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Acoustics in the classroom has a strong and direct affect on learning ability. This is because it directly affects how well a student can hear and focus on an instructor. This is especially true for young children, students with learning disabilities, and students whose second language is English. Although acoustics in the classroom has been a concern and topic of discussion for over 50 years, only recently have designers and school districts embraced the need for proper acoustics.  Both Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and the Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) standards for new and remodeled schools require that minimum acoustical standards be met for a school to be considered in either incentive program. Additional points are awarded for schools that exhibit acoustical performance above the minimums. LEED for schools and CHPS are both based upon the American National Standard Acoustical Performance Criteria, Design Requirements, and Guidelines for Schools(ANSI S12.60-2010).

• ANSI 12.60 – Developed through the Acoustical Society of America (download).  These criteria, requirements, and guidelines highlight qualities needed to achieve high speech intelligibility in learning spaces. Characteristics include reverberation times, background sound levels (HVAC system and exterior sources), and sound transmission between adjacent learning spaces.
• CHPS – Acoustical standards are contained within the Indoor Environmental Quality section of the CHPS program.  EQ 3.0 of the California CHPS Criteria lists minimum acoustical performance criteria. Background sound level and reverberation time limits are provided for classrooms. Additional points can be earned by meeting more stringent requirements listed in EQ 3.1.
• LEED® for Schools – Acoustical standards are contained within the Indoor Environmental Quality section of the LEED for Schools program. IEQ Prerequisite 3 refers to ANSI 12.60-2002 for maximum reverberation times and minimum sound transmission class ratings for partitions separating core learning spaces. Minimum background sound level requirements are listed in this prerequisite with additional points available through IEQ Credit 9.

Hiring a qualified acoustical consultant is vital to the success of a performing arts facility. Strict acoustical criteria must be met in these spaces. Audiovisual systems for performing arts facilities are often complex. It is important to get an acoustical consultant and AV systems designer on board as early in the design process as possible before decisions are made that impact the acoustics within the space.  AEC will work closely with the design team from schematic design through construction and commissioning to ensure a successful project. AEC addresses all aspects of acoustical design including room shape optimization, reverberation, diffusion, adjustable acoustics, sound transmission between spaces, background sound and vibration levels, and sound reinforcement.

Proper acoustics have been shown to influence patient health outcomes in healthcare settings. AEC is experienced in providing comprehensive noise control solutions in healthcare environments. According to the Green Guide for Health Care: “Noise is a well-documented source of stress in health care settings. Noise from personnel, equipment, and visitors impacts patient privacy and sleep patterns. In turn, noise increases stress levels for patients and caregivers.  According to research, hospitals that reduced noise levels had higher patient satisfaction, patients’ sleep improved, and their blood pressure lowered; similarly, staff in low-noise environments were more positive about their jobs and indicated improved sleep” (Green Guide for Health Care Ver 2.2 pg 10-73).

• HIPAA – The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) was enacted to protect patient health information. Compliance with HIPAA Oral Privacy directives has made speech privacy in hospitals and other medical facilities a high priority.
• Green Guide for Health Care, Version 2.2, January 2007 – Green building design specific to healthcare facilities is still in its infancy. The existing Green Guide Version 2.2 is not yet a LEED® document, but it is anticipated that the upcoming LEED® for Health Care will adopt these standards. Acoustical criteria in the Green Guide reference the 2006 AIA/AHA Draft Interim Sound and Vibration Design Guidelines for Hospital and Healthcare Facilities.  Elements of the acoustical environment addressed are exterior noise, acoustical finishes, and room noise levels.

• Reverberation – Worship spaces often need acoustical characteristics similar to a multipurpose auditorium. A balance between good acoustics for speech intelligibility and good acoustics for musical enhancement is vital. Acoustical goals will vary by denomination, building size, and even the specific preferences individual congregations. For example, one Catholic Church may be more traditional with a pipe organ and male choir, where even the spoken word service is sung and high reverberation times are required. In contrast, another Catholic Church with a smaller congregation might prefer contemporary music and optimum speech intelligibility, favoring relatively low reverberation times.
• Speech Privacy/Sound Transmission – Speech privacy is important in any space where private information is discussed. Religious leaders are counted on as trusted advisors, and conversations must be kept private to protect personal matters. Sound transmission between spaces is also an issue, particularly in worship buildings with multiple sanctuaries or ministries conducting services simultaneously.
• Background Sound – Excessive background sound levels within a worship space will decrease speech intelligibility and distract attendees. Both the quality and level of background sound from the HVAC system must be carefully evaluated to ensure a successful design.
• Audiovisual System Design – Sound reinforcement systems are necessary for almost all modern worship spaces.  A correctly designed system will provide even coverage of sound throughout the space, without distortion, using the full speech and music frequency spectrums. AEC has the unique capability of ensuring the acoustics and sound system compliment each other. Video systems are increasingly part of the worship experience, from simple text displays to full video. Recording of worship services, live feeds to overflow areas, and streaming services are becoming popular as well.

