Acoustic Treatment and Stormwater Design Quiz

Venting System and Acoustic System

• Members: Baring, Del Rosario, Llido, Navales, Sabay
• Course: ME123-1
• Topic: Venting and Acoustic Systems

Venting

• Vents: Openings allowing air and gases to escape
• Ducts: Tubes or channels transporting air between locations.
• Fans: Devices to move air through the system.
• Filters: Remove pollutants and particles from the air.

Acoustic

• Sound Barriers: Structures that block sound transmission.
• Acoustic Panels: Materials that absorb sound, reducing reverberation.
• Bass Traps: Devices to control low-frequency sounds.
• Microphones & Speakers: Devices for capturing and reproducing sound.

Venting System

• Functions:
  • Air Quality Improvement: Reduces indoor air pollutants.
  • Temperature Control: Maintains comfortable environments.
  • Safety: Prevents buildup of harmful gasses.
• Types:
  • Natural Ventilation: Uses natural forces (e.g., wind, temperature).
  • Mechanical Ventilation: Employs fans and blowers to improve airflow.
  • Balanced Ventilation: Combines natural and mechanical systems.

Acoustic System

• Functions:
  • Noise Control: Reduces noise in environments like studios or offices.
  • Sound Quality: Improves audio clarity in performance spaces.
  • Privacy: Prevents sound leakage between rooms.
• Types:
  • Passive Acoustic Systems: Materials to absorb or block sound, often using building materials.
  • Active Acoustic Systems: Employing technology like electronic sound cancellation.

Application (Venting)

• Residential Buildings: Used to improve indoor air quality and remove excess moisture.
• Commercial Spaces: Ensures adequate ventilation in offices, restaurants, etc.
• Industrial Facilities: Removes harmful fumes and gases from production areas.
• HVAC Systems: Integrated into heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems to control climate conditions.
• Bathrooms and Kitchens: Designed to eliminate odors and moisture preventing mold growth.

Working Principles (Venting System)

• Air Circulation (Inflow and Outflow): Ensures continuous air circulation within a building.
• Air Pressure Balance: Venting systems work effectively when air pressure inside the building is balanced.
• Exhausting Stale or Contaminated Air: Removes stale or contaminated air.
• Fresh Air Intake: Draws fresh outdoor air into the spaces.
• Filtration and Conditioning: In advanced systems, air can be filtered to remove dust or allergens.

Working Principles (Acoustic System)

• Sound Propagation: Sound waves travelling through the air.
• Sound Absorption: Materials convert sound energy into heat, generally soft, porous materials.
• Sound Reflection: Sound waves bouncing off hard surfaces.
• Sound Diffusion: Sound waves scattered in various directions reducing focused reflections.
• Sound Transmission: Sound passing through barriers like walls.
• Resonance Control: Addressing the amplification of certain frequencies in a space.
• Balancing Absorption and Reflection: A crucial factor for creating an optimum acoustic environment.

Acoustic Design Measurements

• Acoustic Measurement Methods:
  • Frequency Weighting (dB(A)): Adjusts sound measurements to human hearing sensitivity.
  • Frequency Analysis: Divides sound into frequency bands to identify problems like low-frequency noise.
  • Noise Standards: Noise Criterion (NC) and Noise Rating (NR) set acceptable levels.
• Sound Intensity Measurement: Measures sound source energy with direction and magnitude.
• Advanced Tools: Digital Signal Processing (DSP) addresses challenges like phase mismatches.
• Methods: Time and frequency domain analyses provide flexibility for real-time, high precision applications.

Acoustic Modeling for HVAC Systems

• Techniques: Deterministic methods for low-frequency noise, and energy-based methods for high-frequency noise.
• CFD Applications: Predicting airflow and sound propagation in ducts.
• Benefits: Accurate modelling reduces costs and effort in retrofitting noise control systems.

Real-World Applications (Acoustic)

• Fan Noise: Lab and field tests reveal sound levels influenced by room size and fan installation.
• Room Characteristics: Sound pressure levels vary with space dimensions and furnishings, affecting perceived loudness.

