Custom Isolator Design: Engineered Vibration Isolation Systems

Custom isolator design is an engineering discipline that addresses vibration, shock, movement, and equipment-support requirements that cannot be resolved reliably through standard catalog selection alone. In commercial buildings, healthcare facilities, industrial plants, data centers, marine environments, and specialized infrastructure, equipment may have unusual operating frequencies, concentrated loads, non-standard mounting points, limited clearances, or demanding environmental conditions. In these situations, the isolator becomes part of a larger engineered support system rather than an interchangeable component.

Effective custom isolator design begins with understanding the equipment and its operating environment. Weight, center of gravity, mounting geometry, operating speed, excitation frequency, dynamic loads, allowable movement, and required isolation performance all influence the design. Engineers may evaluate spring, wire rope, rubber-metal, elastomeric, captive, or hybrid configurations depending on the application. Static deflection, natural frequency, damping, dynamic stiffness, transmissibility, and lateral stability must be considered together rather than independently.

Seismic requirements introduce another layer of engineering. Vibration isolators are intended to permit controlled movement, while seismic restraints limit movement during an earthquake. For equipment located in seismic regions or facilities subject to specific regulatory requirements, these functions must be coordinated without undermining the intended isolation performance.

For U.S. projects, the design may also need to account for IBC, CBC, ASCE 7, ACI 318, AISC requirements, project specifications, equipment manufacturer requirements, and applicable AHJ criteria. Healthcare projects subject to California requirements may involve HCAI, with OSHPD retained as legacy terminology.

A technically developed solution therefore connects equipment data, dynamic analysis, isolation technology, structural interfaces, seismic restraint, CAD/BIM coordination, and fabrication. That integrated approach is central to how The Sigma Source approaches custom isolator engineering for demanding applications.

Why Custom Isolator Design Is Different From Standard Isolator Selection

Standard isolator selection typically starts with a defined product range and determines which available component can support a particular load. Custom isolator design reverses that approach. The engineering process starts with the equipment, performance requirements, installation conditions, and applicable constraints, then develops an isolation configuration around those requirements.

A catalog spring may have an appropriate nominal load capacity but still produce an unsuitable natural frequency. A rubber mount may support the equipment weight while providing insufficient lateral stability. A standard wire rope isolator may have appropriate directional characteristics but not fit the available mounting envelope. These situations demonstrate why load capacity alone is not an adequate basis for isolation design.

Custom isolation system design can address uneven load distribution between mounting points, unusual equipment center-of-gravity locations, restricted vertical clearance, non-standard bolt patterns, variable operating conditions, and demanding environmental exposure. It can also incorporate custom mounting plates, brackets, frames, restraints, or isolation curbs to create a complete equipment support assembly.

The distinction is particularly important for rotating machinery. Operating speed determines excitation frequency, and the relationship between excitation frequency and the isolation system's natural frequency strongly influences vibration behavior. The objective is not simply to make an isolator softer or stronger. The system must provide the required dynamic response while maintaining stability and structural integrity.

Custom isolator engineering therefore considers the isolator and its interfaces as one system. Equipment, mounting hardware, isolation components, restraints, structural connections, and anchorage must work together. This systems-based approach helps prevent a common project problem: selecting an isolation component first and discovering later that its movement, geometry, stiffness, or seismic requirements conflict with the surrounding construction.

When Standard Isolators Are Not Enough

Custom engineering becomes particularly relevant when equipment has unusual dimensions, highly variable mounting loads, specialized operating requirements, demanding environmental exposure, low-frequency vibration, shock loads, or integrated seismic requirements. Replacement and retrofit projects can also require custom mounts because existing support locations cannot easily be relocated.

Engineering Criteria Used in Custom Isolator Design

A technically sound custom vibration isolator design starts by defining the forces and performance requirements the system must address. Static equipment weight establishes the baseline loading, but dynamic behavior determines much of the isolation performance. Engineers may need to evaluate operating speed, excitation frequency, vibration amplitude, dynamic forces, load distribution, and transient or shock conditions.

Static deflection is particularly important for spring-based isolation. In simplified single-degree-of-freedom models, the relationship between stiffness, supported mass, and natural frequency provides a foundation for understanding isolation behavior. Greater flexibility can produce a lower natural frequency, but flexibility also increases movement and can introduce stability or clearance concerns. The final design must balance isolation performance with allowable displacement and support requirements.

