Gyms are a source of perturbance in buildings. General interest on health and body building is currently a world trend. Opening hours for gyms are wider every day in most western cities. Lack of space and old building structures can be a real challenge to avoid complaints from neighbours. This article objective is to show different possible solutions per area of the Gym and expected acoustic results.
Running, weight lifting, hard exercises, spinning mixed with loud music, make gyms often an unwanted neighbour. In order to avoid complaints, AMC MECANOCAUCHO’s technical department has been assisting acoustic engineers, contractors and installators on more 20 years in Europe. On this article a summary of past experiences will be presented as a guidance.
BOX IN BOX CONCEPT AND MACHINE ISOLATION.
Gyms can become a real constructive challenge if acoustic problems want to be avoided. Setting up a gym on an isolated commercial without neighbours or setting the gym up on a second floor with an old/thin building structure, require very different approach when it comes to performance of the anti-vibration mounts to be used.
As a first step is important to focus on the main areas of isolation on a gym. We have to distinguish two main areas.
FLOOR ISOLATION AVAILABLE SOLUTIONS
The floor is the base in a box in box construction, according to the building structure and sensitivity of neighbourhood there are different possible approaches. The lower is the natural frequency, the lower is the transmissibility to the below floor.
Suspension with Vibrabsorber+Sylomer® spring mounts . Natural frequency around 5Hz.
The Vibrabsorber+Sylomer®, can provide deflections up to 50mm. In order to avoid transmission of high frequencies they are equipped with Sylomer® that acts as an filter for frequencies above 80Hz. They are often used under a lost formwork.
Vibrabsorber+Sylomer® spring mounts isolate a floating floor 3,5Hz of natural frequency, used on a gym on a multiple floor building in France.
Suspension with Sylomer® anti vibration mounts . Natural frequency around 10Hz.
Point Bearing solution version:
Sylomer® PADS are quick to fit precutted elements using a microcellular polyurethane, specifically designed for vibration isolation. According the density there is a load per pad and also a colour code.
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1
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Point bearings under Plywood or beams can be used on top of Sylomer® . It is very advisable to install noise absorbing material in between, as mineral wool. This will provide an extra acoustic and thermal isolation. Special care has to be taken so the height of the mineral wool is lower than the Sylomer® point bearing.
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The picture shows a Gym in Saint Sebastian, where wooden beams are used to spread the load accross the point bearings. This solution provides extra stability to the floating floor. Metal profiles can also be used for this purpose. As a final step, lost formwork will be poured on top of the Plywood as shown on the below picture.
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The 3D drawing of the complete installation. Special attention has to be given to the perimetral elastic materal such as Sylomer® Bearings (represented on cream colour).
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Point bearings embedded on the floating slab:
Point bearings embedded on the slab is another possible constructive solution that allows very low volume consumption on the room. Their installation requires a levelling, this assures an absence of any rigid connection / acoustic bridge between and supporting and suspended floor. This solution can also use mineral wool as thermal isolation. This type of solution is also used on industrial applications where the machines will be installed on a floating concrete slab.
Recording studio on a second floor of a building.
3D animation video of the installation process of the FZ+Sylomer® mount.
Suspension with BF Rubber blocks anti vibration mounts. Natural frequency around 15Hz.
Point bearings under Plywood or beams can be used on top of the BF rubber blocks. It is very advisable to install noise absorbing material in between, as mineral wool. This will provide an extra acoustic and thermal isolation. Rubber blocks can be placed with neoprene glue.
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This constructive solution has been tested on an independent acoustic laboratory. The purpose of the test was to measure the Leq when throwing a Dumbbell weight of 50Kg from 0,5m.
Graphshows the achievable natural frequencies with the Granab 9000 depending on different load scenarios.
The system is fast and easy to install: INSTALLATION DEMO VIDEOS CLICK HERE
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Granab Subfloor systems are composed of channels, impact blocks and studs for levelling the floor at the desired height.
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The installation of the gutters is done following the pattern of the picture below.
Installation is quick and easy
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ACOUSTIC HANGERS FOR CEILING SUSPENSION. AVAILABLE SOLUTIONS.
The same way that floor mounts are used for the isolation of the floor, Acoustic hangers are an effective solution in order to reduce the structural noise through the ceiling structures. On the videos below, installation instructions are shown. On the videos below, installation instructions are shown.
LINK FOR INSTALLATION VIDEOS
The efficiency of the acoustic hanger is predominantly depending on its natural frequency at the given load per hanger. The lower the natural frequency of the acoustic hanger the broader the range of frequencies that will be isolated.
When the structure of the building is old or weak, it is advisable to use acoustic hangers where their natural frequency is lower than 5Hz. This will avoid the transmission of noise through the rigid structures to the neighbour above.
On the below graph a vision of the complete range of Acoustic hangers from AMC-MECANOCAUCHO are shown.
Click here for to download the complete technical documentation
For further information on this topic another article was written. You can review it on my article list in Linkedin or by clicking in this link.
