Paper Resources
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| Loft-condominium units in a converted warehouse suffered from poor speech privacy between units. Demising walls were built parallel to existing wood beam roof trusses so they could be left exposed as an architectural feature. Apparent Sound Transmission Class of the demising wall was measured to analyze the existing condition and evaluate potential improvement options. Aesthetic limitations imposed by property owners limited the options for sound isolation improvement. With consideration of these limitations a custom solution was conceived and implemented which provided a significant improvement in ASTC performance and ultimately speech privacy. |
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| While it is common for architectural acoustics and mechanical noise to be the subject of litigation, community noise is finding its way into legal proceedings such as public meetings, civil lawsuits, and planning commission hearings. The objective of this paper is to summarize our experiences with some atypical legal proceedings related to environmental noise and building acoustics. Various topics include television noise and the cranky neighbor, sleep deprivation due to noisy birds, gentleman estates vs. the community center, and using caution when tapping on specialty tile floors. |
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| An interesting article worth reading by Garret Keizser, Speaking of Silence, and of Noise, published in the August 1, 2010 issue Los Angeles Times. |
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| Important information for creating a healthy acoustic environment. |
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| Acoustics in Schools is a free tool for architects, interior designers, and other design professionals who work to improve school environments for all users. It is an introduction to the acoustical issues commonly confronted on school projects. |
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An award winning residential/commercial condominium project featured two-story loft
condominiums with an industrial look. The building was constructed with exposed steel
structure, concrete floors, and an exposed metal deck roof. Condominiums were separated
by gypsum board metal stud walls. A number of owners in the building complained of
poor sound isolation from adjacent units. Field tests showed that sound isolation of the
walls fell well below expectations for the design. Subsequent investigation showed that a
variety of structureborne and airborne flanking paths contributed to poor sound isolation.
Improving sound isolation required a combination of conventional and creative methods. |
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Several large, high-bay spaces with Mass Notification Systems (MNS) were tested for speech intelligibility using the Common Intelligibility Scale (CIS). EASE software was used to model the rooms and investigate how the CIS rating could be increased through the application of acoustical treatment and changes to the MNS sound system.
By Benjamin Seep and David Manley, LEED AP |
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Noise disturbances can arise when an open architectural style, common in tropical climates such as Hawaii, is chosen for commercial structures that are located adjacent to multi-family residential or resort areas. A noise model was developed for the proposed restaurant in order to predict future noise levels at the neighboring condominium due to human activity noises (such as people talking, live music, etc.).
By Dana F. Dorsch and Todd R. Beiler, P.E. |
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| An informative white paper co-authored by Michael B. Barnhardt & David L. Adams, P.E. explaining IIC ratings, how to achieve them, and what not to believe. |
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During renovation of a luxury hotel, installation of commercial grade washer/extractors on an
elevated post-tensioned concrete slab resulted in excessive vibrations of the floor slab during the extraction cycle. Vibration was measured and the operational characteristics of the
washer/extractors were analyzed to evaluate potential vibration isolation options. Tight structural constraints limited options for potential vibration isolation and structural stiffening. Additionally, a tight construction schedule dictated by the hotel provided only five weeks for observation, analysis, and design and implementation of mitigation to allow for on-time opening and operation of the facility.
Andrew Kowalyshyn and Jeff Kwolkoski co-author this case study. |
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Noise from plumbing systems is often an annoyance in multi-family and private residences.
Isolating the plumbing from the wall studs and building structure is a common method of noise
mitigation. A new approach to isolate plumbing for a shower was installed and the results were
measured in the field. The same method and product may be effectively used for plumbing to
toilets, sink, and at other "stub-out" locations. This paper summarizes the noise reduction
achieved and compares the performance with other common methods and products.
By Jeff Kwolkoski, P.E. INCE Bd Cert |
