Products
Building and Construction
Architects, structural engineers and contractors around the world cooperate with Fabreeka International. They value the engineered material solutions as well as the company's expertise in reducing structure-borne noise, vibration and thermal bridging.
Fabreeka routinely provides a dynamic analysis of steel support structures, including a vibration survey and analysis, to determine current vibration levels and finite element analysis (FEA) to predict resultant vibration for a recommended solution. Add an extensive product portfolio to these services and Fabreeka can offer one-stop vibration control and structure-borne noise solutions for a myriad of applications relative to building and construction. They include elevator isolation, stack vibration dampers to reduce vortex shedding on stacks or towers, fixed or expansion bearings for bridges and buildings, structural and non-structural thermal bridging solutions, and foundation isolation.
Bridges
Flexibility and movement are a necessity in bridge construction, whether a steel-bridge, a concrete highway overpass, or a bridge for a railroad. Without the ability to flex and move, the structural integrity of the bridge can be compromised, and eventually lead to failure. Fabreeka supplies bearing pads, both fixed and sliding, for bridges around the world.
Fixed bearing pads, such as Fabreeka preformed fabric bearing pads and SA-47 random oriented fiber bearing pads are used on bridges to support uneven load and rotation on steel to steel or steel to concrete connections. These bearing pads, also known as bedding pads, provide uniform load distribution on highway and railroad bridges and reduce vibration by adding damping to steel structures.
Fabreeka’s expansion bearings, or slide bearings, can be used on steel and precast concrete bridges. They offer a durable sliding surface with a low coefficient of friction to allow for thermal expansion and contraction in bridges to minimize structural stresses. Fabreeka type SBX expansion bearings include the company's own preformed fabric bearing pads to allow beam rotations created by loads. SBX expansion bearings also provide an even distribution of loads between members, and vibration is reduced by adding damping to steel structures.
Fabreeka designs and manufactures custom expansion bearings to your specifications, including bearings with ultra-low coefficient of friction and bearings for high temperature applications.
Fabreeka’s Bridge Rail pads have simplified the installation of railings as our SA-47 pad is supplied to the exact size and shape of the rail support contact area. This pad evenly distributes the loading and hold-down forces from the bolts by conforming to the irregularities of the surfaces in which it makes contact. Durable and dependable, Fabreeka bridge rail pads exhibit high compressive strength and a limited creep characteristic. These differentiating factors set them apart from the standard unreinforced neoprene pads, as well as making them a great alternative to epoxy and grout installations.
Fabreeka’s Lamp Post pads are an excellent and economical way to reduce shock and vibration induced by wind and traffic. Depending on the height of the pole and state specifications, pads made of either Fabreeka pad or SA-47 are supplied to the exact size, shape and bolt hole-pattern of the lamp post base. Lamp post pads help to evenly distribute loadings and adapt to any irregularities in the concrete mounting surfaces while providing damping to reduce post motion. Additionally, Fabreeka washers and bushings are utilized to completely isolate the lamp post from transmitted vibration.
Fabreeka’s Drain Trough material is manufactured into a flexible water drainage system for use on bridges and overpasses. Designed for installation under the expansion joint fingers, these flexible troughs channel water into rigid down spouts and avoid water dripping on vehicles passing under bridges.
Buildings
For decades, Fabreeka International has been successful in vibration isolation and reducing structure-borne noise in buildings. With the combined effort of our expert engineering staff and an extensive selection of materials, we provide solutions to the many needs and challenges facing construction in the modern world.
Our fixed bearing pads, whether Fabreeka or SA-47, support uneven load and rotation in steel to steel or steel to concrete connections, and provide even load distribution between members. Bearing pads reduce vibration on building floors, diminish structure-borne noise, and protect structural integrity by absorbing movement and deflection caused by movement.
Fabreeka provides structural expansion bearings, or slide bearings, for numerous building applications. These expansion bearings allow thermal expansion of beams and other members, and they permit beam rotations caused by loads and have a low coefficient of friction which minimizes structural stresses.
A building’s foundation can also require isolation from external vibrations such as traffic, trains, subway cars, or nearby construction. Fabreeka has several foundation isolation products to isolate the building base from these disturbing influences.