WALL TIES FOR WALL DECOUPLING. AVAILABLE SOLUTIONS.
Acoustic wall ties are often used for the correct acoustic isolation premises. The use of these devices optimizes the acoustic insulation of the suspended ceiling. For this purpose, the stiffness of the acoustic hanger and the impedance of the elastic material play a key role. The installation of a suspended ceiling with acoustic hangers is another part of the solution that must be done correctly to achieve the optimum acoustic insulation results.
EP-500+Sylomer®.
EP+Sylomer® wall ties.
The installation of vertical wall beams using the EP + Sylomer® provides reliable and robust acoustic isolation. These EP+Sylomer® wall ties are manufactured in various formats to suit a variety of construction techniques.
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Installation between the wall and the vertical metallic beam using EP 400+Sylomer® wall ties.
1. First, secure the tie to the wall using fixing studs.
2. Next, join the pre-drilled metallic section of the EP 400 +Sylomer® to the vertical beam.
3. Then fix the plasterboard layer(s) to the beam.
FIG B: Installation between pairs of vertical beams using EP 400+Sylomer® Installation is as described above except use self-tapping screws to fix the wall-tie to one beam.
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This system is suitable for walls greater than 3.5m in height. To calculate the required number of EP+Sylomer® wall ties, the following guidelines apply:
Use one EP+Sylomer® wall-tie per 1.5m vertical height
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For example:
- For a wall height of 4.5m, 2 wall-ties should be used; at 1.5m and 3m.
- For a wall height of 7.5m, 4 wall-ties should be used at: at 1.5m, 3m, 4.5m and 6m.
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For further information on the installation of these acoustic wall ties, please click on the following link
MACHINES:
Running machines, Body building machines, Dumbbell weight lifting are exposed periodic shocks / vibration. These machines require to be elastically isolated, so the acceleration produced by them remains on the machine and is not transmitted to the structure.
Weight lifting machine produces periodic hammering noise. These dead loads are usually hold in a mechanical device with some guides. The free fall of this loads through the guides, generates both impact and airborne noise when knocking at the mechanical end of stroke. Some properly dimensioned washer of Sylomer® , would provide high isolation against this impacts.
Solution is achieved with multiple density of Sylomer®. Low density polymer Sylomer® is used when low amount of weight is lifted, high density is used when higher load is uplifted.
On the above video a solution is achieved with multiple densities of Sylomer® . Low density polymer (Sylomer® ) is used when low amount of weight is lifted, high density is used when higher load is uplifted.
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Another kind of machines where periodic vibrations are exerced can be isolated as well by using some mounts like the FZ+Sylomer® mounts. These mounts are both fixed to the machine and the ground, as a typical machine foot. However this mounts are equipped with elastic material in such a way there is no acoustic bridge between machine and ground. It would be necessary to carry out a study of each machine type to determine the best dimensioned FZ type mount.
The dumbbell area produces shocks of great intensity especially if loads are high and the building has a thin structure. The lower the stiffness the anti vibration mounts the lower the transmission of acceleration to the below floor.
A system would consist on a platform with three areas. The area in the middle is rigidly fixed to the ground. The person who is training would stay on this area. In both sides of this rigid platform there should be installed other two platforms elastically suspended with springs. When the dumbbell falls, both sides of the dumbbell hit the suspended platforms. It should be carried out a study to dimension the spring mounts.
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ACOUSTIC HANGER PRO: ONLINE SOFTWARE FOR THE SELECTION OF THE CORRECT FLOOR MOUNT / ACOUSTIC HANGER.
Acoustic hanger pro
This app is either in Android, iOS or web environment.
Inserting the basic elements of your application the app allows you to select the correct solution according to your Budget or natural frequency requirement. The app will ask you basic technical information such as weight per sqm, distance between hangers/mounts and required natural frequency. Once this data is inserted the app will provide you a calculation, datasheets and videos of installation procedure.
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STEPS TO SELECT THE CORRECT ACOUSTIC HANGER OR FLOOR MOUNT.
- Indicate if you want to isolate a floor or a ceiling. Then introduce the weight per square meter and distance between hangers/mounts.
- Introduce the natural frequency that you require. If you ignore this value you can select if your preference is high isolation or cost effectiveness. You can also select if the elastic material is rubber, Sylomer or spring.
- In case that you want to isolate a ceiling, you must indicate if the hanger has to be anchored to the slab, to the metallic beam or between rods. This will provide you a range of selected hangers and mounts that will fulfil your requirement.
- Select the hanger that suits best. This will lead you to a page where you will be able to check the isolation level. On this page you will be able to receive the complete information by email or even require a quotation/offer.
Video instructions of the app can be found by clicking on the below screen.
INTRODUCTION
You may have noticed that in recent years, the number of gyms has been increasing. There are several factors that have contributed to the proliferation of them. Some of the key factors include:
- Increased awareness of the importance of physical activity.