Transmissibility is another central concept. It describes how vibration is transmitted through an isolation system relative to the excitation input. The relationship changes with frequency ratio and damping, so an isolator that performs effectively at one operating condition may not provide the same response at another. This is why operating frequency and excitation characteristics need to be known before selecting or designing an isolation system.

Dynamic stiffness and damping also matter. Static stiffness measured under slow loading does not necessarily describe behavior under operating vibration. Elastomeric materials, wire rope configurations, and other isolation technologies can exhibit frequency- and amplitude-dependent characteristics.

Engineers may therefore consider:

• Load at each mounting location

• Equipment center of gravity

• Vertical and horizontal stiffness

• Static deflection

• Natural frequency

• Damping ratio

• Excitation frequency

• Transmissibility

• Lateral stability

• Allowable movement

• Fatigue and cyclic loading

• Environmental conditions

• Seismic restraint forces

Static Deflection and Natural Frequency

For spring isolators, static deflection provides a practical indicator of system flexibility and is closely related to the resulting natural frequency. The required deflection should be established from the equipment and performance objectives rather than selected arbitrarily.

Dynamic Stiffness and Damping

Dynamic stiffness describes how an isolation system responds under operating conditions. Damping influences resonance behavior and transient response. These properties become especially important for precision machinery, rotating equipment, and applications where operating frequencies vary.

Types of Custom Vibration Isolators and Mounts

Different isolation technologies respond differently to load, frequency, displacement, shock, and environmental requirements. A custom isolator design should therefore begin with the application rather than assuming a particular component type is appropriate.

Spring isolators are frequently used where significant static deflection and low natural frequencies are required. They can be developed as open, housed, restrained, or captive assemblies depending on movement and restraint requirements. Steel springs can also be integrated with custom steel plates, housings, brackets, and seismic restraint components.

Wire rope isolators use helically formed steel wire rope to provide compliance in multiple directions. Their geometry can be configured around required load and stiffness characteristics, making them useful for vibration and shock applications where directional behavior and compact construction are important.

Rubber-metal and elastomeric mounts provide isolation through compression, shear, or combined deformation. Material selection can involve natural rubber, synthetic compounds, neoprene, EPDM, silicone, polyurethane, or other engineered elastomers. The appropriate compound depends on temperature, chemicals, moisture, UV exposure, required stiffness, and service-life expectations.

Hybrid systems can combine different technologies. A custom equipment mount might incorporate an elastomeric element, steel mounting plate, spring element, restraint bracket, and structural frame to meet several requirements simultaneously.

Custom Spring Isolator Design

Spring selection should account for supported load, spring rate, operating deflection, required natural frequency, stability, and available installation space. Housed or captive configurations may be appropriate where movement must be controlled or where the isolation assembly must remain mechanically engaged under specific conditions.

Custom Wire Rope Isolator Design

Wire rope configurations can be engineered for specific load and stiffness requirements while accommodating unusual mounting geometry. They are particularly relevant to equipment exposed to vibration, shock, or multidirectional motion.

Custom Rubber and Elastomeric Isolator Design

Elastomer selection is not simply a matter of choosing a generic rubber hardness. Compound properties, temperature range, compression and shear behavior, environmental exposure, bonding methods, fatigue, and long-term performance can all affect the final design.

Hybrid and Application-Specific Mounts

Where no single technology satisfies the complete requirement, custom vibration mounts can combine isolation elements with structural hardware, restraints, mounting frames, and fabricated interfaces.

Custom Isolation System Design for HVAC and Mechanical Equipment

HVAC equipment is one of the most common applications for vibration isolation because rotating components can generate structure-borne vibration that travels through mechanical supports into floors, roofs, walls, and adjacent spaces. Proper HVAC vibration isolation design must therefore consider both the equipment and the building interface.

Air handling units, chillers, pumps, fans, blowers, compressors, boilers, cooling towers, and rooftop mechanical equipment can have significantly different weights, operating speeds, mounting arrangements, and dynamic characteristics. A solution designed for a low-speed pump may not be appropriate for a high-speed fan, even when their static weights are similar.