Internal sources of structure-borne noise and vibration in buildings can come from mechanical rooms or elevator rail cars. Fabreeka reduces these noise and vibrations to provide a more serene environment for adjacent penthouses, offices, hotel rooms, or any other living spaces that could be adversely affected.
Today’s engineers and architects are well aware of the benefits of energy efficiency. One way to enhance energy performance is by adding a Fabreeka-TIM structural thermal break, which is a load bearing thermal break that is used between flanged steel connections. This energy saving product maintains structural integrity while reducing energy transfer through the building envelope. This thermal bridging solution can be used on balconies and canopies, or other steel members protruding through the building envelope. For structural connections in compression, such as column bases, roof equipment, dunnage post support, and foundation connections, Fabreeka-TIM RF can be used to reduce thermal energy transfer. Additionally, Fabreeka-TIM series products can bring you a step closer to achieving LEED certification.
Towers
Steel stacks and towers have relatively low inherent structural damping; therefore, excessive top-of-stack deflection can happen at critical wind speeds due to vortex shedding. To keep deflection within acceptable parameters, damping must be added to the “stack-foundation-soil” system. One way to achieve this is with stack foundation dampers. A ring of Fabreeka preformed fabric pad is placed between the stack base plate and concrete foundation. Additionally, Fabreeka washers are installed between steel washers/plates under the anchor bolt nuts. Introducing damping to the structure minimizes amplification at resonance, therefore creating a more stable structure.
Architects, structural engineers and contractors around the world cooperate with Fabreeka International. They value the engineered material solutions as well as the company's expertise in reducing structure-borne noise, vibration and thermal bridging.
Fabreeka routinely provides a dynamic analysis of steel support structures, including a vibration survey and analysis, to determine current vibration levels and finite element analysis (FEA) to predict resultant vibration for a recommended solution. Add an extensive product portfolio to these services and Fabreeka can offer one-stop vibration control and structure-borne noise solutions for a myriad of applications relative to building and construction. They include elevator isolation, stack vibration dampers to reduce vortex shedding on stacks or towers, fixed or expansion bearings for bridges and buildings, structural and non-structural thermal bridging solutions, and foundation isolation.
Bridges
Flexibility and movement are a necessity in bridge construction, whether a steel-bridge, a concrete highway overpass, or a bridge for a railroad. Without the ability to flex and move, the structural integrity of the bridge can be compromised, and eventually lead to failure. Fabreeka supplies bearing pads, both fixed and sliding, for bridges around the world.
Fixed bearing pads, such as Fabreeka preformed fabric bearing pads and SA-47 random oriented fiber bearing pads are used on bridges to support uneven load and rotation on steel to steel or steel to concrete connections. These bearing pads, also known as bedding pads, provide uniform load distribution on highway and railroad bridges and reduce vibration by adding damping to steel structures.
Fabreeka’s expansion bearings, or slide bearings, can be used on steel and precast concrete bridges. They offer a durable sliding surface with a low coefficient of friction to allow for thermal expansion and contraction in bridges to minimize structural stresses. Fabreeka type SBX expansion bearings include the company's own preformed fabric bearing pads to allow beam rotations created by loads. SBX expansion bearings also provide an even distribution of loads between members, and vibration is reduced by adding damping to steel structures.
Fabreeka designs and manufactures custom expansion bearings to your specifications, including bearings with ultra-low coefficient of friction and bearings for high temperature applications.
Fabreeka’s Bridge Rail pads have simplified the installation of railings as our SA-47 pad is supplied to the exact size and shape of the rail support contact area. This pad evenly distributes the loading and hold-down forces from the bolts by conforming to the irregularities of the surfaces in which it makes contact. Durable and dependable, Fabreeka bridge rail pads exhibit high compressive strength and a limited creep characteristic. These differentiating factors set them apart from the standard unreinforced neoprene pads, as well as making them a great alternative to epoxy and grout installations.
