Vibration Severity Chart

How To Use This Severity Chart

1) 3-in-1 chart plots vibration measure and levels for: Acceleration vs. CPM, Velocity vs. CPM, and Displacement vs. CPM.
2) Knowing a machine’s RPM (i.e. CPM) and the vibration sensing technique (see table below), determine how the machine should
perform when new (or rebuilt) and what level might warrant an ALERT or DANGER condition.
3) Simplified table below graph is offered for typical acceptance criteria for seismic (casing) and shaft proximity vibration.

EXAMPLE FAN
625 um (25 mils)

)
00

0)
0

)
(1

0
(1

)
(5
(1

m
0

)
00

(2
00

PK u
0

12
25
25

K- NT
50
25

,P E
250 (10)

S) M
IL CE
)
(1

(M LA
25

P
125 (5)

IS
D
10
0G CC
A
VELOCITY
mm/s (IPS)

EL G, P
ER K
AT
25 (1)

IO
N
REFERENCE MATERIAL

BAD

)
12.5 (.5)

(.1
5
2.
EXAMPLE FAN ROUGH
7.5 mm/s

10
(.3 ips), pk

G
FAIR

ACCEPTABLE
2.5 (.1)
DESIRABLE

1)
(.0
5
.2
1.2 (.05)
1 MIL = 0.001 INCH (25.4 UM)
1 UM = 10-6 M (0.03937 MIL)
1G
1 IPS = 1 IN/SEC (25.4 MM/S)
1 MM/S = 1 MILLIMETER/SEC
= (0.03937 IPS)
1G = ACCEL.DUE TO GRAVITY
= 386 IN/SEC2 (9.81 M/S2)
.25 (.01) 1 CPM = 1 CYCLE PER MINUTE
2 3 4 5 6 789 2 3 4 5 6 789 2 3 4 5 6 7 89 = CYCLES/SEC (HZ) X 60
100 RMS = PK X .707 (FOR SINE WAVE)
.1
.0

.0

1000 100K
1G

G
01

EXAMPLE FAN EXAMPLE FAN

G

230 cpm .02 g

VIBRATION FREQUENCY IN CPM (e. g. MACHINE RPM)

NOTES for determining a setpoint (e.g. alarm and/or danger limit) for machine protection monitoring:
1) Metrix Instrument Co. will not be held liable for setpoint determination.
2) Consult machinery manufacturer (OEM) for recommendations. They know their machinery best.
3) As a starting point only, the following is from over 30 years of company field experience and is offered free from charge.

Operating Sensing Common Typical Vibration Reading/Setpoints

Application
Speed* Technique Measurand NEW ALERT DANGER
All Rolling element brgs. Seismic - on bearing .05 -.08 ips,pk 1-2 mm/s,RMS .2 - .3 ips,pk 4-6 mm/s,RMS .3 - .4 ips,pk 5-7 mm/s,RMS
Velocity
< 4000 RPM case
.08 -.12 ips,pk 2-3 mm/s,RMS .3 - .4 ips,pk 5-7 mm/s,RMS .4 - .6 ips,pk 7-10 mm/s,RMS

Hydrodynamic, .8 - 1.2 mil, 20 - 30 um, 2.0 - 2.5 mil, 50 - 75 um, 3.0 - 4.0 mil, 75 - 100 um,
Non-contact pk-pk pk-pk pk-pk pk-pk pk-pk pk-pk
Journal Bearings
4K < RPM < 80K Proximity Displacement
(thru case) .2 - .3 mil, 5 - 8 um, .8- 1.2 mil, 20 - 30 um, 1.0 - 1.5 mil, 25 - 40 um,
pk-pk pk-pk pk-pk pk-pk pk-pk pk-pk
> 100,000 CPM Gearmesh Acoustic atop gears Acceleration 3 - 8 g,pk 2 - 6 g,RMS 10 - 25 g,pk 7 - 18 g,RMS 15 - 40 g,pk 10-28 g,RMS

*Refers to constant speed machines. For variable speed machines, velocity severity is constant. Note from the chart that the displacement and
acceleration measureands vary with speed and are not normally used due to complex severity determination.

Vibration - Condition Monitoring www.metrix1.com • info@metrix1.com

6.08 and Protection Sales & Service Tel: 281-940-1802 • Fax: 713-559-9421 • 07/08