Prevent construction damage and claims, start measuring! 

Vibration monitoring prevents disruption and damage in construction and infrastructure projects 

Van Monsjou & Partners is an independent inspection and survey company, specializing in structural preliminary surveys, foundation investigations, elevation measurements, noise measurements, crack measurements, sounding tube measurements and damage handling. "Our main expertise at the moment is performing vibration measurements," says founder and owner Sander van Monsjou. "Construction and infrastructure projects involving demolition, new construction, quay reinforcement and dike strengthening always involve vibration. Performing vibration measurements in this case provides clarity on the extent to which the environment is subject to vibration. By continuously monitoring the vibration level and testing it against the applicable standards and guidelines, timely action can be taken in case of violations and damage to the surrounding area can be prevented.

"Fortunately, more and more clients and contractors in the construction and infrastructure sector are seeing the importance of vibration measurement and monitoring," said Sander. "We now have more than a hundred vibration measurement systems at our disposal, and additional measurement systems are still being rented."

High quality

Van Monsjou & Partners' vibration measurements are performed with Axilog II and III systems and with Omnidots' Swarm. The systems are self-registering and have a registration unit/sensor that is attached to a building/object and set up in a safe and protected place by means of a casing. Measurements can then be started. A service in which, according to Sander, quality and service are paramount. By quality, he refers to the BRL-5023 certification. "This National Assessment Guideline for the KOMO process certificate describes exactly what the process of measurement and monitoring should look like. The guideline includes requirements and regulations for performing vibration measurements in accordance with SBR guideline part A 2017 and both for executing company and personnel, equipment, method of execution and reporting." Van Monsjou & Partners BV is one of the five companies that participated in drafting this. Of course, the company itself is also certified under the KOMO process certificate, assuring clients of vibration measurements and monitoring in accordance with the applicable quality guidelines.

Far-reaching service

Van Monsjou & Partners works daily with thirteen motivated colleagues on a wide variety of projects. "Our team is active throughout the country, placing, servicing and returning vibration measurement systems," Sander explains. "Before the measurement systems are placed, we draw up a clear Plan of Action. Including relevant measurement positions, limit and alarm values, to prevent nuisance and damage. Moreover, we guarantee careful monitoring."

Active monitoring unburdens

Whereas many competitor companies leave monitoring to the equipment, automatically sending alarm notifications to the contractor, Van Monsjou & Partners prefers active monitoring. "Our experience is that the attention of executing parties often wanes after numerous empty or minor alarm notifications via mail or text message. This is why we pick up the alarms ourselves, do an initial check and then selectively raise the alarm," Sander said. "This ensures that construction parties are not harassed for every 'triviality' and respond more alertly to serious reports." In projects where normative influences on the environment are expected (crucial piles or sheet piling at adjacent properties), Van Monsjou & Partners watches in real time. Clients and executing parties also have the option to view and download measurement results in Van Monsjou & Partners' cloud environment.