Fabreeka’s Lamp Post pads are an excellent and economical way to reduce shock and vibration induced by wind and traffic. Depending on the height of the pole and state specifications, pads made of either Fabreeka pad or SA-47 are supplied to the exact size, shape and bolt hole-pattern of the lamp post base. Lamp post pads help to evenly distribute loadings and adapt to any irregularities in the concrete mounting surfaces while providing damping to reduce post motion. Additionally, Fabreeka washers and bushings are utilized to completely isolate the lamp post from transmitted vibration.
Fabreeka’s Drain Trough material is manufactured into a flexible water drainage system for use on bridges and overpasses. Designed for installation under the expansion joint fingers, these flexible troughs channel water into rigid down spouts and avoid water dripping on vehicles passing under bridges.
Buildings
For decades, Fabreeka International has been successful in vibration isolation and reducing structure-borne noise in buildings. With the combined effort of our expert engineering staff and an extensive selection of materials, we provide solutions to the many needs and challenges facing construction in the modern world.
Our fixed bearing pads, whether Fabreeka or SA-47, support uneven load and rotation in steel to steel or steel to concrete connections, and provide even load distribution between members. Bearing pads reduce vibration on building floors, diminish structure-borne noise, and protect structural integrity by absorbing movement and deflection caused by movement.
Fabreeka provides structural expansion bearings, or slide bearings, for numerous building applications. These expansion bearings allow thermal expansion of beams and other members, and they permit beam rotations caused by loads and have a low coefficient of friction which minimizes structural stresses.
A building’s foundation can also require isolation from external vibrations such as traffic, trains, subway cars, or nearby construction. Fabreeka has several foundation isolation products to isolate the building base from these disturbing influences.
Internal sources of structure-borne noise and vibration in buildings can come from mechanical rooms or elevator rail cars. Fabreeka reduces these noise and vibrations to provide a more serene environment for adjacent penthouses, offices, hotel rooms, or any other living spaces that could be adversely affected.
Today’s engineers and architects are well aware of the benefits of energy efficiency. One way to enhance energy performance is by adding a Fabreeka-TIM structural thermal break, which is a load bearing thermal break that is used between flanged steel connections. This energy saving product maintains structural integrity while reducing energy transfer through the building envelope. This thermal bridging solution can be used on balconies and canopies, or other steel members protruding through the building envelope. For structural connections in compression, such as column bases, roof equipment, dunnage post support, and foundation connections, Fabreeka-TIM RF can be used to reduce thermal energy transfer. Additionally, Fabreeka-TIM series products can bring you a step closer to achieving LEED certification.
Towers
Steel stacks and towers have relatively low inherent structural damping; therefore, excessive top-of-stack deflection can happen at critical wind speeds due to vortex shedding. To keep deflection within acceptable parameters, damping must be added to the “stack-foundation-soil” system. One way to achieve this is with stack foundation dampers. A ring of Fabreeka preformed fabric pad is placed between the stack base plate and concrete foundation. Additionally, Fabreeka washers are installed between steel washers/plates under the anchor bolt nuts. Introducing damping to the structure minimizes amplification at resonance, therefore creating a more stable structure.
Energy
Engineers in almost all industries and many applications have to deal with unwanted vibrations. The energy sector is no exception, and with our increasing environmental awareness the demand to reduce noise and vibrations increases. Fabreeka is an established partner in this field. The company has developed and supplied solutions against transformer vibration and for transformer noise isolation for decades as well as consulting customers all over the world in finding the right products for pipe isolation, gas compressor isolation and the isolation of components of wind turbines.
Turbines, transformers or pipes equipped with Fabreeka products perform more efficiently and have a longer life while work crews can operate in safer, quieter environments. Fabreeka components help protect these important systems during their extended use in often very harsh environments by isolating vibrations and protecting people.
Oil and Gas
A major problem facing companies with gas transmission and petrochemical piping is fatigue failures caused by vibration. High frequency, namely ultrasonic and hypersonic gas pulsations at natural gas transmission line compressor stations, causes metal fatigue in piping, supports and pipe clamps. To eliminate excessive vibration, a properly designed mechanical restraint is required.
