• 29 August 17
• Posted in Noise Assessments BS4142, Noise Assessments BS8233, Sound Testing

How An Acoustic Consultant Can Help with Design

What Is Acoustic Design and Why Do I Need It?

Put simply, getting an Acoustic Consultant to help with design is the process of evaluating your project for potential noise problems and then mitigating these problems with the most effective solution.

Key considerations of acoustic design include:

• Glazing (inc. curtain walling)
• Doors
• Ventilation
• Building orientation and layout
• Lightweight external walls and roofs
• Separating wall and floor performance
• Internal wall and floor performance
• Reverberation control and room acoustics
• Acoustic screening from external noise
• Protection from noise sources such as plant rooms, communal areas

Your Acoustic Consultant may decide noise exposure of outdoor spaces such as gardens, balconies and terraces should also be considered.

Vibration exposure of the site may also need to be assessed and provisions made within the design.

There are various standards and guidance which exist to assist in specifying a suitable design to mitigate the effects of noise and vibration exposure.

As there are so many elements to consider, it can be more time and cost effective to involve an Acoustic Consultant at design stage.

What Is Involved when I Use an Acoustic Consultant?

Unlike some Acoustic Consultants, we take a collaborative approach to acoustic design projects, working with you and your project team to create a finished development that meets the regulatory requirements, but also looks and performs as you want it to. Click here to see some examples of our work.

We will ideally get involved at the initial stages so that we can work with you on any planning conditions and establish baseline measurements for the site or building to be converted.

Tying Acoustic Requirements And Aesthetics Together

In modern developments, particularly if an old building is being converted, there are certain design preferences such as exposed steelwork and ceilings which, although nice to look at, often cause acoustic issues. This is because common solutions to acoustic issues such as flanking sound cannot be applied.

When your acoustic consultant, architect and other design teams work together from the beginning of the project, it means your project can be designed “from the ground up” to perform well acoustically with compromise to the design – rather than trying to correct existing issues at the end of the project, which is usually more costly and less effective.

Straightforward Identification Of Issues

By getting your acoustic consultant involved in the project from the initial stages (whether that is a conversion or a new build) we can identify the potential noise issues in the building and/or local area. This means that we can test and identify the current status of the site, so we have comparative information ahead of any improvements.

How An Acoustic Consultant Can Get Clarity On Requirements

We’ve seen it too many times – we get to site at the end of a project, complete sound testing and see a failure, despite the project being fitted with expensive soundproofing materials. By getting us involved at the design stage of your project, you’ll avoid overspending on unnecessary soundproofing, as we can specify just the products you need, for installation only where you need them.

Avoiding End-Stage Panic

It goes without saying that the last stages of a project are the most manic – with everyone trying to get final fixes installed and completed to the required standard. It’s the last point at which you need to be cutting holes in walls or pulling up floors!

Unfortunately, those are the types of exploratory works that may need to take place if acoustics are left unconsidered until the last moment. Sound testing failures can be hard to fix if the causes are unknown – often, poor installation of sound proofing materials can cause problems!

Ensuring Pass Certainty

When designing your project with you, your Acoustic Consultant can help you select the right products for sound insulation internally and in the building fabric. We can also help with installation advice and ongoing sample testing to ensure that everything’s performing as expected.

That means that when we come to complete sound testing, your project passes first time, and, crucially, building control are happy.

To find out more about how we can help you, or to book in design advice on your next project, call our team on 0800 917 1471.