Building Acoustic Design
The acoustic design of buildings can have a large influence on their fitness for purpose, quality of environment and effectiveness of occupants. Most buildings benefit from good acoustic design, whether an obvious but specialised case such as ensuring an auditorium ‘sounds’ good, or more common applications such as making sure that meeting rooms function correctly, houses encourage good resting and sleeping conditions or restaurants provide an environment conducive to enjoying tasty food.
Aspects of Building Acoustic Design
Acoustic design can cover a wide variety of areas including:
- Internal sound level
- Sound insulation between spaces
- Reverberation, sound absorption and reflection
- Soundscape
- Mechanical services noise and fixed plant
Acoustic design forms an important part of new build projects and also refurbishments or repurposing conversions. The precise targets, design and considerations vary between building types, so please contact us to discuss the requirements of your particular project.
Sound Insulation Design Advice for Building Conversions
When existing buildings are converted into flats or rooms for residential use, achieving compliance with Approved Document E can be significantly more challenging than in new build construction. Existing floor and wall constructions, hidden voids, chimneys, structural junctions and historic alterations can all create sound transmission paths that are not obvious until testing takes place.
We provide pre-construction sound insulation investigations and design advice to identify likely compliance risks early, before finishes are installed and remedial works become costly and disruptive.
This service is particularly valuable for residential conversions, mixed-use developments and heritage or listed buildings.
What this service provides
- Inspection of existing floors, walls and junctions
- Identification of likely airborne and impact sound failure paths
- Review of proposed construction build-ups against Approved Document E
- Site-specific recommendations for compliant floor and wall upgrades
- Advice on manufacturer systems, independent linings and floating floors
- Practical guidance to reduce the risk of test failure at completion
All advice is based on Approved Document E, manufacturer test data, and our experience of testing thousands of completed dwellings.
Sound insulation testing is normally carried out only once construction is complete. If the building fails, remedial works can be expensive, disruptive and sometimes structurally difficult to implement.
Early acoustic input allows construction details to be corrected before they are built, reducing risk, cost and programme uncertainty.
Acoustic Design for BREEAM Projects
BREEAM assessments can apply to many types of buildings including healthcare, commercial, industrial, law court and educational projects. Credits are available for acoustics under POL 05 ‘Reduction of Noise Pollution’ and Hea 05 ‘Acoustic Performance.’
The exact requirements for obtaining BREEAM credits and the number available are dependent on the nature of the development, and whether it is a full fit, shell and core or shell only development. For credits to be awarded for acoustics, a suitably qualified consultant should be involved at all stages from design through to end stage tests to prove compliance.
We offer pre construction surveys, design advice and consultancy, ad-hoc assistance and post construction testing for all types of development. If the project you are involved in is subject to a BREEAM assessment or you would like to discuss the implications of pursuing acoustic credits, please contact us and we shall be delighted to discuss this with you.
David Garritt BEng MIOA
Director and Acoustic Consultant
Speak to an Acoustic Consultant
If you would like to talk to us about any aspect of acoustics and how we can help, please do not hesitate to contact us:
e-mail: contact@sdgarritt.co.uk
Phone: Doncaster main office, 01302 854 303
David Garritt’s mobile, 07894 073 973
Elizabeth Garritt BSc AMIOA
Acoustic Consultant