The application of Fabreeka Preformed fabric pad with high damping within these mechanical restraints can provide isolation of piping vibrations, thermal flexibility, and reduction of unwanted noise and prevent non-uniform clamp contact pressure. Fabreeka Pad is available in a range of thicknesses to accommodate any design application and is available with a PTFE Teflon® surface for thermal expansion and insulation for high temperatures. To allow thermal expansion without fatiguing piping and clamps, Fabreeka expansion bearings are often fitted under pipes.
In line with the need of pipe and gas compressor isolation, vibration is also present on drilling rigs. Created by mud pumps, compressors, generators and other rotating equipment, the vibration from the equipment is transmitted to the decks on the rig. Fabreeka provides isolation materials for drilling rig equipment to make the rig as quiet as possible and reduce structure fatigue.
Power Generation
For decades, Fabreeka isolation materials have been used to control structure-borne vibration and noise generated from power and distribution transformers and reactors. With alternative energy generation on the rise, Fabreeka pads, Fabcel pads and isolation washers and bushings are now widely used in wind turbines to provide vibration isolation under gear boxes and generators. Fabreeka isolation products are also the material of choice to prevent metal to metal contact on rotating parts with the rotors to reduce wear and fatigue.
Moreover, Fabreeka engineers work with consultants who design power generation facilities involving steam and gas turbine foundation isolation and other turbo-machinery vibration attenuation requirements.
When it comes to transformer noise isolation and vibration isolation, engineers can choose from a variety of standard vibration isolation mounts for small transformers that may weigh up to 10,000 lbs. Fabreeka also offers custom solutions for large transformers in transformer yards. They all have in common that they reduce noise and vibration for both single phase and three-phase transformers and protect concrete from fatigue due to vibration. Another benefit is the reduction of noise by 3 to 5 dB on average which may be increased to a reduction of 8 dB depending on transformer configuration.
For turbine vibration isolation as well as for engine generator isolation countless clients in many countries have chosen Fabreeka pad, Fabreeka washers and bushings and Fabcel pad. Foundation isolation products such as FAB-EPM, FAB-EFP and Fabsorb are also in use for the isolation of engine generators. For the latter turnkey solutions are available, including demolition, foundation design and concrete construction.
Engineers in almost all industries and many applications have to deal with unwanted vibrations. The energy sector is no exception, and with our increasing environmental awareness the demand to reduce noise and vibrations increases. Fabreeka is an established partner in this field. The company has developed and supplied solutions against transformer vibration and for transformer noise isolation for decades as well as consulting customers all over the world in finding the right products for pipe isolation, gas compressor isolation and the isolation of components of wind turbines.
Turbines, transformers or pipes equipped with Fabreeka products perform more efficiently and have a longer life while work crews can operate in safer, quieter environments. Fabreeka components help protect these important systems during their extended use in often very harsh environments by isolating vibrations and protecting people.
Oil and Gas
A major problem facing companies with gas transmission and petrochemical piping is fatigue failures caused by vibration. High frequency, namely ultrasonic and hypersonic gas pulsations at natural gas transmission line compressor stations, causes metal fatigue in piping, supports and pipe clamps. To eliminate excessive vibration, a properly designed mechanical restraint is required.
The application of Fabreeka Preformed fabric pad with high damping within these mechanical restraints can provide isolation of piping vibrations, thermal flexibility, and reduction of unwanted noise and prevent non-uniform clamp contact pressure. Fabreeka Pad is available in a range of thicknesses to accommodate any design application and is available with a PTFE Teflon® surface for thermal expansion and insulation for high temperatures. To allow thermal expansion without fatiguing piping and clamps, Fabreeka expansion bearings are often fitted under pipes.
In line with the need of pipe and gas compressor isolation, vibration is also present on drilling rigs. Created by mud pumps, compressors, generators and other rotating equipment, the vibration from the equipment is transmitted to the decks on the rig. Fabreeka provides isolation materials for drilling rig equipment to make the rig as quiet as possible and reduce structure fatigue.
