Sound is as much a part of man's man-made environment as heat or light. It can now be' effectively managed, notably in rooms where music is heard, by applying the principles of acoustical physics
Architectural acoustics soundproofing Materials
Architectural acoustics has recently become a well known branch of general acoustics with a number
of bodies and organisations devoted to its study such as
Technical Committee on Architectural Acoustics (TCAA) of the Acoustical Society of America (ASA)
Architectural acoustics is the science of controlling sound within buildings.
The first application of architectural acoustics was in the design of public building where acoustics were
an important factor of their use (music venues such as opera houses and concert halls, and auditoriums and meeting places).
More recently, noise suppression has become critical due to noise polution laws that have become part of building regulations
in the design of multi-unit dwellings and business premises that
generate significant noise, including music venues like bars. The more mundane design of workplaces has
implications for noise health effects. Architectural acoustics includes room acoustics, the design of
recording and broadcast studios, home theaters, and listening rooms for media playback.
- Room Acoustics
- Airborne and Impact transmission in building structures.
- Airborne and structureborne noise control.
- Noise control of building systems.
- Electro acoustics systems.
- Psychophysics and psycho acoustics.
We have many years experience in architectural acoustic treatments, and have a wide range of products available
for all situations.
We have many years experience in soundproofing and providing architectural acoustics solutions.
Architectural Acoustics are becoming increasingly important in office and call center situations,
as reducing noise improves communication and allows workers better space to think and work.
We have many specially developed soundproofing materials that can be specified to improve architectural acoustics.
Architectural Acoustic Building skin envelope
This analyzes noise transmission from building exterior envelope to interior and vice versa.
The main noise and vibration paths are roofs, eaves, walls, windows, door and penetrations.
Sufficient control ensures space functionality and is often required based on building use and local building regulations such as part E of the building regulations.
Providing a suitable design for a home which is to be constructed close to a high volume roadway,
or under the flight path of a major airport, or of the airport itself, needs consideration of materials available.
Architectural Acoustic Inter-space noise control
The science of limiting and/or controlling noise transmission from one building space to another to ensure
space functionality and speech privacy. The typical sound paths are room partitions, acoustic ceiling panels
(such as wood dropped ceiling panels), doors, windows, flanking, ducting and other penetrations.
An example would be providing suitable party wall design in an apartment complex to minimise the mutual
disturbance due to noise by residents in adjacent apartments.
Architectural Acoustic Interior space acoustics
This is the science of controlling a room's surfaces based on sound absorbing and reflecting properties.
Excessive reverberation time, which can be calculated, can lead to poor speech intelligibility.
Sound reflections create standing waves that produces natural resonances that can be heard as a pleasant
sensation or an annoying one.
[1] Reflective surfaces can be angled and coordinated to provide good coverage of sound for a listener in a
concert hall or music recital space. To illustrate this concept consider the difference between a modern
large office meeting room or lecture theater and a traditional classroom with all hard surfaces.
Interior building surfaces can be constructed of many different materials and finishes.
Ideal acoustical panels are those without a face or finish material that interferes with the
acoustical infill or substrate.
Mineral fiber board, or Micore, is a commonly used acoustical substrate.
Finish materials often consist of fabric, wood or acoustical tile.
Fabric covered panels are one way to heighten acoustical absorption.
Finish material is used to cover over the acoustical substrate.
Fabric can be wrapped on sound absorbing substrates to create a "pre-fabricated panel"
which gives good noise absorption if laid onto a wall.
Prefabricated panels are limited to the size of the substrate ranging from 2'x 4' to 4' x 10' though often smaller sizes are used as this simplifys transportation and instalation.
Fabric retained in a wall-mounted perimeter track system, is referred to as "on-site acoustical wall panels"
This is constructed by framing the perimeter track into shape, infilling the acoustical absorbtion material and then
stretching and tucking the fabric into the perimeter frame system.
On-site wall panels can be constructed to accommodate door frames, baseboard, or any other intrusion.
Large panels (generally, greater than 50 square feet) can be created on walls and ceilings with this method.
Wood finishes can consist of punched or routed slots and provide a natural look to the interior space,
although acoustical absorption may not as good as acoustically absorbent materials.
There are three ways to improve workplace acoustics and solve workplace sound problems – the ABC’s.
- A = Absorb (usually via wall or ceiling tile)
- B = Block (via workstation panels, wall placement and workspace layout)
- C = Cover-up (via electronic sound masking either background music or more complex phase inversion cancelation techniques)
While all three of these are recommended to achieve optimal results, there are pros and cons to all methods.
Generally for business situations the use of sound absorbing materials are the most efficient way to
improve the working environment.