MACH Testing can perform vibration assessments in accordance to BS 6472:1992 and BS 7385 with respect to human response to vibration and structural damage levels. Vibration assessments can be carried out for planned building locations or in existing buildings undergoing refurbishment.

Environmental vibration can cause annoyance if it can be detected by the occupants of a building. Railways, motorways, dual carriageways and busy roads can all create high levels of vibration. Although high frequency vibration is quickly attenuation by the ground, low frequencies can propagate significant distances from the source of vibration. By monitoring the vibration over a typical day it is possible to calculate the Vibration Dose Value (VDV) for the occupants of a building.

The VDV is compared with the values given in the Standard to determine whether adverse comments about the vibration in the building are likely to be made by the occupants. The perception of vibration levels differ between people and so the probability of adverse comment is presented in ranges.

Place and time	1) Low probability of adverse comment m·s-1.75	Adverse Comment possible m·s-1.75	2) Adverse comment Probable m·s-1.75
Residential buildings 16 h day	0.2 to 0.4	0.4 to 0.8	0.8 to 1.6
Residential buildings 8 h night	0.1 to 0.2	0.2 to 0.4	0.4 to 0.8

NOTE For offices and workshops, multiplying factors of 2 and 4 respectively should be applied to the above vibration dose value ranges for a 16 h day.

1) Below these ranges adverse comment is not expected.
2) Above these ranges adverse comment is very likely.