Timber structures — Design method for vibrational serviceability of timber floors

The design method provided in this document addresses vibration induced by walking action of occupants and covers the following timber floor systems:

a) Light frame floors built with timber joists spaced at a distance of no more than 610 mm with a layer of structural wood-based subfloor that is connected to the joists using mechanical fasteners or adhesive. The area density of a bare light frame floors without a screed (topping) and ceiling is not greater than 25 kg/m2. Figure 1 shows such a light frame floor.

b) Mass timber floors built with mass timber panels such as cross laminated timber (CLT).

This document consists of three elements:

a) a baseline vibrational serviceability design criterion for timber floors using fundamental natural frequency and 1 kN static point load deflection as the design parameters including two types of design criteria, coupled and decoupled criteria;

b) equations for calculating the design parameters;

c) guidelines for the design values of the physical and mechanical properties of floor components.

The design method is based on the assumption that the floor system has a single span and simple support conditions.