PCB Piezotronics has announced the Model 354A12, a new seismic triaxial ICP® accelerometer optimised for high-sensitivity structural health monitoring, seismic research, and low-level vibration measurement. The 354A12 brings PCB’s established ICP® interface technology to a seismic-grade sensitivity specification in a compact triaxial housing.
Seismic-Grade Sensitivity in an ICP® Format
The 354A12 targets applications where conventional accelerometers lack the sensitivity to detect very low-amplitude vibrations that matter for structural integrity assessment or seismic monitoring. Its key attributes include high sensitivity for low-amplitude structural motion, a low noise floor enabling measurement in quiet environments such as buildings, dams, and bridges during normal service, a triaxial configuration capturing all three axes simultaneously, and a standard ICP® interface for simple, low-noise signal transmission over long cable runs.
The ICP® interface is one of the most widely adopted sensor standards in vibration testing. It combines the sensor and electronics into a single package, powered over the measurement cable by a constant-current source — eliminating separate amplifiers and simplifying system integration.
Structural Health Monitoring and Ambient Vibration Testing
The 354A12 is designed for long-term structural monitoring programmes where systems need to detect very small structural vibrations — from traffic-induced motion in bridges to seismic events at critical infrastructure. For modal analysis and FRF testing and random vibration testing characterisation of large structures, its high sensitivity means structural modes can be identified from ambient excitation alone, without impact hammers or artificial excitation sources.
Integrating Seismic Sensors with Your Test Infrastructure
THP Systems supplies PCB Piezotronics sensor products alongside our broader vibration test system offering. The 354A12 can be used with Crystal Instruments’ Spider data acquisition front-ends for modal analysis and FRF testing programmes, or with standalone signal conditioners for continuous structural monitoring. Our team can advise on full system configurations from sensor selection and cabling through to data acquisition and alarm triggering. We also provide calibration services services to maintain traceability for seismic-grade sensors over their operational life.
Setting up a structural monitoring programme or need high-sensitivity seismic accelerometers? Talk to THP Systems — we can advise on the right sensor and system configuration for your project.
Original source: https://www.pcb.com/about/press-room/2026-press-releases/pcb-model-354a12-seismic-triaxial-icp-accelerometer