Key Takeaways (Acoustic & Venting)

• Techniques: Combine frequency weighting and analysis for comprehensive noise assessments for buildings and environments.
• Measurement Focus: Utilize sound intensity for a deeper understanding of acoustic behavior.
• Modeling Importance: Predict noise during design to optimize HVAC systems.
• Practical Testing: Conduct field measurements to ensure real-world effectiveness and compliance.

Advantages & Disadvantages (Venting)

• Pros:
  • Improved Air Quality: Reduced indoor pollutants and allergens.
  • Temperature Regulation: Maintains comfortable indoor conditions.
  • Moisture Control: Prevents mold growth.
  • Energy Efficiency: Can reduce heating and cooling costs.
• Cons:
  • Initial Cost: Comprehensive venting systems can be expensive.
  • Maintenance Requirements: Ongoing maintenance is needed for optimal performance.
  • Noise Levels: Mechanical ventilation systems may create noise.
  • Inefficiency: Poor design in systems may lead to inadequate ventilation and energy waste.

Application (Acoustic)

• Theaters and Concert Halls: Designed to enhance sound quality for performances.
• Recording Studios: Optimized for optimal sound recording conditions.
• Open-Plan Offices: Reduces noise distractions to improve productivity.
• Schools: Creates conducive learning environments.
• Residential Spaces: Soundproofing between rooms and apartments to enhance privacy.

Advantages & Disadvantages (Acoustic)

• Pros:
  • Enhanced Sound Quality: Improves clarity and richness of audio.
  • Noise Reduction: Minimizes distractions in work and living spaces.
  • Privacy Improvement: Provides confidentiality in offices and homes.
  • Versatility: Can be applied in various settings including commercial, residential, and industrial.
• Cons:
  • Cost of Implementation: High-quality treatments can be expensive.
  • Space Requirements: Some solutions require significant space.
  • Aesthetic Impact: Acoustic materials can alter the visual appeal of a room or space.
  • Limited Effectiveness: Some systems may not fully eliminate sound transmission.

Components (Venting System)

• Vent Pipe: Provides air circulation within the plumbing system.
• Stack Vent: The upper portion of the soil stack that acts as a vent (for air)
• Vent Stack: A vertical vent pipe providing air circulation to one or more drain pipes.
• Relief Vent: Provides additional air circulation between drainage stacks.
• Yoke Vent: Connects soil and vent stacks to prevent pressure imbalances.

Components (Acoustic System)

• Soundproofing Materials: Used in walls and ceilings to reduce pipe noise.
• Pipe Insulation: Reduces sound vibrations from pipes, when wrapped.
• Vibration Isolators: Minimizes mechanical vibrations.
• Acoustic Barriers: Structures that block noise transmission.

Design Guidance (Venting)

• Domestic Ventilation Systems are designed to maintain optimal indoor air quality by eliminating stale air, excess moisture, and contaminants, while supplying fresh, clean air.
• The noise generated within domestic buildings comes from the system itself (e.g., fans, devices) or from exterior sources (e.g., traffic, machinery, conversations).
• Different types of ventilation exist: Natural ventilation (weather dependent), Mechanical ventilation (using fans), and Balanced ventilation (combining both types).

Design Guidance (Commercial Venting Systems)

• Commercial ventilation systems remove stale air, excess moisture and airborne pollutants to supply fresh, clean air; ensuring a safe environment for employees, customers and visitors, preventing issues like poor air quality.
• The noise produced within commercial buildings comes from within the system (e.g., fans, ducts, HVAC units) or from outside the system (e.g., traffic, machinery, conversations, operational activities).

Stormwater & Sewerage Disposal

• Introduction: Stormwater/sewerage disposal systems manage water from various sources and bring it to suitable treatment facilities and disposal.
• Storwater Disposal System: Designed to handle rainwater flowing off impervious surfaces, preventing flooding, reducing erosion, and protecting water quality.
• Challenges: Urban development increases runoff and aged systems suffer from damage like corrosion, and reduced capacity.
• Solutions: Implement green infrastructure and regular inspections / rehabilitation.
• Key Components/Functions: Stormwater Drains (inlets and catch basins), Treatment Units (hydrodynamic separators), Pipes and Culverts (underground system), and Discharge (of treated water).