Floor-mounted equipment may require spring isolators, elastomeric mounts, inertia bases, or custom equipment frames. Suspended equipment can require spring hangers or acoustic hangers configured to provide the required isolation while maintaining adequate support and coordination with the structure.

Rooftop applications introduce additional considerations. Available clearance may be limited, wind and weather exposure can be significant, and seismic restraint may need to be coordinated with the isolation system. Equipment support curbs, structural frames, mounting plates, and restraint assemblies can become part of the engineered solution.

Vibration Isolation for Rotating Equipment

Rotating equipment requires particular attention to operating speed and excitation frequency. Rotor imbalance, bearing forces, startup and shutdown conditions, and other dynamic effects can influence the vibration transmitted through the support system.

Equipment Mounting and Load Distribution

The equipment's center of gravity should be considered when determining loads at individual isolator locations. Unequal loading can cause uneven deflection, poor alignment, or reduced performance if isolators are selected solely from the total equipment weight.

Custom Isolator Design for Industrial and Specialized Equipment

Industrial machinery frequently creates requirements that exceed the assumptions behind conventional building mechanical equipment. Manufacturing machinery, process equipment, motors, generators, turbines, compressors, and other rotating systems can produce substantial cyclic forces or operate under conditions that demand carefully controlled vibration response.

Precision machinery introduces another concern: even relatively small vibration levels can affect manufacturing tolerances, measurement systems, or sensitive processes. Laboratory and medical equipment can similarly require controlled vibration environments. Data center equipment may need protection from vibration while also fitting into highly coordinated mechanical and structural layouts.

Marine and shipboard machinery presents additional design challenges. Space constraints, corrosion exposure, shock, motion, and mounting geometry can differ significantly from those encountered in conventional buildings. Material selection and fastening arrangements become important alongside vibration performance.

Aerospace and power-generation applications can also involve high cycle counts, unusual load paths, or strict requirements for reliability and fatigue resistance. Custom wire rope isolators, elastomeric mounts, spring systems, or specialized mounting frames may be evaluated according to the specific operating environment.

Low frequency vibration isolation is particularly demanding because reducing the isolation system's natural frequency generally requires greater flexibility. That flexibility can increase displacement and create additional requirements for clearance, lateral stability, and restraint.

The design process should therefore distinguish between static support and dynamic isolation. A mount that safely supports a machine is not automatically a suitable vibration isolator. Conversely, an extremely flexible isolation element may create unacceptable movement. Engineering must establish the appropriate balance between isolation efficiency, stability, structural capacity, and operational requirements.

Integrating Vibration Isolation With Seismic Restraint

Vibration isolation and seismic restraint address different physical problems and should not be treated as interchangeable functions. A vibration isolator is intended to provide controlled compliance so that mechanical energy is not efficiently transmitted into the supporting structure. A seismic restraint limits potentially damaging movement generated during an earthquake.

For isolated equipment in seismic regions, both requirements may apply simultaneously. The challenge is to provide adequate restraint without creating an unintended rigid vibration path during normal operation. This requires coordination of isolator movement, restraint clearances, attachment points, structural capacity, and expected seismic forces.

Possible components include restrained or captive spring isolators, seismic snubbers, restraint brackets, isolation curbs, structural support frames, and equipment anchorage. The appropriate configuration depends on the equipment, isolation technology, structural support, applicable seismic criteria, and project requirements.

The load path should be considered as a complete system:

Equipment → isolator → restraint → support assembly → structural connection → anchor → building structure

If any interface is inadequately designed, the overall system can become the limiting element. For example, an appropriately sized isolator cannot compensate for an undersized mounting plate or inadequate structural anchorage.

Seismic Design Considerations

Applicable requirements may include ASCE 7 and the adopted building code, along with project specifications and AHJ requirements. In California healthcare facilities, HCAI requirements may apply to qualifying projects. OSHPD remains a common legacy reference, but current project documentation should use the applicable HCAI requirements and terminology.

The design should also consider whether restraints allow the movement required for normal isolation while providing the required seismic protection. This coordination is particularly important for rooftop mechanical equipment, suspended equipment, critical hospital systems, and equipment supported by custom frames.

