ITM School of Architecture & Town

Planning
Bakshi ka Talab, Mampur Bana , Lucknow

Lecture- 06 Acoustics

COMMERCIAL
BUILDINGS
Subject :- Acoustics
Code :- AR -805
Session :- 2014-15
Studio Directors:-
Year :- 4th Year (8th SEM)
Asst. Prof.- Ar. Shalini Diwaker

AR-805/ 2014-15 B.Arch, VIII sem. ITM SATP, Lko 1

Lecture- 06 ACOUSTICS

Introduction
A buildings in which all kinds of work for an institution, company
or firm is carried out is characterized as an office/commercial
building.
The works carried out range from auditing, records keeping,
creative, business or administrative. All, both manual and
computerized.

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Lecture- 06 ACOUSTICS

Acoustical problems in office buildings

Modern office buildings are often noisier

than older buildings due to the use of
thinner and more rigid forms of
construction, harder finishes, more austere
furnishings and uses of business machines.

Effective acoustical design can enhance

the ever changing workplace.

Modern employees are multitasking. They

are interacting with costumers, colleagues,
suppliers and working on computers all at
the same time. In such conditions, any
extra noise is quite irritating.

Noise has always been present in the

workplace, but changes in the tasks
todays employees perform and how they
work make noise more of a factor than in
times past.

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Lecture- 06 ACOUSTICS

Acoustical problems in office buildings

lighting
air 9%
quality
20%

noise
Density of cubical have been increased work place distractions 71%
60% +48%

Error-
Distraction Rate Stress

0
% Focus
-10%
-27%
-60% -51%
Improvements Resulting from Increased Speech Privacy
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Lecture- 06 ACOUSTICS
CLASSIFICATION OF OFFICE SPACES..

A. Core areas
B. Reception lobby
C. Private office
D. Open-office
E. Conference
room
F. Storage
G. Machine room
H. Corridor aisle
Projection rooms
Canteens and kitchens ,
cafeteria Rest rooms, libraries,
Recreation rooms, telephoning rooms

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Lecture- 06 ACOUSTICS

Acoustics By Design's services regarding

office acoustics include
architectural acoustics design

interior acoustics design

speech privacy design

noise control and vibration isolation

mechanical systems noise control and vibration isolation .

REVERBERATION TIME

All general offices 1 SEC. max.

Small private offices 0.75 sec. max.
Large offices 1.25 sec. max.

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Lecture- 06 ACOUSTICS

sources of noise(outdoor)
Air craft noise
The low flying air-crafts add great
deal of noise.

Automobile noise
Noise from traffic i.e. engine noise
and horns of small trucks, cars, bikes
etc.
This type of noise can be
augmented by narrow streets and
tall buildings, which produce
a canyon in which traffic noise
reverberates.

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Lecture- 06 ACOUSTICS

sources of noise(outdoor)
Noise from construction sites
The noise from the construction of
highways , city streets , and buildings
is a major contributor to the urban
scene.

Noise from consumer products

Certain equipment , such as road
side speakers also contribute in
outdoor noise

Noise from railways

The noise from locomotive engines,
horns and whistles, and switching and
shunting operation in rail yards can
impact neighboring communities and
railroad workers.

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Lecture- 06 ACOUSTICS

sources of noise(indoor noise)

keyboards
Phones ringing clicking
The ink -jet
Printer
File drawers sliding
open then shut

Footsteps

Loud laughter from a Fax machines beeping

nearby team meeting

slamming of doors
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Lecture- 06 ACOUSTICS

Acoustical conditions in office buildings (ref. by NBC)

Site conditions
o Room demanding quite conditions
should be placed on the quite side of
the site.
o Room should also not planned on the
street level.
o Office rooms should not be planned on
enclosed yards used for parking.
o Use of acoustical ceiling is required.
o Partial height barriers are required
between work spaces.
o Light fixtures can reflect sound and
make ceilings less absorbent. Both the
light fixture type and placement are
important.

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Lecture- 06 ACOUSTICS

Acoustical conditions in office buildings (ref. by NBC)

Open office plan

o Typewriter printers should be quite in

themselves and placed further apart
from work space, also partially covered
with sound absorbing panels.
o Too many screens, panel-surrounded
work stations, or solid furniture
elements can be harmful. Screens and
panels should have sound absorbing
surfaces not so much to block
transmission (a purpose which they
cannot effectively serve).
o If office teaming areas co-exist with
open plan workstations, full-height
demountable walls or substantially
higher divider panels (80" or more)
should be use.

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Lecture- 06 ACOUSTICS

Acoustical conditions in office buildings (ref. by NBC)

Banking halls
It is required to avoid high reflective ceiling.
Application of sound absorbent material on
ceiling , screens and near by walls.
Resilient flooring is also required.

