Treatment Plant Expansion Requires Rigorous Vibration and Noise Monitoring
INFRA products from Sigicom have been deployed to monitor vibrations and noise on a large project at the Sickla treatment plant in Stockholm. Over 500,000 cubic meters of rock will be blasted out during the renovation and expansion of the plant. Precise measurements are a crucial part of the project.
In a central part of Stockholm, a large project is underway where an existing treatment plant is being rebuilt and expanded to become one of the most modern in the world. The treatment plant consists of the Henriksdal sewage treatment plant and the Sickla plant. The plants will remain in operation during all phases of construction.
The facility in Sickla is embedded in the mountain below Hammarbybacken, an artificial hill that measures 93.5 meters and offers alpine skiing in the winter. Work is ongoing at all hours to blast and excavate the large spaces required for the new facility. The project, which takes place 40 meters underground, will modernize and expand the plant’s existing facility. Approximately 530,000 cubic meters of rock will be blasted out to accommodate the new facility. The project is expected to be completed in 2026.
Measures to protect the surroundings
Many monitoring devices from Sigicom have been installed during the work to monitor vibration and structural noise caused by the construction work. The measurements are performed by the consultant company Nitro Consult. Since Hammarbybacken is an artificial hill, there is a concern it may become unstable. Rigorous monitoring helps ensure that blasting and excavation operations do not create acceleration in the ground, which may result in landslides.
Joakim Rehnberg
During the day, new holes for explosives are bored in the rock underground. This type of boring work has been known to create structural noise in nearby properties, which is often perceived as disturbing or even alarming to neighboring residents. Noise from the heavy transport to and from the work site is also monitored with sound level monitors. Nearby switchgear stations, and other sensitive places, can be negatively affected by very low vibration levels, and are continuously monitored using Sigicom’s accelerometers.
Joakim Rehnberg is the construction manager for the project and is responsible for following the contract appointed by Stockholm Vatten & Avfall. Over 50 monitoring devices have been in operation simultaneously, among these are both wireless and cabled systems from Sigicom’s INFRA system.
We focus on three areas in this project: vibrations, structural noise, and noise from other sources. We are currently blasting less than ten meters from the existing plant, which is constantly in operation, so right now the measurement work is largely about securing our own plant, says Joakim Rehnberg.
Despite the many instruments used for the project, Joakim Rehnberg has not experienced problems managing them simultaneously. The devices are pre-programmed with specific standards and the monitoring data that Joakim and his colleagues collect, is calculated and presented in an online web service. The system makes it easy for the team to track and address any potential issues before they become construction stopping problems.