The Acoustician Has Left The Building

Acoustics is something you may be more likely to associate with a rock star rather than a glazing company, but the science of sound has a vital role to play in the work we do, and you might say acousticians are the support act to our attention-grabbing headline spot.

Healthcare, defence, music and telecommunications are all natural homes for acoustic research, but building acoustics – sound insulation for houses and offices – can be crucial in the development of new commercial properties or the conversion of old buildings for new use.

Acoustic design, meanwhile, is commonplace for venues such as theatres, music arenas, cinemas and recording studios. The perception of sound, in what is termed critical listening spaces, is as much about the physical design of the space itself as it is about the quality of reproduction equipment and loudspeakers.

That design may be equally about comfort and control, as it is about clearly hearing the bass line or Hollywood sound effects, meaning acousticians are also often involved in the management, control and regulation of sounds in the workplace. Some work with commercial enterprises to keep sound in, rather than shut it out, minimising music noise transfer to residential spaces. More often than not, however, it’s all about ways of insulating schools, hospitals, hotels and homes from the variety of noises which we often take for granted.

Recently, acousticians have been central to work we’ve carried out on converted workspace at Heathrow Airport, as well as providing guidance on how secondary glazing can improve the comfort levels for student accommodation in Liverpool.

For the average person, maintaining good noise insulation standards in our homes allows us to enjoy a good night’s sleep or hold a conversation without having to shout. Beyond these accepted levels, the issue of noise can seem fairly subjective. The human ear responds differently to high and low frequencies, often filtering the worst effects, so that’s where the acoustician comes in.

Part artist, part scientist, the acoustician balances creative, scientific and practical skills to deliver practical advice for architects and other engineers, usually in the form of noise surveys, but also using computer and physical models, project management, site supervision and commissioning of the finished projects.

Typically, the noise survey will highlight peak noise events, or exceedances, over a 24 hour period and advise a client on how many of these can be nullified by design features such as secondary glazing. In high noise areas, the issue may be a legal one, ensuring the right levels in order for the new use to be approved by the local authority. At other times, it’s a level the client expects, such as in the case of hotels or theatres.

“In agreement with the acoustician the client may specify a certain decibel level, based on the original property type and location etc,” says Steven Mansell, commercial sales manager. “That level will provide a marker for the future building use and, having monitored the sources of noise, the background levels and exceedances, we’ll look at how best to achieve the required outcome.”

Correctly specified acoustic glazing will greatly reduce the volume from external sources, eliminating it completely or reducing it to a whisper. Chiltern Dynamics, market leaders in acoustic testing and modelling, found our products capable of reducing noise levels by over 50db – that’s enough to make a passing motorbike sound like a purring cat. It’s also one of the most obvious benefits that our residential customers mention to us after we’ve renovated their home.

With different noise sources requiring different types of secondary glazing solutions, the task can be a challenging one, particularly when aesthetics and thermal insulation also require consideration, but generally the results make for happy listening.

“We have some installations, that we regularly go back to with customers to demonstrate just how good the results are,” adds Steven. “One is a hotel in the middle of Park Lane, surrounded by traffic, another on a windswept hillside. Airports too typically have transport and cargo links, aircraft maintenance and turning bays, and other sources of noise that give surrounding hotels food for thought. With the help of the acoustician, we’re called in to such properties even if they are brand new buildings.”

One thing you can be sure of is that when the acoustician has left the building, everything has been done to ensure that the only noise you hear is the right kind.