• Noise Impact Studies – Most lodging facilities are built in areas with high visibility and convenience, often near an airport or busy roadway. Consequently, these facilities are also exposed to high sound levels from transportation sources and require a noise impact study be completed before the project can be approved from the planning department of a city or county. These facilities must meet interior sound level limits as required by the Uniform Building Code (UBC), California Building Code (CBC), California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and the local jurisdiction’s Noise Element of the General Plan.
• STC/IIC Requirements – The UBC and CBC also require that walls between adjacent lodging units meet minimum Sound Transmission Class, STC, ratings. Floor/ceiling assemblies must meet both minimum STC ratings and minimum Impact Insulation Class, IIC, ratings.
• Conference & Meeting Rooms – These spaces often require many of the services offered by AEC. This includes control of reverberation, sound isolation between adjacent spaces, control of background sound levels from the HVAC system, and design of audiovisual systems.
• Other Acoustical Issues – Includes mechanical acoustics and plumbing noise issues for lodging units.

The majority of acoustical consulting work for single and multi-family residential developments falls under environmental acoustics. Noise impact studies are required where a residential development is proposed within areas of noise exposure.  Residential projects can also include acoustic and audiovisual system design of home theaters and design of wall and floor/ceiling assemblies of multi-family buildings to meet California Building Code requirements for sound isolation between units. Mixed-use buildings present added noise and vibration challenges with typically larger-scale HVAC systems and incompatable adjacent uses.

Noise Impact Studies

Federal, State, and Local jurisdictions require Noise Impact Studies to be completed for both single and multi-family housing within specified areas of noise exposure.  Developments near busy roadways, airports, or rail lines often require studies to be completed before issuance of a building permit, incorporating any mitigation measures within the conditions of approval for the project. Check with the City or County planning department assigned to your project to see if a noise study is required. The following scope outlines the process of the noise impact study:

1. Contact AEC if your project requires a noise impact study.
2. AEC will provide a fee proposal based on the client-provided site plan and project description.
3. Once the proposal is accepted, AEC will begin by researching local noise regulations and conducting sound tests at the project site.
4. Sound tests are necessary to calibrate the noise modeling software.  The data is then analyzed and manipulated into tables and graphics suitable for the report. Information is gathered during the testing process and includes determining bordering land uses, conducting traffic counts, and assessing site-specific details not shown on the site plan.
5. Additional data must be obtained for the study including existing and projected road or rail traffic volumes and Airport Land Use Compatibility studies.
6. Day-night average (Ldn) or Community Noise Equivalent Level (CNEL) exterior sound levels are predicted for existing and future plus project conditions.  California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) guidelines require that impacts be evaluated for future conditions.
7. Interior sound levels are also predicted based upon the site plan, architectural floor plans, exterior elevations, and proposed exterior wall and window construction for residences.
8. If required, mitigation measures are developed to reduce exterior and interior noise levels to less than significant levels.
9. A full written report will be provided to document the study for submission to the local jurisdiction.