Materials, Environmental Conditions, and Service Life

Material selection is an engineering decision because material properties influence stiffness, damping, durability, corrosion resistance, temperature performance, and long-term behavior. The environment in which an isolator operates can therefore be as important as its initial load rating.

Elastomeric systems may use natural rubber or synthetic compounds such as neoprene, EPDM, silicone, or polyurethane. Each material family has different characteristics related to temperature, chemical exposure, moisture, UV exposure, compression, shear, and aging. The appropriate compound depends on the actual operating environment rather than a generic preference for one material.

Metallic isolation systems may use steel springs, stainless steel, carbon steel, high-strength steel, alloy steel, or steel wire rope. Aluminum can be appropriate for certain weight-sensitive or corrosion-sensitive applications. Bonded rubber-to-metal components may combine elastomeric behavior with fabricated metal interfaces.

Corrosion protection can include galvanizing, zinc-based coatings, powder coating, protective finishes, or stainless steel construction. Marine facilities and industrial plants may require more aggressive corrosion strategies than interior mechanical rooms.

Service life should also be considered. Repeated cyclic loading can create fatigue concerns in springs, wire rope, brackets, welds, and structural attachments. Elastomeric components may experience changes in properties over time due to temperature, chemicals, ozone, UV exposure, or repeated deformation.

The engineering relationship can be viewed as:

Environment → material properties → stiffness and performance → durability → maintenance → service life

Maintenance access should be considered during design as well. Isolators and restraints may require inspection, adjustment, or replacement, and the assembly should allow these activities without unnecessary disruption to adjacent systems.

Custom Isolator Engineering, CAD Modeling, and Fabrication

A successful custom isolation solution must ultimately be manufacturable, installable, and inspectable. Engineering calculations establish the required performance, while 3D CAD and BIM coordination help translate that performance into physical geometry.

Engineering analysis may evaluate equipment loads, individual mounting-point reactions, dynamic requirements, stiffness, natural frequency, deflection, restraint forces, and connection requirements. These calculations provide the technical basis for selecting or developing the isolation components.

3D CAD modeling can then verify mounting interfaces, bolt patterns, equipment clearances, structural connections, restraint geometry, and access requirements. In coordinated construction environments, BIM can help identify conflicts between equipment, isolators, ductwork, piping, electrical systems, structural members, and architectural elements before fabrication or installation.

Custom fabrication is often necessary when standard mounting hardware cannot accommodate the equipment. Fabricated components can include steel plates, brackets, base frames, equipment mounting frames, isolation curbs, restraint assemblies, and custom strut channels.

Material and fabrication methods can be selected according to project requirements. Processes may include laser or plasma cutting, welding, forming, stamping, machining, galvanizing, and powder coating. The objective is not simply to fabricate a bracket that fits; the fabricated assembly must maintain the required load path and interface with the isolation system as engineered.

This integration is where engineering and manufacturing become especially valuable. A custom isolator should be designed with realistic tolerances, attachment methods, access requirements, and fabrication constraints in mind. The Sigma Source combines vibration-control engineering with BIM/CAD coordination and custom metal fabrication, allowing the isolation concept and its supporting hardware to be developed as a coordinated assembly rather than disconnected components.

Custom Isolator Design Process: From Equipment Data to Final Assembly

A disciplined design process reduces uncertainty and gives engineers, contractors, and procurement teams a clear basis for reviewing the proposed solution.

1. Collect Equipment Data

The process begins with equipment information. Useful data includes operating and shipping weight where relevant, dimensions, mounting points, center of gravity, operating speed, excitation frequencies, dynamic loads, manufacturer requirements, environmental conditions, installation location, and available CAD or BIM files.

2. Define Performance Requirements

The engineering team establishes the required isolation performance, target natural frequency, static deflection, load capacity, damping characteristics, permitted movement, vertical and horizontal stiffness, and seismic restraint requirements. These criteria should be coordinated with the equipment manufacturer and project specifications.

3. Develop the Isolation Configuration

The isolator type, quantity, location, and load distribution are developed around the equipment. Engineers also determine mounting geometry, support-frame requirements, restraint configuration, structural interfaces, and available clearances.

4. Engineer and Model the Assembly

Calculations and CAD/BIM coordination are used together. The analysis establishes performance requirements while the model verifies physical integration. This can reveal conflicts involving anchors, structural members, equipment access, piping, ductwork, electrical systems, or maintenance clearances.

