Acoustics

Architectural acoustics is the science of noise control within buildings. Noise suppression is critical in the design of multi-unit dwellings and business premises that generate significant noise, including music venues like bars. This science analyzes noise transmission from building exterior envelope to interior and vice versa. The main noise paths are roofs, eaves, walls, windows, door and fenestrations.

Terms related to acoustics:

1. Absorption Coefficient: The fraction of sound energy that is absorbed at any surface. It has a value between 0 and 1 and varies with the frequency and angle of incidence of the sound.
2.

Anechoic: Without echo.

reflections. Used for acoustical measurements.

3. Anechoic chamber: A room designed to suppress internal sound 4. Baffle: A movable barrier used to achieve separation of signals from different sources. The surface or board upon which a loudspeaker is mounted. 5. Echo: A delayed return of sound that is perceived by the ear as a discrete sound image. 6. Inverse-square law: Under far field/free field conditions, sound intensity varies inversely with the square of the distance from the source. In pure spherical divergence of sound from a point source in free space, the sound pressure level decreases 6 dB for each doubling of the distance 7. Noise reduction coefficient (NRC): The arithmetic average, to the nearest multiple of .05, of the sound absorption coefficients in the 1/3 octave bands centred at 250 Hz, 500Hz, 1000 Hz, and 2000 Hz.

Different Type Of Material In Market

1. Acoustical blankets a. Sound barriers b. Sound absorbers 2. Acoustical foams a. Alpha acoustical foams b. Sonex acoustical foams c. Anechoic wedge acoustical foam 3. Acoustical wall panels a. Fabric Wrapped Acoustical Panels b. Woodtrends Wooden Panels c. AlphaPerf Metal Wall Panels d. AlphaEnviro PVC / Ripstop Wall Panels 4. Ceiling tiles a. Acoustical Drop Tiles b. Cloud Mount Panels c. Drop Tile Sound Barriers d. Fiber optic AcoustiLight Ceiling Tiles 5. Floor underlayment's a. Enkasonic Floor Underlayment

b. Iso-Step Floor Underlayment c. QuietTile Acoustical Adhesive d. QuietPad Floor Underlayment e. QuietFoam Floor Underlayment 6. Sound damping a. Green Glue b. Soundamp E Vibration Damping Sheet c. VBD-10 Damping Compound d. QuietGlue Pro e. QuietCoat 7. Vinyl sound barriers a. AudioSeal Sound Barrier b. AudioSeal Drop Tile Ceiling Barrier c. AudioSeal Clear Sound Barrier

Categories of Commercial Materials

Pre-fabricated Acoustical Units Various types of perforated, fissured, or textured materials constitute typical units in this group

Commonly used materials include:

1. Acoustical Boards. 2. Acoustic Hangers. 3. Panel Absorbers. 4. Geocoustic Tiles. 5. Diffusers. 6. Acoustic blankets. 7. Acoustic foam boards. 8. Acoustical door.

1.Acoustical boards
An acoustic board is a special kind of board made of sound absorbing materials. Its job is to provide sound insulation. Between two outer walls sound absorbing material is inserted and the wall is porous. Thus, when sound passes through an acoustic board, the intensity of sound is decreased.

ACOUSTICAL BOARDS (wood wool and gypsum board)

These can be installed in several ways:

a. Cemented to a solid backing b. Nailed or screwed to wood framing c. Laid in a ceiling suspension system

Advantages
Easy installation and maintenance Flexible absorption

Disadvantages
Difficult to conceal joints between units Soft structure subject to damage Paint redecoration harmful to absorption

2.Acoustic Hangers
This is a system of fibre board panels that are wrapped with insulation and are hung freely using wire or rope. The large hangers 1.8m x 500mm work in the low frequency range whilst the panels 1.2m x 300mm effect the low mid frequencies. It is common to have up to a 1.2m space at the rear of the control room with the large hangers whilst the smaller hangers are effective if suspended in the ceiling cavity created by a false ceiling.

ACOUSTIC HANGERS

REAR OF TYPICAL CONTROL ROOM DESIGN

3.Panel Absorbers.
A panel absorber is created when you place a sheet of plywood or fibreboard, with insulation glued to the back of it, over an air cavity. The panel will have a resonate frequency of its own, tap it and you will hear it. When it is placed over a sealed cavity, and insulation is attached to the back, everytime it hears its own note it resonates and the air in the cavity resonates and the insulation absorbs the resonance, hence absorbing the frequency! It is important to note that here we have an absorber that reflects the high frequencies and attenuates the low. With the hangers all that exposed insulation absorbs the high frequencies as well so the panel absorber has a place in the studio. The two factors determining the frequency of absorption are:

The mass or density of the panel. The depth of the air cavity, i.e. depth of the sealed timber frame.

PANEL ABSORBERS

4.Geocoustic tiles and panels

Geocoustic Tiles are special prefabricated units for random application on walls and ceilings.

GEOCOUSTIC TILES

5.Diffusers
Diffusers are absorptive material that have, irregular surfaces, or angled or curved fronts, so when mounted on a wall or the ceiling they stop parallel wall

interference and prevent standing waves.

DIFFUSERS

6.Acoustic blankets
Acoustic blankets are a versatile and functional solution for 'source' noise control. Also called acoustic wraps, noise covers, or velcro sealed noise blankets these completely removable and reusable sound barriers are easy to install and effective for use outdoors or in high heat environments. Made from composite materials of Teflon impregnated cloth and loaded vinyl noise barrier, the blankets are custom-fit to encapsulate noisy equipment and block sound at the source. Commonly used on chillers and refrigeration units, fans/blowers, compressor housings, hydraulic pumps and other equipment where space is at a premium.

ACOUSTIC BLANKETS

7. Acoustic foam boards

Acoustic Foam Boards are high density blankets with covering also act as diffusers .

ACOUSTIC FOAM BOARDS

8.Acoustical doors

ACOUSTIC DOOR SET AND DOOR SEAL

ACOUSTIC DOOR DETAILS

Details to be examined in

the selection of sound absorbing finishes

a. Sound Absorption / Noise Reduction Coefficient b. Possible installation methods c. Maintenance d. Durability e. Integration with room elements f. Attraction to Vermin g. Thermal Insulation values h. Fire resistance i. Cost and Availability j. Aesthetics