12/05/14 DESIGN NO.

_____

SECTION 15504
VIBRATION ISOLATION

PART 1 - GENERAL

1.01 DESCRIPTION OF WORK

A. Provide a complete system of vibration isolation for

each item of HVAC, Plumbing and Drainage, and
Electrical equipment and apparatus as specified
herein, as shown on the Drawings and as needed for a
complete and proper installation. Product specific
requirements are contained herein; Section 15501,
General Provisions for Heating, Ventilating and Air
Conditioning Work, shall be referred to for general
requirements.

1.02 RELATED SECTIONS

A. Division 3 Sections
1
B. Division 15 Sections
2
C. Division 16 Sections

1.03 SUPPLEMENTAL SUBMITTALS

A. Product Data: Submit Manufacturers Product Data for

the vibration isolating supports required for each
item of HVAC, Plumbing and Drainage, and Electrical
equipment.

1. Submit schedule showing manufacturers mounting

sizes and guarantee deflections.

B. Shop Drawings: Submit Shop Drawings for the vibration

isolating supports required for each item of HVAC,
Plumbing and Drainage, and Electrical equipment,
showing details of intermediate structural steel
members and method of attachment required for
installation of vibration isolating devices.

C. Manufacturer's certification as specified in the Field

Quality Control Article.

D. Maintenance data.

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1.04 SUPPLEMENTAL QUALITY ASSURANCE

A. Manufacturer's Regulating Requirements: Contractors

shall determine vibration isolation sizes and locations
per the criteria defined in Article 3.02.C.

B. Per Section MC 301.10 of the 2014 NYC Mechanical Code,

where vibration isolation of equipment and appliances
is employed, supplemental restraint shall be used to
accomplish the support and restraint.

PART 2 PRODUCTS

2.01 MANUFACTURERS

A. Approved manufacturers:

Mason Industries, Inc.

Vibration Eliminator Co.
Vibration Mountings & Controls Inc.
Korfund Dynamics Co.

2.02 MATERIALS

A. Spring Mounts

1. Housed Spring Mounts: Spring type mounts shall

consist of cast telescoping housings containing
one or more steel springs. The mount shall be
provided with built-in leveling bolt(s), resilient
inserts of neoprene to act as guides for upper and
lower housings and with ribbed neoprene acoustical
pads bonded to the bottom of the lower housing.
The lower housing shall have slotted holes in the
base, to permit fastening of the mount to the
floor.

2. Free standing spring mounts shall be laterally

stable without housing. Each mount shall be
provided with a leveling bolt, a ribbed neoprene
pad on the underside of the base, and means of
securing the spring base to the floor when
specified. Free standing spring mounts shall be
used where a floating pad system or an inertia
block is specified.

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B. Neoprene-in-Shear Mounts: Each neoprene-in-shear type

mount shall consist of a steel top plate and steel
base plate completely enclosed in oil resistant
neoprene. Top plate shall have a threaded bolt hole
for attachment of equipment to mount. Base plate
shall have bolt holes, to permit fastening of the
mount to the floor when specified. Underside of base
plate shall have ribbed, neoprene construction.
Single neoprene-in-shear mounts shall have a maximum
deflection of 0.25". Double neoprene-in-shear mounts
shall have a maximum deflection of 0.50".

C. Hanger Type Isolators: Hanger type isolators shall

consist of a steel housing incorporating a single or
double neoprene-in-shear element or a steel spring, or
a combination of these two isolators, as needed to
achieve the required static deflection. Provide
threaded rods for attachment of hanger to overhead
structure and to equipment.

D. Steel Bases

1. Integral structural steel bases for equipment

shall be rectangular in shape, and each member
shall be of wide flange beam or channel shaped
cross-section. Bases for equipment having motors
in the X or Y position may be of "L" shape
configuration. Depth of section shall be equal to
minimum of 1/10th of the longest span of the
equipment. Built-in adjustable motor slide rails
shall be provided as an integral part of the base.
Joints shall be continuously welded.