5. Fabricate and Verify

Where appropriate, prototypes or representative assemblies can be developed before production. Fabrication should follow the approved design, with inspection and performance testing performed when required by the application, specification, or engineering program.

6. Coordinate Installation

Installation documentation should identify mounting locations, orientation, clearances, adjustment requirements, restraint configuration, and relevant connection details. Proper installation matters because even a correctly engineered isolator can perform differently if it is incorrectly loaded, short-circuited by rigid connections, or installed with inadequate clearance.

This process makes custom isolator engineering a traceable progression from equipment data to defined performance, engineered geometry, fabrication, and field installation.

U.S. Codes, Standards, and Project Requirements for Custom Isolator Systems

Custom isolation systems must be evaluated within the requirements applicable to the specific project rather than treated as products governed by one universal code. Building location, occupancy, equipment type, seismic criteria, healthcare regulations, structural support conditions, and project specifications can all affect the engineering approach.

The International Building Code (IBC) and, in California, the California Building Code (CBC), provide important framework requirements for building and nonstructural component design. ASCE 7 can establish seismic design criteria for applicable equipment and nonstructural components. The precise provisions used depend on the adopted code edition, project location, component classification, and design conditions.

AISC standards can become relevant to fabricated steel support components, while ACI 318 may apply to concrete anchorage and related structural considerations. ASTM standards may govern material characteristics, testing, or manufacturing requirements for particular components. ICC-ES evaluation criteria may be relevant where specific proprietary products or anchorage systems require an applicable evaluation pathway. UL requirements may apply where a particular component or assembly falls within an applicable listed or regulated category.

Healthcare projects require additional attention. HCAI requirements can apply to qualifying California healthcare facilities, and OSHPD is commonly encountered as legacy terminology. Project teams should verify the current requirements applicable to the facility and authority having jurisdiction.

Compliance should ultimately be considered across the complete load path. The isolator itself may have an adequate capacity while the mounting plate, weld, bracket, anchor, concrete interface, or structural support does not. Engineering review should therefore address the complete assembly and coordinate it with equipment manufacturer requirements, project specifications, and AHJ expectations.

Applications for Commercial, Healthcare, Industrial, and Infrastructure Projects

Custom isolation requirements vary significantly by building type and equipment function. In commercial buildings, vibration isolation commonly supports HVAC systems such as air handlers, pumps, fans, chillers, compressors, and rooftop equipment. Mechanical rooms can present tight clearances and multiple MEP interfaces, making coordinated equipment mounts and support frames important.

Healthcare facilities can impose particularly demanding coordination requirements because mechanical systems may serve critical spaces and must coexist with structural and architectural constraints. Hospital HVAC equipment, medical equipment, and other vibration-sensitive systems may require carefully coordinated isolation and seismic restraint. Where HCAI applies, the design must also be coordinated with the applicable healthcare requirements.

Industrial facilities introduce machinery with potentially high dynamic forces, long operating cycles, and specialized process requirements. Manufacturing equipment, turbines, generators, compressors, motors, and other rotating machinery can require custom mounts designed around actual operating characteristics rather than generic load classifications.

Data centers and laboratories can be sensitive to vibration while simultaneously requiring dense coordination of mechanical, electrical, structural, and architectural systems. The isolation system must fit the available space while preserving required equipment access and structural interfaces.

Marine facilities can require corrosion-resistant materials, compact assemblies, and designs that accommodate specialized operating conditions. Aerospace and transportation infrastructure may involve additional shock, vibration, fatigue, or mounting requirements.

Across these environments, the engineering objective remains the same: define the equipment's physical and dynamic requirements, select or develop an appropriate isolation technology, integrate the support and restraint system, and verify that the final assembly can be manufactured and installed as designed.

How to Select a Custom Isolator Engineering and Manufacturing Partner

Selecting a custom isolator provider should involve more than comparing product catalogs or nominal load ratings. Because custom systems connect dynamic performance with structural hardware, the project team should evaluate the provider's engineering, modeling, fabrication, and documentation capabilities together.

