Human exposure to low frequency horizontal motion in buildings and offshore structures: an assessment of guidance in BS 6611 and ISO 6897

Abstract

Building vibration produced by external sources (e.g. road and rail traffic) and internal sources (e.g. domestic equipment and footfalls) is usually within the frequency range 1 to 80 Hz. The excitation of structures by wind or waves can induce horizontal motion at frequencies less than 1 Hz. This paper reviews guidance on the measurement, evaluation and assessment of human exposure to horizontal motion over the frequency range 0.063 to 1.0 Hz as provided in British Standard 6611 (1985) and the equivalent International Standard 6897 (1984). The guidance is compared with standards applicable to exposure to vibration at higher frequencies. It is concluded that BS 6611 and ISO 6897 do not adequately allow for the effects of exposure duration or for differences in the effects of motion on different tasks. Acceleration limits for buildings proposed in BS 6611 and ISO 6897 for the worst 10 minutes of a wind storm with a return period of 5 years or more are similar to satisfactory magnitudes in BS 6472-1 (2008) and BS 6841 (1987) for 10-minute daily exposures. Mean thresholds for the perception of motion in BS 6611 and ISO 6897 are a little higher than those in ISO 2631-1 (1997), BS 6472-1 (2008), and BS 6841 (1987). The acceleration magnitudes expected to impair task performance in BS 6611 and ISO 6897 are lower than the magnitudes impairing hand control in BS 6841. Possible revisions to BS 6611 and ISO 6897 are discussed.

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ORCID for M.J. Griffin: orcid.org/0000-0003-0743-9502

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