2. Structural steel bases under equipment shall be

wide flange beams of size specified, or shown on
the Drawings. Two beams shall be provided for
larger equipment, one under each side along the
length of the unit and extending 6" beyond the
ends. A steel bearing plate, 3/8" thick, shall be
welded to the top flange of the beams at the
location of each vibration isolator. The isolator
shall be bolted to the bearing plate.

E. Inertia Blocks: An inertia block shall consist of a

rectangular shaped reinforced concrete block on which
pumping equipment shall be mounted and which shall be
supported on spring isolators above the floor. The

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pouring form for the block shall be made of 6"

(minimum height) steel channels welded together and
shall include reinforcing bars running in two
directions, welded in place or welded wire fabric.
Anchor bolts for the pump's base shall be secured
within the pouring form. The number and location of
brackets for mounting isolating springs shall be
determined by vibration isolation manufacturer.
Pouring form shall include space for the pump inlet
base elbow. Design and fabrication of the pouring
form, including all of its parts, shall be the
responsibility of the vibration isolation
manufacturer. Pump support shall be designed to
provide 95% (minimum) vibration isolation.

F. Floating Pad System: Floating pad system shall be

constructed in the manner indicated on the Drawings
and as specified. The floating pad shall be isolated
from the building structure by means of 2" high
neoprene isolators, factory bonded to the underside of
1/2" thick exterior grade plywood. Placement and
density of isolators shall be in accordance with load
requirements and with recommendation of vibration
isolation manufacturer. Line interior face of the
curb with 1" thick light density cork. Cover the
plywood form with a sheet of polyethylene film,
overlapping the cork boards and curbs. Pour a
lightweight concrete slab on top of the polyethylene
film, inside the corkboards. After the concrete has
set, remove the excess polyethylene film, and fill the
joint between the slab and the curb with a mastic
seal.

PART 3 - EXECUTION

3.01 PREPARATION

A. For vibration isolation equipment installed indoors,

all metal parts, including rails and bases, shall be
painted at the factory with one coat of primer paint
and one coat of aluminum paint. Other means or rust
resisting painting may be accepted, subject to prior
approval.

B. Vibration isolation equipment installed outdoors shall

have all steel parts hot dipped galvanized, all bolts

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cadmium plated, and all springs cadmium plated and

neoprene coated.

C. Vibration isolation equipment installed outdoors shall

be designed and installed to resist wind loads in
accordance with the NYC Building Code.

3.02 SUPPLEMENTAL INSTALLATION

A. At each equipment location, provide the required

deflection under the imposed load to produce uniform
loading and deflection even when equipment weight is
not evenly distributed. Jack inertia blocks and bases
into position and wedge in place before spring
loading; leveling bolts shall not be used as jacking
screws. After equipment is in place and springs are
loaded through leveling bolts, remove wedges and
jacks. Isolators shall be suitable for the lowest
operating speed of the equipment.

B. Where the floor is waterproofed or finished with

waterproof cement, install vibration isolation in such
manner that the waterproofing is not damaged.

C. Isolation equipment shall be in accordance with the

following table:

Lowest RPM Inches Deflection % Efficiency Type

(Min.) (Min.)

1750 & over .25 95 Single

neoprene-
in-shear

1200-1749 .50 95 Double

neoprene-
in-shear

1000-1199 .75 95 Spring

570-999 1.25 90-95 Spring

520-569 1.5 90 Spring

330-519 2.0 80-90 Spring

Up to 329 3.5 80 Spring

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D. Install combination spring and double deflection

neoprene position hangers on all refrigeration piping
located in the Equipment Room.

E. Install combination spring and double deflection

neoprene position hangers on the suction and discharge
piping at each circulating pump. Each hanger shall be
located on the pump side of the flexible hose
connection.

F. Each liquid chiller unit shall be installed on the

concrete pad on freestanding spring type isolators
having a static deflection of at least 1". Isolators
shall provide a minimum isolating efficiency of 95%.

G. Use housed spring mounts on certain air mixing

equipment and chillers located in cellar or basement.

