts.  
• Track stakeholder feedback: Any concerns or feedback from stakeholders can be recorded in SiteHive Enviro so that they can be addressed promptly. The system provides comprehensive information so that any exceedances can be identified and explained to stakeholders.
• Summary reports: With one click, SiteHive Enviro produces elegant and easy-to-understand reports that can be shared with stakeholders in PDF format, which makes it easy to keep stakeholders informed.

Achieving Level 2 requires regular monitoring to ensure no recurring or significant exceedances of vibration goals. SiteHive devices continuously track vibration levels, allowing project teams to address any issues as soon as they arise.

• Monitor vibration at sensitive receptors: SiteHive Hexanode Vibration devices are very small and can be located in several different orientations (horizontal, vertical, angled, etc) and situations (in hard or soft ground, or on walls.) This means they can be placed on or near sensitive receptors such as heritage structures, residences, schools, or hospitals, ensuring real-time feedback when vibration levels approach or exceed regulatory thresholds.
• Real-time insights: Live data and analysis allows teams to make better, faster decisions to mitigate or address issues.
• Prevent exceedances: SiteHive Enviro provides automatic alerts, via sms or email, based on customisable thresholds and rules. By setting custom thresholds and receiving instant alerts, project teams can take immediate corrective actions to prevent excessive vibration. 
• Weather conditions: Forecast and actual weather conditions are shown in SiteHive Enviro Pro alongside vibration monitoring data, which allows teams to be aware of any potential weather events that may impact monitoring.

As outlined in 2.2 above, real-time monitoring, analysis, and alerts are the key here. By monitoring sensitive receptors continuously and taking proactive action as required based on analysis and alerts, project teams can meet the human comfort criteria.

SiteHive solutions provide automated analysis and visualisation of data so that project teams can see what’s happening in real-time including:

• Summary statistics for peak velocities and vibration dose values are calculated instantly, providing essential data for vibration analyses. 
• Advanced vibration sensors provide precise frequency analysis. Frequency-based impacts are graphed and analysed to identify project risks.
• Noise levels caused by vibration transferred through structures are calculated automatically. So the actual impact of activities can be measured and accurately assessed for structural impact and potential work harm.
• Visual summaries of waveform events can be used to explore events in detail in line with the DIN-4150:3 standard. Waveforms can also be explained in SiteHive Enviro to provide a full system of record.

Level 3: Industry-leading practices

Taking it literally to the next level, Level 3 requires that there are NO exceedances. It’s all about preparation and quality practice to be perfect!

SiteHive devices and software provide comprehensive information that allows project teams to make immediate and informed decisions and prevent human comfort impacts. Teams are able to monitor conditions in real time, adjust activities accordingly based on immediate and automated analyses, and avoid exceedances. The following tools help:

• Proactive management: SiteHive devices and software provide real-time vibration data and alerts when levels approach set thresholds, allowing teams to take corrective action before exceedances occur.
• Mobile and flexible monitoring: SiteHive Hexanode Vibration devices are portable and can be quickly repositioned to monitor critical areas.
• 24/7 access: Teams can access all data and information at any time, from anywhere. So teams do not have to be on site at all times.

SiteHive makes it easier to achieve the IS v2.1 Vibration credit.

By adopting real-time monitoring devices and advanced software, project teams can manage vibration impacts effectively to meet regulatory standards, prevent human and structural harm, and enhance sustainability. 

SiteHive devices and software enable teams to monitor vibration continuously, identify vibration issues quickly, assess risk, develop mitigation strategies, deliver quality compliance reporting, and keep everyone informed. 

Whatever stage your project is at, SiteHive’s tools provide the data, insights and flexibility needed to help achieve each level of the Env-3 Vibration credit. They are a time-saving and cost-effective way to minimise vibration levels to meet your compliance requirements and maintain safe conditions for teams, local communities and the surrounding environment.

So, if you’re tackling the IS Env-3 Vibration credit and want to see how SiteHive can help, get in touch today!