Acoustic Design Principles

Room Shapes to Be Avoided

• Ceilings that are domed or vaulted (or any concave surfaces) tend to focus the sound, causing it to be distorted.
• Large auditoriums with low ceilings create a situation in which it is difficult for some of the audience to hear.

Absorbing Surfaces

• Sound is absorbed when it encounters a material that will convert some or all of it into heat, or that allows it to pass through not to return.
• All walls, floors, ceilings, and furnishings have sound-absorbing characteristics that control the amount of sound they reflect and absorb.

Sound Absorbing Materials

• Acoustic Foam Panels
• Curtains and Drapes
• Cork Panels
• Acoustic Ceiling Tiles

Focusing Surface

• Reflected sound waves can be focused intentionally or inadvertently.
• A flat surface (ie, a wall) reflects sound better than an irregular surface, which tends to break up sound waves.
• Reflection from large concave surfaces also focuses sound.

Isolation of Vibration

• Noisy or vibrating equipment should not be attached to the structure of the building.
• Equipment within the building, such as heating units, pumps, and motors, should be mounted on commercially available resilient machinery mounts and bases.
• Soft, resilient subfloor materials are often used under the flooring surfaces of the floor, and under the equipment to reduce the transfer of sound and vibration through the building.

Sound Isolation

• Sound isolation refers to the process of preventing sound from passing from one area to another.
• It involves techniques and materials designed to block or reduce the transmission of sound waves, thereby minimizing noise interference between adjacent spaces.

Type of Noise

• Airborne noise
• Impact Noise

Soundproof Walls

• Building frame walls with staggered studs and with blanket sound insulation between the outer wall surfaces is a good method of sound control.

Resilient channel

• A resilient channel is a type of metal strip used in building construction to improve soundproofing.
• It is installed between the wall or ceiling frame and the drywall.
• The purpose of a resilient channel is to reduce sound transmission by creating a small gap between the drywall and the frame, which helps in decoupling the drywall from the studs.

Socket Inserts

• Socket inserts can contribute to noise levels in a room.

Building Types

• Residential Buildings
  • Energy-efficient appliances
  • Insulation
  • Sustainable materials
  • Passive design strategies
  • Lower energy consumption
  • Healthier indoor environment
• Commercial Buildings
  • Energy-efficient lighting
  • HVAC systems
  • Smart technologies
  • Sustainable materials
  • Improve sustainability in office buildings, retail spaces, and other commercial properties
• Educational Institutions
  • Daylighting
  • Natural ventilation
  • Sustainable materials
  • Educational displays on energy conservation
  • Environmental stewardship
• Healthcare Facilities
  • Efficient HVAC systems
  • Antimicrobial surfaces
  • Natural lights
  • Healing gardens
  • Contribute to patient well-being and recovery

Arrangement and Layout of Rooms

• The designer must be careful in the layout of windows, doors, and other openings to ensure noise does not enter through the windows by bouncing off an adjacent wall.
• Placing massive solid walls on the side of the building facing the noise source and placing the windows on the side facing quieter areas can reduce noise.
• Noisy rooms should be separated from quiet rooms by as great a distance as possible.
• The building layout should be designed so that rooms that are not as susceptible to noise (e.g., closets and corridors) act as buffers between those areas that contain noise sources and those that require quiet.

Surrounding Environment

• The general layout and design must consider existing or possible future noises from surrounding areas.
• If there is an existing noise source (e.g. noisy equipment used in an existing building), the general layout of the proposed building should place rooms that require quiet away from the existing noise and from noisy rooms.
• In the new building, perhaps the rooms for mechanical equipment may be placed closer to the noise source as they will not be affected by it.

Green Buildings: A Guide to Sustainability

• Green building practices are important across all types of buildings.
• Green Schools
  • Daylighting
  • Natural ventilation
  • Sustainable materials
  • Educational displays on energy conservation and environmental stewardship
• Green Healthcare Facilities
  • Energy-efficient HVAC systems
  • Antimicrobial surfaces
  • Natural lights
  • Healing gardens
  • Contribute to patient well-being and recovery
• Green Government Buildings
  • Energy-efficient systems
  • Sustainable materials
  • Renewable energy sources
  • Demonstrate a commitment to sustainability and set an example for the community
• Green Hospitality Industry
  • Water saving fixtures
  • Energy-efficient lighting
  • Renewable energy sources
  • Green certifications
  • Differentiate properties in the competitive hospitality market

Learn about the importance of room shape and surface materials in acoustic design, including shapes to avoid and the role of absorbing surfaces in sound management.