Plumbing Code

• Various sections of the plumbing code address specific elements, including general requirements, roof drains, rainwater pipes, and sizing of piping considerations for water flow and drainage systems.

Design Calculations (Stormwater):

• Determine rainfall intensity based on historical data, with a typical design storm intensity for urban Filipino regions being at 100 mm/hr.
• Stormwater disposal calculations typically use the Rational Method (Q=CIA), where Q is peak runoff rate, C is runoff coefficient, I is rainfall intensity, and A is drainage area.

Sanitary Drainage System

• What is it?: A system that removes waste expelled by plumbing fixtures to suitable disposal locations.
• Components: Usually includes horizontal branches, vertical stacks, building drains and building sewers.
• Advantages: Improved public health, reduce environmental impact, property protection and improved hygiene, and more.
• Disadvantages: maintenance challenges and installation costs, system overload (during heavy rainfall), potential for blockages, aging infrastructure, land use constraints, energy consumption, and possible pipe corrosion.

Definitions of Terms

• Soil Pipe: A pipe used to carry waste from plumbing fixtures to the building drain.
• Vent Pipe: A vertical or sloping pipe that allows air to enter a drainage system, preventing vacuum issues.
• Building Drain: The lowest horizontal pipe that receives waste from other pipes and carries it to the building sewer.
• Building Sewer: The part of the horizontal piping that discharges waste to a public sewer or other disposal point.
• Trap: A device used to create a seal of water, blocking sewer gases from entering a building.
• Backflow Preventer: a device installed on pipes to control water flow direction. This prevents water from flowing back into the water supply; preventing contamination.
• Backpressure Backflow: Backpressure occurs due to an increased reverse pressure above the supply pressure.
• Backsiphonage: The flowing back of used, contaminated or polluted water from fixtures into a water supply pipe due to a negative pressure in such a pipe.
• Grease Trap: Plumbing fixtures to collect grease, fats, and oils, (FOG) and which prevents the FOG from entering the wastewater system.
• Fresh Air Inlet: A pipe connected to the building drain and located above the roof to allow fresh air into the building drainage system.
• Soil Stack: A vertical pipe in the building drainage system which carries solid waste.
• Vent System: Pipes to allow air into the system to regulate air pressure and prevent vacuum formation.
• Continuous Vent: A vent that is part of a drain, continuing through the drain pipe vertically.
• Dry Vent: A vent that does not carry liquid waste.
• Relief Vent: A vertical pipe to provide additional airflow circulation between drainage and vent systems.
• Main Vent: The principle artery of a vent system that multiple vent branches are connected.
• Fixture Branch: The pipe between the fixtures and the water distributing pipe.
• Fixture Drain: The pipe from the trap of a fixture to other pipes or drains.
• Fixture Supply: A water supply pipe from a water source (e.g. municipal system) to a fixture.
• Flush Tank: A tank containing water and usually operated by levers, pushing water through a pipe to flush toilets.
• Sump Pump: Moves water from a tank, typically used in areas with high groundwater or during periods of heavy rain, to prevent basement flooding.
• Rainwater Harvesting System: A system to collect rainwater, filter it, and store it in tanks for reuse in irrigation or other domestic needs, and agriculture.

Future Trends

• Sustainable Materials: Using eco-friendly and recyclable materials in plumbing systems.
• Smart Monitoring Systems: Utilising IoT to monitor and diagnose plumbing systems in real-time.
• Acoustic-Optimized Designs: Advances in insulation and materials to reduce noise.
• Energy-Efficient Systems: Optimizing airflow and energy consumption.
• Modular Plumbing Systems: Pre-assembled systems that improve efficiency and precision in installations.
• Regulatory Evolution: Updates in plumbing and acoustic standards.