A technically capable partner should be able to interpret equipment data, calculate mounting loads, evaluate stiffness and natural frequency, and understand the relationship between excitation frequency and isolation performance. For projects involving seismic demand, the provider should also understand seismic restraint, structural anchorage, and the applicable design criteria.

CAD and BIM capabilities are valuable when equipment must fit within congested mechanical rooms, rooftops, industrial facilities, or healthcare environments. Three-dimensional coordination can help verify mounting interfaces, structural connections, restraint clearances, and maintenance access before fabrication.

Fabrication capability is another consideration. Custom isolation systems may require steel plates, brackets, frames, curbs, mounting assemblies, or restraint hardware that must be manufactured to engineering drawings. Processes such as laser cutting, plasma cutting, welding, forming, machining, galvanizing, and powder coating can support different project requirements.

Procurement teams should also evaluate documentation. Depending on the project, useful deliverables can include engineering calculations, drawings, CAD models, material information, installation details, inspection documentation, and applicable compliance information.

The Sigma Source's role can extend across these interfaces, combining vibration isolation engineering, seismic support, structural engineering coordination, BIM 3D CAD modeling, and custom metal fabrication. This integrated approach is particularly useful when a project requires more than a standard isolator and needs the isolation system, support hardware, restraints, and structural interfaces considered as one engineered solution.

Conclusion

Custom isolator design provides a structured engineering path for equipment that cannot be adequately addressed through standard isolator selection. The key is to begin with the equipment's actual behavior and project constraints rather than starting with a predetermined component. Weight, center of gravity, mounting geometry, operating speed, excitation frequency, dynamic loads, static deflection, natural frequency, damping, stiffness, movement, environmental exposure, and service-life requirements all influence the final configuration.

The isolation technology should be selected according to those requirements. Spring isolators can address applications requiring substantial deflection and low natural frequencies, while wire rope and elastomeric systems can provide different combinations of stiffness, directional response, damping, shock performance, and environmental durability. Custom mounting plates, frames, brackets, curbs, and restraints may then be integrated to create a complete support assembly.

Seismic design adds another important dimension. Vibration isolation must permit the movement necessary for normal isolation performance, while seismic restraints must control movement under earthquake loading. The resulting load path must be coordinated from the equipment through the isolator, restraint, support assembly, connection, anchorage, and building structure.

For U.S. construction projects, applicable IBC, CBC, ASCE 7, AISC, ACI 318, ASTM, HCAI, project specifications, manufacturer requirements, and AHJ criteria should be evaluated according to the specific application. Proper engineering also extends beyond calculations to CAD/BIM coordination, fabrication, inspection, and installation.

For projects involving unusual loads, low-frequency vibration, specialized machinery, restricted mounting geometry, demanding environments, or combined vibration and seismic requirements, an integrated engineering and fabrication approach can provide a practical path from equipment data to a manufacturable isolation system. The Sigma Source brings these disciplines together to support custom vibration isolation and equipment-support requirements across commercial, healthcare, industrial, marine, and infrastructure applications.

FAQ: Custom Isolator Design

What is custom isolator design?

Custom isolator design is the engineering development of an isolation assembly around the actual requirements of a specific piece of equipment or installation. Instead of selecting a standard catalog component based primarily on weight, engineers evaluate load distribution, mounting geometry, operating speed, excitation frequency, static deflection, natural frequency, stiffness, damping, movement, environmental exposure, and other project constraints. The final solution may include springs, wire rope, elastomeric elements, mounting plates, brackets, frames, or seismic restraints.

When does equipment require a custom vibration isolator?

Custom engineering may be appropriate when standard isolators cannot provide the required load range, natural frequency, static deflection, geometry, movement control, environmental durability, or seismic configuration. Uneven loading between mounting points, unusual equipment dimensions, low-frequency vibration, restricted clearances, high cyclic loading, and specialized mounting interfaces are common reasons to investigate a custom solution. Equipment replacement and retrofit projects can also require custom mounts when existing structural interfaces must remain in place.

How are custom vibration isolators sized?

Sizing begins with the equipment's operating and static information. Engineers can evaluate total weight and the load carried at each mounting point, equipment center of gravity, operating speed, excitation frequency, dynamic forces, required static deflection, target natural frequency, stiffness, damping, allowable movement, and seismic restraint requirements. The isolator cannot be considered independently from its mounting hardware and supporting structure because those components participate in the overall load path.