H. Cooling towers, evaporative condensers, fluid coolers

and air cooled condensers located on a roof or floor
above grade shall be installed on vibration isolators
providing a minimum isolation efficiency of 90 percent
at fan motor RPM with a maximum static deflection of 4
and shall incorporate a leveling device and resilient
pad having a minimum thickness of 1/4". Refer to
Sections MC 928.3.7 and MC 928.3.8. Vibration cutoff
switches shall be provided.

I. Per Section MC 928.3.3, the minimum horizontal

isolation required for equipment piping shall be
installed as follows:

1. Metal piping connected to power driven equipment

shall be resiliently supported from or on the
building structure from the power driven equipment
for a distance of the maximum of 50 pipe diameters
or the first three pipe hangers, whichever is the
longest length. The isolators shall be pre-
compressed spring and neoprene type hangers. Pre-
compressed spring and neoprene type hangers must
also be used in all transverse braced isolated
locations. Horizontal runs in all other locations
throughout the building shall be isolated by spring
and neoprene hangers that need not be pre-
compressed. Floor supported piping shall rest on

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isolators such as Mason Industries SLR spring mounts

(or approved equal).

The resilient isolators shall have a minimum static

deflection of 1 for all piping with a 4 or larger
in actual outside diameter and 1/2 (12.7 mm) for
piping with less than 4 in actual outside diameter.

Piping connected to fluid pressure-reducing valves

shall be resiliently isolated for a distance of 50
pipe diameters from pressure reducing valves and
isolators shall provide a minimum static deflection
of 1/2.

2. Equipment such as heat exchangers, absorption

refrigeration machines, or similar equipment, that
is located on any floor or roof other than a floor
on grade, and that is not power driven but is
connected by metal piping to power driven equipment,
shall be resiliently supported from or on the
building structure, for a distance of the maximum of
50 pipe diameters or the first three pipe hangers
from the equipment, whichever is the longest length.
The resilient supports shall be vibration isolators
having a minimum static deflection of 1 and shall
incorporate approved resilient pads having a minimum
thickness of 1/4.

Hangers shall be located as close to the overhead

structure as practical. Where piping connects to
mechanical equipment, install expansion joints or
stainless steel hoses if expansion joints are not
suitable for the service.

J. Riser isolation: Risers shall be suspended from spring

and neoprene hangers or supported by spring mountings,
anchored with all-directional anchors equipped with
neoprene isolation and washers, and guided with
vertical sliding guides. Steel spring deflection shall
be a minimum of 0.75. Consideration shall be given to
those expansion locations where additional deflection
is required to limit load changes to + 25% of the
initial load. Submittals must include riser diagrams
and calculations showing anticipated expansion and
contraction at each support point, initial and final
loads on the building structure, spring deflection
changes and seismic loads. Submittal data shall

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include certification that the riser system has been

examined for excessive stresses and that none will
exist in the proposed design.

K. Per Section MC 928.3.4, all fan equipment with motors

in excess of 1/2 horsepower located on any roof or
floor other than a floor on grade shall be mounted on
or from vibration isolators. Fan equipment with motor
drives separated from the fan equipment shall be
supported on an isolated integral rigid structural base
supporting both the fan and motor. Fan equipment with
motor drives supported from the fan equipment shall be
mounted directly on vibration isolators. Each isolator
shall have provision for leveling. Isolators shall
incorporate resilient pads having a minimum thickness
of 1/4. The vibration isolators shall provide a
minimum isolation efficiency of 90 percent at fan rotor
rpm with a maximum deflection of 2. Fans and
compressors of 3 horsepower or less assembled in
unitary containers may meet this requirement with
isolators internal to the container providing the
isolators meet the above minimum isolator efficiencies.

L. Per Section MC 928.3.5, all pumps of 3 horsepower or

more located on any floor other than a floor on grade
shall be supported on vibration isolators having a
minimum isolation efficiency of 90 percent at the
lowest disturbing frequency. Each isolator shall
incorporate a leveling device and a resilient pad
having a minimum thickness of 1/4.

M. Per Section MC 928.3.6, compressors and drives located

on a floor other than a floor on grade shall be mounted
on vibration isolators having a minimum isolation
efficiency of 90 percent at the lowest disturbing
frequency. Each isolator shall incorporate a leveling
device and a resilient pad having a minimum thickness
of 1/4.

