Floating foundations for plant rooms and equipment in Dubai
We build floating foundations and floating floors that isolate plant and equipment from the building structure, so vibration and noise stay in the plant room and out of the floors around it.
Equipment isolated. Structure protected.
A chiller, pump or generator running above an apartment, hotel room or office passes vibration straight into the slab. A floating foundation separates the two. Our design office prepares the details and our site team builds them, so the slab that is approved is the slab that is installed.
Floating slabs
Floating concrete slabs for plant rooms and mechanical floors, laid over an isolation layer and separated from the walls at the perimeter.
Inertia bases and plinths
Isolated plinths and inertia bases for chillers, pumps, air handling units and generators.
Acoustic floating floors
Floating floors for gyms, studios and other rooms where impact noise must not reach the space below.
Drawings and submittals
Shop drawings, details, material submittals and method statements prepared for consultant approval before work starts.
Installation and inspection
Installation to the approved details, with inspections recorded at each stage and documents ready at handover.
Floating floors
Full floating floors and screeds for plant rooms and noise-sensitive areas.
How we get it right.
How a floating foundation works
Equipment sits on a heavy concrete base that rests on isolators or a resilient layer instead of directly on the structural slab. The mass of the base and the softness of the isolation together stop the equipment's vibration from passing into the building.
What we need to design it
Equipment weights, operating speeds and footprints from the MEP drawings, the structural slab details, and any acoustic or vibration limits in the specification. With these, we size the base and select the isolation and edge details.
Inertia bases and housekeeping pads
Pumps and fans often need an inertia base, which adds mass and keeps the equipment stable on its isolators. Lighter equipment may only need an isolated housekeeping pad. We recommend the right option for each item on the schedule.
Avoiding short circuits
Rigid connections undo the isolation. Pipes and ducts need flexible connections, and bolts, conduits and drains must never tie the base back to the slab. We check every connection point during installation.
A clear path from enquiry to handover.
Review
We study the structural, MEP and acoustic drawings and confirm the equipment, loads and areas to be isolated.
Submit
Shop drawings, material submittals and the method statement go to the consultant for approval.
Execute
Our team lays the isolation layer, perimeter separation and floating slab to the approved details.
Hand over
Inspection records, as-built drawings and handover documents for the consultant and authority.
Frequently asked questions
When does a plant room need a floating floor?
When heavy rotating or reciprocating equipment sits above or next to occupied space. Typical examples are rooftop plant rooms on residential towers and hotels, and generator rooms near offices.
What is the difference between a floating floor and an inertia base?
A floating floor isolates a whole area of slab. An inertia base is a heavy isolated base under a single piece of equipment, such as a pump, which adds mass and keeps it stable.
Do you prepare the drawings as well as install?
Yes. Our design office prepares the shop drawings, details and method statement for approval, and the same team builds from them on site.
Which areas do you cover?
We work across Dubai and the rest of the UAE.
Send your plant room drawings for a quotation.
Call or WhatsApp +971 58 663 0751, or email projects@abcodubai.com. Our office is in Al Saqr Business Tower, Trade Centre 2, Dubai.