SBR Guidelines A, B and C: What Is the Difference in Vibration Measurements?
On a construction or infrastructure project, vibrations can be caused by pile driving, soil compaction, demolition or heavy traffic. Especially when buildings or sensitive installations are nearby, it is important to know which vibrations occur and how the measurement results should be assessed.
In the Netherlands, this is usually done with reference to the SBR guidelines. They consist of three parts: A, B and C, each with a different purpose. Which guideline you use therefore depends not only on the work being carried out, but above all on what you want to assess with the vibration measurement.
What are the SBR guidelines?
SBR stands for Stichting Bouwresearch, the Dutch organisation that drew up the measurement and assessment guidelines for vibrations. The guidelines provide a method for measuring and assessing vibrations, so that measurement results can be compared with criteria that fit the specific situation.
This matters, because a high vibration value does not tell the whole story on its own. A proper assessment takes into account, among other things, the type of building, the duration of the vibrations, the frequency and the measurement location. It must also be clear in advance which effect you want to investigate.
The SBR guidelines are not simply one general legal limit value for all construction projects. They do, however, play an important role in assessments and in regulations that refer to specific parts of them.
SBR guideline A: damage to buildings
Part A covers the assessment of vibrations in relation to possible damage to buildings and other structures. This is relevant, for example, when foundation work takes place near existing buildings.
Measurements then provide insight into the vibration load on a building. The results are assessed with a method that takes into account the type of structure and the characteristics of the vibration, among other things. An expert determines how the measurement should be carried out and which criteria apply.
It is important to be precise about what a measurement demonstrates. Vibration monitoring helps to document the load and to respond to high values in time, but it does not automatically prove that damage is impossible, or that damage can only have been caused by the measured work.
Practical example: piles are being driven for a new development next to a row of existing houses. The project team wants insight into vibration levels at selected buildings during the work. Assessing possible damage to those buildings can be a reason to measure in accordance with SBR A.
SBR guideline B: nuisance to people in buildings
Part B is about the vibration nuisance that people in a building may experience. The focus is not on whether the building itself can be damaged, but on the exposure and possible nuisance for the people who are inside.
Think of residents in a home or employees in an office close to a construction site. Vibrations can be noticeable and disturbing even when there is no damage to the building. That is why this assessment needs a different framework than SBR A.
SBR guideline B also plays a role in regulations on vibration nuisance. Whether it applies to construction work depends on the activity, the function of the building and the applicable rules. The Dutch Informatiepunt Leefomgeving explains how the Besluit bouwwerken leefomgeving refers to the SBR B assessment method in certain situations.
Practical example: a contractor works next to a school for several weeks. Even if the risk of structural damage is limited, it may be necessary to investigate how the vibrations are experienced in the classrooms. SBR B can then be the relevant framework.
SBR guideline C: disturbance of equipment
Part C focuses on the influence of vibrations on equipment and processes that are sensitive to movement. That is a different question from structural damage or nuisance to people.
This assessment is relevant, for example, when construction activities take place near a laboratory, a measurement room or a building with sensitive instruments. Not every device responds to vibration in the same way, so the properties of the equipment present and the specific measurement question must be taken into account.
Practical example: work is being carried out next to a building with sensitive measuring instruments. The client wants to know whether the vibrations could affect the operation of that equipment. It then makes sense to investigate whether SBR C and additional equipment-specific requirements apply.
Not every vibration monitor is automatically suitable for a full SBR C assessment. Check for each measurement system and application which assessments are supported.
SBR A, B and C side by side
| Guideline | What is it about? | Example of a measurement question |
|---|---|---|
| SBR A | Possible damage to buildings or structures | What vibration load occurs at existing houses during pile driving? |
| SBR B | Vibration nuisance to people in buildings | How do residents or users experience vibrations during the work? |
| SBR C | Disturbance of vibration-sensitive equipment | Can work next to a laboratory affect sensitive instruments? |
The distinction seems simple, but in practice several questions often apply at the same time. A project next to houses can be a reason to assess both possible damage to buildings and nuisance to residents. There can be more than one measurement and assessment objective.
How do you determine which SBR guideline you need?
Start with the reason for the measurement. Do you want to protect a building, assess nuisance to people or safeguard the operation of sensitive equipment? Then look at the location, the expected vibration sources, the structures involved and any requirements from a permit or project agreement.
A measurement specialist translates this information into a suitable measurement strategy: the choice of measurement points, the mounting method, the measurement settings, the assessment period and the way results are recorded and reported.
Simply placing a vibration monitor is therefore not enough for a well-founded assessment. The set-up of the measurement project and the interpretation of the data are at least as important.
What does this mean for choosing a vibration monitor?
A measuring instrument must be suitable for the type of vibration and the guideline that is relevant to the project. Practical features matter too. During work that lasts several days, for example, it is important to follow measurements remotely, receive alerts and retrieve data afterwards.
The Profound VIBRA5+ has been developed for vibration monitoring in construction and infrastructure. Combined with the Profound Portal, the system offers options for following measurement data, setting alerts and compiling reports. The current product documentation is leading for exact standard support and the correct configuration.
Why real-time insight during the work is valuable
When results are only reviewed after the work has finished, an exceedance can no longer be discussed at the moment it happens. Online monitoring gives a better picture of the situation at the measurement locations during the project.
This does not mean that the measurement system automatically decides what should happen on site. The responsible expert or project organisation agrees in advance who receives alerts, when a signal is a reason to act and how the data is assessed.
The combination of good measuring equipment, clear agreements and usable reporting gives the project team a firmer grip on the information. Also read what is vibration monitoring? and vibration measurements during pile driving.
Frequently asked questions about SBR A, B and C
Is SBR A the same as SBR B?
No. SBR A is intended for assessing vibrations in relation to possible damage to buildings. SBR B focuses on nuisance to people inside buildings. One project can involve both assessment questions.
Are the SBR guidelines legally required?
That depends on the work, the location and the applicable regulations or permit conditions. The guidelines are assessment documents and are not automatically law as a whole. Specific regulations can refer to them, for example for vibration nuisance caused by construction work.
Is one measurement point enough?
That cannot be said in general. The number of measurement points depends on the project location, the objects to be assessed, the vibration sources and the measurement strategy. The person responsible for the measurements decides what is needed.
Can a vibration monitor prevent damage?
A vibration monitor does not prevent damage by itself. Monitoring makes vibrations visible and helps to respond in time during the work. The project team decides which measures are needed based on the measurement results and the risk analysis.
Can I use the VIBRA5+ for SBR A and B?
Profound presents the VIBRA5+ for vibration monitoring and reporting in accordance with applicable standards, including SBR A and B. Ask about the right configuration, measurement set-up and current standard support for your project.
Want to know more about measuring according to the right guideline?
Are you working on a construction or infrastructure project and looking for equipment to monitor vibrations? Profound is happy to provide information about the VIBRA5+, the reporting options and the requirements you can set for a measurement system. Tell us what you want to measure and in which environment, and we will look at which solution fits.