N. Duct Connections to Fan Equipment: As per Section

MC 928.3.9, flexible connections shall be installed
between fan equipment and connecting ductwork.

O. Ceiling Suspended Packaged HVAC units with Compressors:

As per Section MC 928.3.10, equipment such as heat
pumps, AC units, or similar equipment, that is
suspended from a structure shall be resiliently

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supported from or on the building structure. Vibration

isolators shall have a minimum isolation efficiency of
90 percent at the lowest disturbing frequency.

3 P. Allboilerssupportedonfloorsdirectlyaboveastory
havingoccupiedspacesshallbesupportedonresilient
isolators having a minimum static deflection of 1.
The isolators shall be installed directly under the
structural frame of the boiler. Per Section
MC928.3.1.2,whenboilersareequippedwithmechanical
draft fans, the boiler breeching and piping that are
supportedfromoronslabs,floorsorwallsthatare
contiguous to the occupied spaces shall be supported
for a distance of 50 pipe diameters on or from
resilient isolators. Each isolator shall have a
minimumstaticdeflectionof1.

3.03 SCHEDULE

A. Provide vibration isolation supports for HVAC equipment

as indicated in this schedule. Contractor shall submit
a schedule for approval by Engineer of Record
indicating the type of support for each item of
Plumbing & Drainage Equipment and each item of
Electrical Equipment.

Equipment Location Type of Support

Centrifugal fan, floor mounted integral steel base

belt driven with isolators

Air Handling floor mounted springs on 6" W.F.

Unit beams
A.C. single zone floor mounted springs on 6" W.F.
unit (vertical) beams

H. & V. unit floor mounted springs on 6" W.F.

(vertical) beams

H. & V. unit floor mounted springs on 10" W.F.

(horizontal) beams

A.C. single zone floor mounted springs on 10" W.F.

unit (horizontal) beams

Air Handling overhead spring and double

Unit supported deflecting neoprene
hangers

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Chiller, cellar/ springs with 2" min.

reciprocating basement static deflection

Chiller, upper floor floating pad

reciprocating

Pump, all H.P. cellar/basement none required

Pump, 3 H.P. or
more upper floor inertia block

Pump, under 3
H.P. upper floor none required

Pipe, equipment spring and D.D.*

refrigerant room hanger

Pipe, hot and/ at pumps spring and D.D.*

or chilled water hanger

*D.D. = Double Deflecting

3.04 FIELD QUALITY CONTROL

A. On completion of the vibration isolation system herein

specified, the representative of the vibration
isolation manufacturer shall inspect the completed
systems and report in writing any installation error,
improperly selected isolation devices, or any other
faults that could affect performance. Submit report
indicating steps taken to properly complete the
isolation work. Both of these reports shall be
reviewed by the Authority for final approval.

END OF SECTION
MM:BB
12/05/14

Notes to Specifier (Delete from Specifications)

1. Insert related equipment Sections as required by the Project.

2. Use Section 15504, Vibration Isolation, (without seismic

restraints) for retrofit work on Existing Buildings

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constructed prior to the effective date of LL17/1995 and

buildings in Seismic Design Category B.
Use Sections 15503, 15403, and 16503 for projects that
involve construction of a New Building or Addition to
building in Seismic Design Category C or D. Sections 15503,
15403, and 16503 are also to be utilized if project involves
retrofit work in Existing Buildings constructed after
LL17/1995 went into effect for buildings in Seismic Design
Category C or D.

3. ThecodenoiserequirementsofSectionMC928.3.1.1related
todwellingunitsaretobefollowedforalloccupiedspaces
intheschoolwhereboilersareinstalledabove.

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LIST OF SUBMITTALS

SUBMITTAL DATE SUBMITTED DATE APPROVED

Product Data: ______________ ____________

1. Manufacturers Product Data

2. Installation Instructions
3. Schedule

Shop Drawings: ______________ ____________

1. Assembly-type Drawings
including Equipment Support
2. Deflection Details

Manufacturer's Certification: ______________ ____________

Maintenance Data: ____________

1. Maintenance Manual

* * *

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