- Changes in lifestyle
- Technological advances
- Social media and online marketing
- Increased competition
However, it is important to isolate different elements in a gym to reduce the level of noise and vibration that can be transmitted through the floor, walls, and other surfaces. Noise and vibration can be disruptive to users of the gym and can also cause damage to the gym equipment and other structures.
There are several benefits to isolating the different machines in a gym:
- Reduced noise levels: Isolating the machines in a gym can help to reduce the level of noise that is transmitted through the floor, walls, and other surfaces. This can create a more enjoyable and comfortable environment for users of the gym.
- Increased safety: Vibration isolators can help to reduce the level of vibration that is transmitted through the floor, which can improve the stability of the gym equipment and reduce the risk of accidents.
- Improved equipment performance: Isolating the machines in a gym can help to reduce the level of vibration and noise that is transmitted to the equipment, which can improve its performance and extend its lifespan.
- Reduced maintenance costs: Reducing the level of vibration and noise that is transmitted to the gym equipment can help to reduce the wear and tear on the equipment and may lower the frequency of maintenance and repairs needed.
In this context, there was one sports hall located at Paris which received several complaints from the neighbours. Due to that, the acoustic assistance from ECKEA was asked for solving the noise pollution linked to the operations of the sports hall to neighbouring accommodation.
Among the different actions that were carried out, several products from AMC Mecanocaucho were installed in a guided weight machine.
THE PRODUCTS TESTED ARE THE FOLLOWING
These anti vibration mounts have been designed for the insulation of gymnasium machinery:
MPR+SYLOMER®:These washers were positioned under the pads / weights.
TSR FIT: These mounts were positioned under the 3 feet of the guided weight machine.
RESULTS OF ACOUSTIC TESTS
A noise measurement was carried out before and after the installation of the previously mentioned mounts. In addition, each one was also studied separately to evaluate the effectiveness of each one.
Based on the results, it was possible to comply with current regulations in the case of both installed supports.
See the obtained results below:
| Configuration |
dB/OctaveHz
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63
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125
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250
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500
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1000
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2000
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4000
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dB(A)
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Without washers/Without feet
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Activity noise
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55
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47
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54
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39
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24
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16
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10
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45
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Background noise
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32
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27
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21
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14
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10
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9
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10
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20
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Differential
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+23
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+20
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+33
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+25
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+14
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+7
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0
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+25
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Regulation limit
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-
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+7
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+7
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+5
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+5
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+5
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+5
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+5
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Result
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-
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NC
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NC
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NC
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NC
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NC
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C
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NC
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With washers/Without feet
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Activity noise
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45
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41
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36
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29
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18
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11
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11
|
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30
|
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Background noise
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32
|
27
|
21
|
14
|
10
|
9
|
10
|
|
20
|
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Differential
|
+13
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+14
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+15
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+15
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+8
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+2
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+1
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+10
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Regulation limit
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-
|
+7
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+7
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+5
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+5
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+5
|
+5
|
|
+5
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Result
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-
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NC
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NC
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NC
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NC
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C
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C
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NC
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Without washers/With feet
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Activity noise
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46
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40
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27
|
16
|
14
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11
|
11
|
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26
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Background noise
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32
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27
|
21
|
14
|
10
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9
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10
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20
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Differential
|
+14
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+13
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+6
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+2
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+4
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+2
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+1
|
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+6
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Regulation limit
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-
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+7
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+7
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+5
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+5
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+5
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+5
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+5
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Result
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-
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NC
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C
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C
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C
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C
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C
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NC
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With washers/With feet
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Activity noise
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37
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31
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23
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17
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14
|
13
|
11
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22
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Background noise
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32
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27
|
21
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14
|
10
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9
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10
|
|
20
|
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Differential
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Differential not calculated because 22 dB(A) ≤ 25 dB(A) according to regulations
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Regulation limit
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-
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+7
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+7
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+5
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+5
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+5
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+5
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+5
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Result
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-
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C
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C
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C
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C
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C
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C
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C
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Differential: corresponds to the difference between the activity noise level (noise measured in the gym during the activity) and the background noise level (noise measured in the gym without activity).
- GREEN or C: Complies with the regulations
- ORANGE or NC: Does not comply with the regulations
SUMMARY OF RESULTS
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dB/OctaveHz
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63
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125
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250
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500
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1000
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2000
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4000
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dB(A)
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Guided weight machine
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Without washers/Without feet
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+23
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+20
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+33
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+25
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+14
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+7
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0
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+25
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NC
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With washers/Without feet
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+13
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+14
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+15
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+15
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+8
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+2
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+1
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+10
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NC
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Without washers/With feet
|
+14
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+13
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+6
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+2
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+4
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+2
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+1
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+6
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NC
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With washers/With feet
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Differential not calculated because 22 dB(A) ≤ 25 dB(A) according to regulations
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C (Not audible)
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Regulation limit
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-
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+7
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+7
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+5
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+5
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+5
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+5
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+5
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-
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| Without washers/Without feet
| With washers/
Without feet |
Without washers/
With feet |
With washers/
With feet |
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Feel free to contact our application engineers for more information on these products.
United Kingdom
