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Step 1: Measurements of the internal reverberation times were conducted within the Dining Hall, employing the interrupted noise method, in accordance with BS EN ISO 3382-2:2008. This method involved producing broadband noise, through an omnidirectional loudspeaker; after a period of time, where a steady state sound field had been established, the noise was abruptly cut off and the resulting noise decay was measured with an omnidirectional microphone and sound analyser. For each measurement, the noise decay was measured in seconds, in third octave frequency bands, from 50 Hz to 5000 Hz. The thi ..read more

BS 8283 states that in rooms for “study and work requiring concentration” (e.g. staff/meeting room or training room), a suitable design range would be 35 – 45 dB, L Aeq,T. For an executive office, the range is slightly lower at 35 – 40 dB, L Aeq,T. Whilst, for open-plan office spaces, where privacy is important, the target design guide is 45 – 50 dB, L Aeq,T. Building Bulletin 93 – Acoustic Design of Schools, also provides guidance on suitable ambient noise levels inside offices, specifically within a school setting; suggesting an upper limit target of 40 dB, L Aeq,30min for new build schools ..read more

The ExCel District Energy Centre provides heat and power to the ExCel Exhibition Centre and surrounding area, through the use of Combined Heat & Power engines (CHP). Airborne sound, emanating from these engines, was the cause of continuous noise nuisance complaints from the adjoining residential dwelling-apartments. Mute Group’s Akustak® was specified to mitigate the problem, from the Energy Centre side.  It’s modular construction and manoeuvrability (particularly at height and within confined spaces), made Akustak® the perfect application for this logistically challenging project.&nb ..read more

As the pandemic continues, the use of home offices is at an all-time high. Working from home can be difficult when you have an excess of outside noise distracting you. If you are working from a home office and having trouble keeping outside noise out, it may be time to soundproof your workspace. We have gathered tips from experts from Miami to Seattle to share the best ways to soundproof your home office to achieve maximum productivity. Create a pillow cave If you’re recording audio in your home office, try surrounding your microphone with three pillows, one on each side, a ..read more

Sound ingress via windows is a significant nuisance in London, across all sectors; frequently cited as a cause of sleep disturbance at home and broken concentration in the work place. Secondary glazing is widely regarded as the most effective solution. However, it’s not always suitable; it may not conform to listed building consent, satisfy more stringent sustainability criterion or complement a particular interior design.  An alternative are timber acoustic shutters. They can be designed as blank panels, which also serve to block out light, or as framed glazed panels.   The images below show ..read more

Sound ingress via windows is a significant nuisance in London, across all sectors; frequently cited as a cause of sleep disturbance at home and broken concentration in the work place. Secondary glazing is widely regarded as the most effective solution. However, it’s not always suitable, for example, it may not complement a particular interior design and often doesn’t conform to listed building consent. An alternative are acoustic shutters. They can be designed as blank panels, which also serve to block out light, or as framed glazed panels.   The images below show a system designed and install ..read more

Essentially, acoustic doors / acoustical door treatments come in 3 performance / price tiers. Tier 1 – Upgrading Existing Doors: Acoustically upgrading existing doors is the most simple and economical approach, typically involving, where practicable, mass-loading and airtightness works. Such applications, based on a cross-section of field test data, can upgrade the airborne sound insulating performance of existing doors by c. 10 to 14 dB(A). Standard flush timber doors tend to provide in the order of 20 to 22 dB(A) airborne sound insulation, therefore, post-works, one can expect such doors to ..read more

Flanking transmission (sound which travels in any direction, other than directly through the separating element) is a frequent problem in flatted developments, with high-frequency resonances commonly occurring where dot & dab plasterboard linings have been employed. The issue can be profound; the NHBC, for example, conducted an experiment where they removed the linings (such that the supporting blockwork was left fair-faced) and recorded an improvement in sound insulation of almost 10dB (between 1kHz to 5kHz – the frequencies where the ear is most sensitive). The full case study can be vie ..read more

Step 11 – Decoration, Surface Preparation for Sound Absorption Panels. Showing Vault 4: Recording Studio / Vocal Booth Step 12 – Acoustic Door-Sets, Acoustic Perimeter / Threshold Seals. Showing Vault 1: Writing Rooms Step 13 – Sound Absorption Panels (scribed to Ducts, Sockets & Switches). Showing Vault 3: Live Room & Vault 4: Recording Studio / Vocal Booth Soundproofing Recording Studios Step 14 – Surface Preparation for Finished Floor Covering. Showing Vault 3: Live Room Step 15 – Resident Musical Instruments, Sound System Commissioning / Equalisation. Showing Vault 3: Live Room &a ..read more