Public offices
Noise may be minimized by using Resilient
flooring.
Sound absorbent ceiling is required.
Heavy full height screens are required
between the public places and clerical
spaces.
Circulation space
The effective length of corridors should be
restricted by providing swing doors at regular
intervals.
Hard floor finishes should be avoided.
Sound absorbent ceiling in corridors is
recommended.
Stair case and lifts should be isolated
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Lecture- 06 ACOUSTICS
sound masking..
What is sound masking and why is it used?
o Sound masking is a technique which is
used to render unwanted sound inaudible,
making people more comfortable.

o This noise reduction technique is

accomplished by playing a consistent,
harmonious background sound which
drowns out unwanted noise.

o For an example of how sound masking

works, a person can imagine standing in a
kitchen with the water running and trying
to listen to a conversation in the next room.
The noise of the conversation is still present,
but the sound of the water overwhelms it.
The same principle holds true in sound
masking systems.

o Many office buildings now use a melodious

music as a background to mask unwanted
irritating noises and create optimum
working environment.
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Lecture- 06 ACOUSTICS
sound masking..
Where is sound masking used?
Sound masking can be used anywhere to ensure
speech privacy or reduce distractions. Sound
masking is typically used in selected workspaces but
it can also be helpful in residential environments. The
most common sound masking installations are:
Open office plans
Private offices
Public spaces

The ABC of Successful Sound Masking

One of the most effective methods by which to
achieve effective speech privacy or to improve
concentration in the workplace is by the careful
design and application of three key elements which
can be referred to as the 'ABC of successful sound
masking:

Absorb
Block
Cover
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Lecture- 06 ACOUSTICS
sound masking..
Two methods of sound masking
Direct field, in-ceiling voice arrest
speech privacy system

Indirect field, plenum based, above-

ceiling sound masking systems
Typically hung 15' on centre, each sound masking
unit covers 225 square feet - up to three times as
much area as ceiling panel-mounted speakers,
reducing equipment and labour costs.
Sound masking fills the
plenum and gently filters
down into the space below,
covering noise and
conversation in open areas
and improving privacy in
enclosed offices.

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Lecture- 06 ACOUSTICS

For example; your staff or students have difficulty clearly

For example; your neighbor plays loud music at all hours of
hearing in the conference room or auditorium during
the day and night. The sound travels from their space into
presentations.
yours.

Soundproofing application categories: Sound absorbing application categories:

Wall Soundproofing sound absorbing foams

Ceiling Soundproofing acoustical boards and panels

Floor / Footfall Soundproofing acoustical floor and ceiling tiles

Door Soundproofing acoustical sheets

Vibration & Isolation noise absorption fabric

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Lecture- 06 ACOUSTICS

PROFLEX STEP ABOVE

Mega Sound Control Flooring Flooring Underlayment
Underlayment Membrane

best underlayment for use under

designed for use under tile,
wood and laminate flooring.
hardwood, stone & laminate floors
engineered to reduce noise from
excellent crack suppression
footsteps and in-floor resonance
performance for "on slab"
3 ft. x 33.3 ft. rolls (100 sq. .080 in. thick x 40 in. x 30 ft. rolls easy to install with tape edges.
applications
ft) (100 sq.ft.) 2 mil moisture barrier protects
waterproofing / vapor barrier
from mildew, mold and moisture.
membrane
acoustically superior to cork at a
rated for residential, commercial
lower price.
& industrial grade projects
Material: polyolefin resin and a 2-
Material: rubberized membrane
mil Polyethylene vapor barrier.
laminated to a high strength
reinforced fabric

QUIET BARRIER_HD QUIET BATT

Acoustic Insulation
Composite

1 1/4 in. thick x 4 x 8 ft.
sheets
1 1/4 in. thick x 4 x 8 ft.
sheets with (PSA) Peel-
and-Stick Backing
heavy duty noise blocking,
decoupling and sound absorption
in one composite material.
available with peel and stick
adhesive backing for easy
installation.
excellent material for machine
and engine enclosures and
compressor rooms.
Material: Polyurethane Foam
R-13 x 16 in. x 32 ft - four 8' batts
per case
R-13 x 24 in. x 24 ft - three 8'
batts per case
R-19 x 16 in. x 32 ft - four 8' batts
per case
R-19 x 24 in. x 24 ft - three 8'
batts per case
For high-performance
acoustical / thermal insulation
80% + recycled cotton fiber
content.
no harmful chemicals or
worker discomfort.
meets "Green" building
requirements.
Material: cotton fibers

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Lecture- 06
IMPACT BARRIER , LD
extremely effective in reducing
impact sound from footfall.
very effective in reducing
airborne sound transmission.
made with approximately 60%
recycled materials
5/16 in. x 4 ft. x 8 ft. Sheet
low profile, 5/16 inch thick.
Material: fabric cotton with
rubberized membrane
IMPACT BARRIER, HD
1/2 in. x 4 ft. x 8 ft. sheet
AR-805/ 2014-15 B.Arch, VIII sem. ITM SATP, Lko
ACOUSTICS
QUIET DOOR
Acoustic Panel
Quiet Door consists of an
attractive half inch thick, fabric
covered sound absorber,
mounted over a vibration
dampening material. Quiet
Door will help reduce sound
transfer, while at the same
time, improving interior
acoustics.
The dimensions of the sound
absorbing acoustic panels are 2 -
28" x 37 " x 1/2".
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 Lecture- 06 ACOUSTICS

PANELS COVERED WITH FABRIC FOAM PANELS ACOUSTICAL BOARDS

ACOUSTICAL SHEETS NOISE ABSORPTION ACOUSTICAL CEILING TILES

FABRIC -

Sizes: 600x600x14mm
600x1200x14mm

comes with different NRC and CAC values.

The panels are available with High Recycled

Content(HRC).

available in different textures and colors.

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