• We strongly recommend that bearing proposals are checked with our design office at the early stages since installing the wrong type of bearings can exacerbate rather than prevent the transmission of vibration through the structure. With bespoke software developed for your convenience, our engineers can quickly confirm whether the proposal is suitable or advise on what alteration(s) may be required (without charge, of course).

 Side Restraints &

 Failsafe Devices

• Please note that in some cases, side restraint will be required to ensure the stability of the structure. This can usually be provided by steel dowels which should always have a rubber dowel sleeve (SKD) or some form of side restraint bearings incorporating sliding (PTFE) faces to account for vertical compression of the main bearings.
• Fail safe devices are usually fabricated steel boxes or strip designs but concrete upstands can also be used. For in situ concrete structures a filler eg clayboard, polystyrene or other suitable filler material can be used to infill between bearings prior to casting. Alternatively a galvanised steel base plate with starter bars can be used as a permanent shutter on top of the groups of bearings.
• For further guidance, please contact our design office.

• Useful advice for engineers considering the use of anti-vibration bearings is contained in BS 6177, including installation, use of fail safe devices, wind loading restraint, fire protection, replacement etc.
• Please also note the guidance included here on the laying instructions page and in our printed / digital literature.