BUILDING ACOUSTICS
INTRODUCTIION
Definition of terms
1. Sound
Sound is a type of energy made by vibrations. It is produced by a rapid
variation in the average density or pressure of air molecules.
1. Sound Intensity
This is the sound power per unit area. It is also known as acoustic intensity. The
SI unit of sound intensity is watt per metre (W/m2)
1. Decibel
A decibel (dB) is the unit used to measure the intensity of a sound. It is also
used in electronics, signals and communication.
1. Reverberation time
This is the length of time (in seconds) required for sound to decay 60 decibels
from its initial level.
1. Absorption coefficient
This is the change in energy as a wave passes through a layer (of a material)
and it is a constant of the material for a given wavelength.
PRINCIPLES OF BUILDING ACOUSTICS
Building acoustics is the science of controlling noise within buildings. This
includes minimizing noise transmission between compartments and the control
of sound characteristics within a space.
The term ‘building acoustics’ embraces both sound insulation and sound
absorption.
Sound Insulation
Sound insulation is used to describe the reduction of sound that passes
between two spaces separated by a dividing element. The sound energy that
passes between these two spaces may occur through the dividing element
(direct transmission) or through the surrounding structure (indirect or flanking
transmission).
It is important to distinguish between both methods of sound transmission as
the walls and floors which flank the dividing element, can sometimes
contribute significantly to the level of sound transmission. The presence of
nearby windows, doors, service ducts, etc. can also affect the level of sound
transmission performance.
To ensure airborne sound insulation is maximized it is important to seal any
openings such as cracks, gaps, or holes. For optimum airborne sound insulation
a construction should be airtight. Most gaps can be sealed at the finishing
stages using a variety of products like sealants.
ACOUSTIC PRIVACY
Two main factors affect the level of acoustic privacy achieved when designing
a building:
• The sound insulation performance of the structure separating the two spaces
• The ambient background noise present within the listening room.
The ambient background noise can help to mask speech from an adjacent
space and provide enhanced speech confidentiality. Indicative guidance on
sound insulation levels for speech privacy are shown in the table below.
Guide to sound insulation levels for speech privacycy
Sound insulation Speech privacy between rooms Rw
25 dB- Normal speech can be overheard
30 dB -Loud speech can be heard clearly
35 dB -Loud speech can be distinguished under normal conditions
40 dB- Loud speech can be heard but not distinguished
45 dB- Loud speech can be heard faintly but not distinguished
> 50 dB- Loud speech can only be heard with great difficulty
Along with acoustic privacy, the level of sound energy acceptable within a
room should be assessed with regards to intrusive noise levels and the level of
potential noise likely to be generated within the room itself. The factors that
affect the ambient noise level of a space are:
• The level of external noise
• The level of sound insulation offered by the surrounding structure
• The amount and type of sound absorbing surfaces within the room
• The noise generated by the building services where control of the ambient
noise level is critical, advice should be sought from an acoustic specialist
SOUND ABSORPTION
Sound absorption is the term given to the loss of sound energy on interaction
with a surface. Sound absorbent surfaces are used to provide the correct
acoustic environment within a room or space. Sound absorbing materials
can also convert some of the sound energy to heat, assisting in sound
insulation. However, this reduction in noise is very small and should not be
considered as an adequate substitute for sound insulation.
Reverberant energy
Reverberation is the persistence of sound in a particular space after the
original sound is removed. The length of this sound decay is known as the
reverberation time and can be controlled using sound absorbing materials.
The appropriate reverberation time will be determined by the size and
function of any given space.
Speech Clarity
Reverberation time alone cannot be relied upon to deliver a suitable
environment for good speech intelligibility. In any situation where sound
communication is critical e.g. conference room, lecture theatre or
classroom, the design of the space must consider an appropriate mixture of
sound reflective and sound absorbing surfaces.