Power Generation
For decades, Fabreeka isolation materials have been used to control structure-borne vibration and noise generated from power and distribution transformers and reactors. With alternative energy generation on the rise, Fabreeka pads, Fabcel pads and isolation washers and bushings are now widely used in wind turbines to provide vibration isolation under gear boxes and generators. Fabreeka isolation products are also the material of choice to prevent metal to metal contact on rotating parts with the rotors to reduce wear and fatigue.
Moreover, Fabreeka engineers work with consultants who design power generation facilities involving steam and gas turbine foundation isolation and other turbo-machinery vibration attenuation requirements.
When it comes to transformer noise isolation and vibration isolation, engineers can choose from a variety of standard vibration isolation mounts for small transformers that may weigh up to 10,000 lbs. Fabreeka also offers custom solutions for large transformers in transformer yards. They all have in common that they reduce noise and vibration for both single phase and three-phase transformers and protect concrete from fatigue due to vibration. Another benefit is the reduction of noise by 3 to 5 dB on average which may be increased to a reduction of 8 dB depending on transformer configuration.
For turbine vibration isolation as well as for engine generator isolation countless clients in many countries have chosen Fabreeka pad, Fabreeka washers and bushings and Fabcel pad. Foundation isolation products such as FAB-EPM, FAB-EFP and Fabsorb are also in use for the isolation of engine generators. For the latter turnkey solutions are available, including demolition, foundation design and concrete construction.
KEY FEATURES/BENEFITS
- Accommodates compressive loads up to 10,000 psi
- Meets AASHTO standard specification for fabric-reinforced bearing pads
- Low coefficient of friction via PTFE surface
- Effective temperature range is -65°F to 200°F
- Impervious to most oils, steam, water, mildew and brine
Fabreeka-PTFE bearing pads are comprised of the original fabric reinforced, elastomeric pad developed by Fabreeka in 1936. The unique PTFE bearing pad is manufactured with a Teflon® surface for use in expansion bearings and pipe slides.
Fabreeka-PTFE pads are installed as well to accommodate construction irregularities such as rotation and non-parallel load bearing surfaces, while each Teflon® pad also provides a sliding surface to accommodate expansion.
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Fabreeka-PTFE Pads
bearing pads that can accommodate lateral movement
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Fabreeka® Solutions Overview
An overview and comparison of all our products in one brochure!
Related products
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Structural Thermal Break, Thermal Insulation Material
SA-47 ROF Pad
Masticated Rubber, Random Oriented Fiber Bearing Pad
Fabreeka® Preformed Fabric Pad
Cotton Duck Pad Meets MIL-C-882
Fabsorb
Sidewall Isolation for Foundations
Fabreeka-TIM® LT
Light Load Thermal Break
Fabreeka-PTFE
Bearing Pad
Fabcel® Transformer Mounts
Reduce Noise and Vibration from Transformers
FAQS
Can the Fabreeka-PTFE bearing pad material be cut to size in the field? Yes. The Fabreeka-PTFE material can be cut to size in the field using a band saw. Care should be taken so as not to damage the PTFE.
Can holes or slots be cut in the field? Yes. Holes or slots can be cut or drilled in the field using a fine tooth hole saw.
What is the recommended thickness of PTFE pad for use in a pipe clamp application? Recommended thickness depends on the pipe diameter. Please contact Fabreeka’s Engineering department at 1-800-322-7352 or info@fabreeka.com for assistance on your application.
What is the purpose of the PTFE surface when the material is used in a pipe clamp? PTFE (Teflon) surface provides a layer of insulation for the Fabreeka pad. PTFE can be exposed to 400°F, while the Fabreeka pad is limited to 220°F. PTFE also allows for the pipe to expand/move within the clamp by providing a low coefficient of friction.
What epoxy/adhesive should be used to bond PTFE pad to steel? Fabreeka #700 Epoxy should be used to bond Fabreeka-PTFE pad to steel. The bottom of the Fabreeka pad should be buffed and the steel surface roughed up or sandblasted.
What type and thickness of PTFE should I use for my application? The Fabreeka-PTFE pad type and thickness depends on the application. When used in a structure as an expansion bearing with rotation, the thickness of the Fabreeka-PTFE pad is calculated using the design guidelines in the Fabreeka structural expansion bearings literature .