Multi-family

• Title 24 of the Uniform Building Code and California Building Code require sound-rated partitions separating dwelling units in multi-family housing and lodging.
• The UBC and CBC require that walls between adjacent dwelling units meets a minimum Sound Transmission Class, STC, rating of 50.  Floor/ceiling assemblies must meet both a minimum STC rating and a minimum Impact Insulation Class, IIC, rating of 50.
• Complaints from tenants about noise still exist in multi-family buildings when assemblies are designed only to meet the State minimum standards. This is especially true in today’s high end condominiums and mixed-use buildings where customers expect higher levels of sound isolation. Consultants at AEC have experience designing and reviewing assemblies to ensure that State and local building codes are met and exceeded.
• Meeting STC and IIC requirements is more than just picking an assembly out of a catalog and building it. There are too many variations on assemblies to have sound tests for every possible design. For the assemblies that have been lab tested, many of the lab tests were completed far too long ago to be still valid, using building materials that don’t have the same physical properties as they do today.  In addition, some assemblies are shown to pass the STC or IIC requirements in one publication, and fail miserably when tested by others! AEC knows to be skeptical and diligent, cross referencing numerous lab and field sound test data and analyzing the specific assemblies proposed for the project.
• It’s all in the details…Doors, windows, gasketting, window mullions, pipe penetrations, and outlet boxes are just some of the deficiencies that can ruin an assembly rating if not addressed properly.
• Some details may not translate well or may be overlooked by contractors and subcontractors. Contractors may even make their own decisions on assembly construction and inadvertently cause a design to fail. AEC provides construction inspection services to make sure the acoustical design is followed and avoid costly construction mistakes.
• AEC can also perform field tests of existing wall and floor/ceiling assemblies where field verification is necessary
• Mixed-use
  • Mixed-use buildings present a unique acoustical challenge. In a mixed-use building, a variety of commercial or even light industrial tenants occupy the same building as multi-family housing. The architect must design the commercial spaces to accommodate a variety of tenants that could change over time. A space designed for a quiet art gallery could suddenly have a noisy restaurant occupant, complete with loud patrons, a blaring sound system, and roaring kitchen exhaust fans. In addition, HVAC equipment serving the first-floor commercial tenants is often placed on the roof, causing sound and vibration problems for the highest-rent residential units directly below.
  • Trying to fix acoustical problems in mixed use buildings after construction and occupancy is both difficult and expensive. Whether new construction or remodeling an existing building, AEC will work directly with the design and construction team toward a successful project. Although improved acoustical quality usually means higher initial costs, the cost to fix problems after the fact is always many times higher. Save time, money, and headaches by hiring AEC to prevent acoustical problems before they derail your project.

Industrial clients will often ask AEC to provide a comprehensive noise assessment and sound control package that addresses the worker, the factory environment, and the noise-generating equipment. Construction noise is also starting to finally be addressed, especially as construction companies increasingly request extended working hours to finish projects with a tight deadline or to work after normal business hours to not disturb nearby businesses.

• Equipment Noise & Vibration Control – Industrial and construction equipment is almost always noisy.  Stamping, hammering, welding, cutting, pressing, and moving materials are just a few of the activities that generate high sound levels. Noise impacts can occur on workers or nearby noise-sensitive land uses. Engineers at AEC can assess the acoustic environment and provide sound reduction measures that range from equipment modification and barrier systems to building modification, time of use schedules, and hearing protection.

• Background sound/vibration levels – Numerous studies show that noise directly impacts a company’s bottom line by decreasing worker productivity. This is not just a problem of factory workers exposed to high machinery sound levels. Workers in office environments, especially open-plan layouts, have lower productivity and increased stress from constant distraction. Conversational sound is the most significant noise distraction. Other sources such as HVAC system noise, computers, and phones ringing also cause distraction.
• Sound Isolation – Private conversations must remain private.  Human resource issues and employee performance reviews are just a few examples where speech privacy is critical. Even when speech privacy is not critical, it is important to create acoustical isolation between spaces. Conference rooms and private offices need isolation from adjacent spaces to not only prevent others outside these rooms from listening in but also to keep unwanted extraneous sounds out.
• Reverberation – Excess reverberation often causes speech intelligibility problems in conference rooms, especially those that utilize teleconferencing or videoconferencing systems. Critical project decisions are made daily in conference spaces and the accuracy and understanding of these decisions can be compromised by poor acoustics.  Excess reverberation within a conference room can cause fatigue and loss of interest among meeting participants. Reverberation control is even more important to an open-plan office environment where the use of sound-reflective surfaces creates a noisy working environment. A noisy work environment decreases worker productivity and directly impacts a company’s bottom line. High reverberation times are also a problem in lobbies, where private/public interactions rely on speech intelligibility
• Audiovisual Systems – AV systems are used more and more for multimedia presentations, sound reinforcement, teleconferencing, and videoconferencing. These systems have become integral to coordination and will save money on costly travel and time expenditures

