Construction Noise & Vibration Assessment & Monitoring

Principal: Royal Melbourne Hospital / Melbourne Health

Project Overview

Octave Acoustics provided specialist noise and vibration consultancy services to support major construction works within the Royal Melbourne Hospital (RMH) Parkville precinct. The project involved assessment and monitoring within a complex, continuously operating hospital environment containing highly sensitive clinical, research, and laboratory facilities.

Given the proximity of significant construction and enabling works to occupied hospital spaces, the project required a rigorous, data‑driven approach to establish baseline conditions, assess potential impacts, and inform risk‑appropriate construction controls.

Scope of Services

Our engagement encompassed multiple interrelated workstreams across the planning and construction phases:

• Baseline Noise and Vibration Monitoring
  Long‑term unattended monitoring was undertaken across a wide range of sensitive hospital locations, including clinical wards, laboratories, research facilities, and support spaces. Monitoring was staged to capture representative conditions across the precinct and was supplemented with data from earlier geotechnical investigations.
• Simulation Testing of Construction Activities
  Attended simulation testing was carried out to replicate worst‑case demolition and construction activities, including excavation, drilling, cutting and grinding. Resulting noise and vibration levels were measured at sensitive receivers to directly inform feasible construction methodologies and limits.
• Review of Third‑Party Acoustic Reporting
  Octave Acoustics undertook an independent technical review of the project acoustic documentation, providing detailed commentary on vibration metrics, assessment methodologies, criteria selection and data interpretation in the context of sensitive hospital and research environments.
• Criteria Development and Risk Management Input
  Baseline and simulated data were assessed against relevant Australian Standards and technical guidelines, including AS/NZS 2107 and vibration criteria appropriate for medical and scientific spaces. The findings were used to recommend appropriate construction trigger levels, monitoring locations, and mitigation strategies.

Key Outcomes

• Established a robust baseline noise and vibration database across the RMH precinct, reflecting typical operating conditions.
• Identified locations where existing ambient conditions already approached or exceeded standard guideline criteria, informing a pragmatic and defensible approach to construction management.
• Provided simulation‑based evidence to support construction planning around sensitive clinical and research activities.
• Supported the Principal in balancing construction feasibility, risk management, and continuity of patient care and research operations.
• Delivered technically robust advice suitable for use by the project team and hospital stakeholders.

Project Highlights

• Major tertiary hospital operating continuously throughout monitoring and testing.
• Highly sensitive environments including laboratories, imaging areas, research facilities and wards.
• Integration of long‑term unattended monitoring with attended simulation testing.
• Clear, defensible interpretation of noise and vibration criteria in a real‑world hospital context.