All-
We're entering the final design throes for our new/renovated science
complex. The architects' attention is turning from laying out spaces
and rooms to details like where the outlets go.
I'm at a disadvantage because I'm a theorist designing spaces for
experimentalists to be hired once the complex is complete. I have
consulted with many experimentalist friends and gotten some very
helpful, concrete advice. That's the quest I am on again now.
In question are an optics lab and two faculty research labs. It
remains to be seen what their areas of specialization may be, and
therefore I am designing them to be as flexible as possible.
The architect wants some numbers (tolerances) for vibration isolation
in those rooms. These labs will be in the basement on the slab, but
will be on the same floor not too distant from the building's machine
rooms. While very sensitive experiments will of course require their
own vibration isolation, I don't want the optics lab (for example)
vibrating away every time the fans fire up. Ideally, I'd like those
labs on a separate slab. (I don't know the underlying geology yet.)
Anyone have reasonable baseline numbers for vibration limits over a
reasonable range of frequencies for such labs? Or know of a source
for such limits?