• Background sound/vibration levels – As is the case in many other building types, government facilities require proper control of background sound and vibration levels to be successful. Government offices have the same needs as commercial office buildings where control of background sound and vibration levels directly impacts workers productivity.  Government facilities have the added element of dealing with the public on a daily basis, where poor speech intelligibility caused by high background sound levels and excess reverberation can impact court proceedings, public hearings, council meetings, and other interactions between government employees and the public.
• Sound Isolation – Speech privacy and sound isolation are essential components of government facilities.  Courthouses, for example, require a high level of isolation between adjacent courtrooms, for interview rooms where attorney/client confidentiality must be maintained, and for judge’s chambers where sensitive information is discussed on a daily basis.
• Reverberation – Controlling reverberation directly affects speech intelligibility in any environment. Government facilities must control reverberation because of high levels of public interaction. Poor hearing and varied English language understanding problems are exacerbated by high reverberation times.
• Audiovisual Systems – Quality sound reinforcement systems are essential to make sure everyone in a courtroom, civic center, or other public space can hear properly. Audiovisual systems are used everywhere in government buildings from presenting evidence in a courtroom to informing the public about a planned development.  Government building projects will require competitive bidding among prospective AV contractors, where consultant driven designs and specifications are a requirement.  AEC is adept at assessing the needs of any facility and providing a high-quality, cost-effective, and easy-to-use system that meets and exceeds client expectations.

• Sound Isolation – Sound transmission between adjacent tenant spaces is increasingly becoming a concern.  Incompatible tenant uses are often placed next to each other where high sound isolation is required. Below are just a few examples from recent projects:
  • An architect’s office above a restaurant
  • An aerobics facility below private office space
  • A musical instrument and professional sound system showroom next to an art gallery,
  • A boxing studio next to a bank branch
• Audiovisual Systems – Audiovisual systems are increasingly being used to drive sales in retail environments through a variety of methods including digital signage, video commercials, and “mood-setting” through background music. From high-energy youth clothing stores to upscale boutiques and themed stores, a properly designed audiovisual system from AEC can make an immediate impact on customers.

The need for proper acoustic design in a recording facility is paramount to the function of the space. Background sound levels must meet very strict standards due to the high noise-sensitivity of microphones. Sound isolation is critical for minimizing recording bleed and isolating performances. Room acoustics in this setting are as important as the instruments themselves. Mixing, recording, and playback equipment must meet very strict standards and should be optimized for the space.  As a designer of both acoustic environments and audiovisual systems, AEC can provide a comprehensive solution for the ultimate recording environment.

Restaurants present a unique acoustical challenge. As New York restaurateur Danny Meyer describes in his book Setting the Table, “Guests are equally uncomfortable whether they have to shout to be heard or are required to speak in self-concious, hushed tones in order not to have their conversation heard by other tables. With just the right noise level, each table has the luxury of becoming enveloped by its own invisible veil of privacy, allowing animated conversation to flow within that discreet container. Too much noise, on the other hand, aggressively invades the space and interferes with the guests’ ability to engage with one another. It’s annoying, stresful, and inhospitable.”

• Background sound levels – A restaurant is a complex acoustic environment with a large variety and number of background sound sources including numerous HVAC system components, patrons and staff conversing with each other, music played live or through a sound system, and outside noise sources in the surrounding neighborhood.  Entertainment facilities take background sound to the extreme, adding gaming machines and high-output sound systems to the mix of sources listed for restaurants. A comprehensive approach to the design of the acoustic environment is necessary to combine a high energy atmosphere with areas where customers can give their overloaded senses a break.
• Reverberation – Control of reverberation in a restaurant or entertainment facility is a delicate balance between a comfortable, intimate environment and a lively environment.  Nobody wants to walk into a nightclub that sounds “dead” and conversely patrons of an upscale restaurant do not want to have to yell across the table to speak to their dining partners. Design of the room acoustics is as important as interior design when setting the atmosphere. AEC’s varied experience with these facilities helps to create the ideal acoustic environment.
• Sound Isolation – Restaurants are increasingly being placed on the first floor of mixed-use buildings. Kitchen HVAC systems, typically placed on the roof, can create numerous sound and vibration problems for tenants near equipment or main mechanical shafts. Restaurants and nightclubs are notorious for generating high sound levels that can impact upstairs neighbors.
• Audiovisual Systems – Sound and video systems for restaurants, bars, and nightclubs can range from simple background music systems to ultra-high-end audio and video experiences. AV systems must provide both atmosphere and entertainment, often in multiple zones that compete with each other. A careful and unbiased system design from AEC will avoid the typical sales-driven designs thrown at restaurant and club owners. AEC will meet and exceed client expectations while adhering to a specified budget.