What is the relationship between static deflection and natural frequency?

For spring-based isolation systems, static deflection is closely related to the system's natural frequency. Increasing flexibility generally lowers natural frequency, which can improve isolation at sufficiently higher excitation frequencies, but it also increases potential movement. Consequently, engineers must balance the desired dynamic performance against clearance, stability, equipment alignment, and restraint requirements. Static deflection should therefore be established as part of an overall dynamic design rather than selected simply because a particular value is commonly used.

Can custom isolators be designed for rotating equipment?

Yes. Rotating equipment such as pumps, fans, motors, compressors, generators, and turbines can require detailed vibration isolation engineering. Operating speed and excitation frequency are important because the relationship between excitation and natural frequency influences transmissibility and resonance behavior. Engineers may also consider rotor imbalance, bearing forces, startup and shutdown conditions, dynamic load distribution, mounting stiffness, and equipment alignment. The resulting mount should provide the required isolation while maintaining adequate stability and structural capacity.

Can custom isolators be used for HVAC equipment?

Yes. Custom HVAC vibration isolation can be developed for air handling units, chillers, pumps, fans, blowers, compressors, boilers, cooling towers, rooftop equipment, and other mechanical systems. Depending on the application, the solution may include spring isolators, rubber-metal mounts, wire rope isolators, inertia bases, spring hangers, acoustic hangers, isolation curbs, or custom support frames. Rooftop and seismic installations may also require coordinated restraints and structural attachments.

What materials are used for custom vibration isolators?

Materials depend on the required mechanical and environmental performance. Isolation systems can use steel springs, steel wire rope, natural or synthetic rubber, neoprene, EPDM, silicone, polyurethane, and bonded rubber-to-metal components. Structural hardware may use carbon steel, stainless steel, high-strength steel, alloy steel, or aluminum. Galvanizing, zinc-based coatings, powder coating, and other protective finishes can be considered when corrosion or environmental exposure is a concern.

Can an isolated piece of equipment also require seismic restraint?

Yes. Isolation and seismic restraint serve different purposes and may need to operate together. The isolator permits controlled movement during normal operation to reduce vibration transmission, while the seismic restraint limits movement during earthquake loading. The design must account for the interaction between these functions. Restraint clearances, attachment locations, structural capacity, anchorages, and the allowable isolation movement all need to be coordinated so that the seismic system does not unintentionally compromise normal vibration isolation.

Are custom isolators designed to meet ASCE 7 requirements?

ASCE 7 may provide applicable seismic design criteria for equipment, supports, and nonstructural components depending on the project. However, the exact requirements depend on factors such as building location, adopted code edition, component characteristics, occupancy, installation conditions, and project-specific design criteria. A custom isolation system should therefore be evaluated within the complete applicable code and specification framework rather than represented as universally governed by one ASCE 7 provision.

Can custom isolators be used in HCAI or OSHPD healthcare projects?

Custom isolation systems can be engineered for qualifying California healthcare projects where applicable HCAI requirements must be satisfied. OSHPD is frequently encountered as legacy terminology, while current project requirements should be verified with the applicable HCAI criteria, project specifications, and AHJ. Healthcare installations may require especially careful coordination between equipment isolation, seismic restraint, structural anchorage, MEP systems, and facility-specific requirements.

Can The Sigma Source fabricate custom isolator components?

Custom isolation projects can involve fabricated components in addition to the isolation element itself. These may include mounting plates, steel brackets, equipment frames, isolation curbs, restraint assemblies, base frames, and custom strut channels. Depending on project requirements, fabrication can involve laser or plasma cutting, welding, forming, machining, galvanizing, and powder coating. Combining engineering and fabrication can help ensure that the physical support hardware corresponds with the intended isolation and load-path requirements.

What information is needed to start a custom isolator design?

A useful starting package includes equipment weight, operating weight, dimensions, mounting-point locations, center of gravity, operating speed, excitation frequencies, dynamic loads where available, manufacturer requirements, installation location, environmental conditions, seismic criteria, desired isolation performance, and available drawings or CAD/BIM models. Information about existing supports is also valuable for retrofit projects. The more accurately the equipment and installation conditions are defined, the more effectively the isolation system can be engineered around the actual application.