An analysis of light and sound

1 Introduction

A gym is chosen for this assignment in order to analyze the condition of light and sound
due to its accessibility and position situated on the first floor. Measured dimensions of
this room are 9.5×9.75×2.4(length× width× height) in m, after calculation, the area and
volume are 92.625m2 and 222.3m3, respectively.

Some fitness equipments are installed in the interior including three treadmills, two
boxing bags etc. A mirror is placed on the opposite side of the door.The measurement
of light and sound was conducted mainly at four sites which are schematized in the
following figure. At each site, illuminance is measured three times to reduce the error.
Background noise, as well as TV's affection, are taken into consideration when the
shound was measured. Measurement results are demonstrated in Table 1 and Table 2 as
follows.
9.75m

1 2

4
9.5m
Center
3

3.4 m

Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the measurement locations

2 Sound analysis

In the center of the gym, there is a 100 m2 of carpet and the rubber floor is also installed.
It is well-known that the carpet and the rubber floor are the two main materials in this
room accounting for absorbing noise. When sound waves arrive their surfaces, it could
be reflected and absorbed by them (Shoshani, Y. Z.,1990).

Though many gyms are built on the basis of regular procedure, however, the results are
not so satisfactory and the background noise has an extremely obvious effect on the
exercise activities (Gastmeier, W. J., & Aitken, D. R.,1999).

From table 1, we could see that the mean value of background is about 47.0dB, which
means that it is a little louder without meeting standard recommendations of AS 2107.
However, it is still in an acceptable range under the maximum value 55 dB. So to help
better design this room, some slight improvements of noise absorption should be done.
For example, ceiling treatments can be one of the solutions and should be efficient.
 Table 1 Sound measurement at four sites(Unit:dB)
Site1 Site2 Site3 Site4 Mean
Background noise 46.5 48 46.5 47.1 47.0
TV off 59 57.2 61.7 60.4 59.6
TV on 56.7 59.6 62.3 60.7 59.8

Results also show that TV effect on the noise is very small, however, this is also
attributed to the speed of the treadmills slowing down progressively.But later noise
control will not concentrate on the TV’s influence.

Slight difference could be found when comparing the value of background noise
between site 2 and site 1(or site 3; or site 4) because there is a Yoga exercise which
makes the obtained value a little bit higher than the rest of the sites.

By observing the structure of the window and walls, no weak sound insulating element
was found here, so the ability to reduce the external noise is quite well.

3 Light analysis

Interior lighting is very good in this gym and this is observed from the following
findings in detail. The first factor is that the good advantage of daylight is taken. Since
three sides of the room are windows as the most common technology through where
daylight could enter into this gym easily.Also, three treadmills are placed close to the
windows through which the daylight could be used properly with less cost comparing
with artificial light, and this is consistent with the findings by Edwards, L., & Torcellini,
P. (2002) and Lewis, A., & Lieberman, K. (1991).

From the results in Table 2, we can see that light distribution is uneven, where in the
center of this gym, the light intensity reduced by 30%.

Table 2 Light measurement at four sites (Unit:103 cd)

Site1 Site2 Site3 Site4
First time 0.185 0.200 0.209 0.137
Second time 0.186 0.198 0.210 0.136
Third time 0.198 0.202 0.214 0.140
Mean value 0.190 0.200 0.211 0.138

The visual tasks are mainly about reading relevant data through displays, looking at the
appearance in the mirror, talking near the chair-table rest area as well as finding
doorways et cetera.

Illuminations relevant to the horizontal plane concern reading in the equipment

display.The light source includes daylight as well as LED.Most of the illuminations are
on a vertical plane and this light comes mostly from the LEDs mounted to the surface
of the ceiling.The task related to the vertical plane typically is the appreciation through
a mirror which people use for their appearance. Everyone who comes to exercise could
benefit from mirrors here. And the position of the mirror in this gym is really good and
convenient too, not only practicaly but also aesthetically (Frew, M., & McGillivray,
D.,2005).

4 Conclusion

Too high background noise may result in people’s discomfort, after the evaluation of
the nature of activities people does in this gym, also from the perspective of the
acoustical subject. It is necessary to keep the background noise in an acceptable and
qualified range by some treatments such as basic ceiling treatments, wall improvements.
However, there should be a balance between the feasibility and the budgetary.

Special emphasis should be placed on the good use of natural light which leads to
energy saving and low cost compared with artificial light. So the design with a large
surface of the window is very successful. Also, the position of the mirror is really good
and people can have a good knowledge of their appearance in this way. However,
measurements demonstrate that there exists an uneven light distribution in the center
where daylight is hard to arrive. So it is essential to place more artificial light in the
center to balance the light distribution. But it can’t be denied that too much artificial
lighting is also a waste of energy and costs a lot. So balance once again should be taken
seriously between them.
Appendices
Reference

Edwards, L., & Torcellini, P. (2002). Literature Review of the Effects of Natural Light
on Building Occupants (No. NREL/TP-550-30769). National Renewable Energy Lab.,
Golden, CO.(US).

Frew, M., & McGillivray, D. (2005). Health clubs and body politics: Aesthetics and the
quest for physical capital. Leisure studies, 24(2), 161-175.

Gastmeier, W. J., & Aitken, D. R. (1999). Reverberation in gymnasia. Canadian

Acoustics, 27(4), 3-7

Lewis, A., & Lieberman, K. (1991). Near-field optical imaging with a non-evanescently
excited high-brightness light source of sub-wavelength dimensions. Nature, 354(6350),
214.

Shoshani, Y. Z. (1990). Effect of nonwoven backings on the noise absorption capacity

of tufted carpets. Textile Research Journal, 60(8), 452-456.

Photograph of the gym