Improving acoustics in a noisy world

by nithya_caleb | May 22, 2019 12:00 am

by Heather Evans

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Acoustic performance has become an increasingly vital consideration in the construction industry due to population growth, rapid urbanization, and the ongoing research making connections between noise exposure and the health of building occupants.

The Environmental Protection Agency[2] (EPA) has reported, noise pollution negatively impacts millions of people and leads to many problems such as “stress-related illnesses, high blood pressure, speech interference, hearing loss, sleep disruption, and lost productivity.” According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[3] (CDC), one in four adults show signs of noise-induced hearing loss. Occupant well-being and comfort are, therefore, a critical component in new construction. There has also been a boost in retrofitting commercial spaces, homes, and schools for acoustic performance, such as those located near airports and major thoroughfares.

As the construction market continues to thrive, the industry has an opportunity to make a positive impact on human health and comfort by propelling acoustic performance forward. Moving ahead, it will be critical to focus on acoustics of exterior façades in the development of new construction and retrofit projects.

Noise level risks and recommendations

Noise exposure can negatively affect the physical and mental well-being of humans in numerous ways. These effects can show up in homes, schools, and workplaces. For example, relaxation and sleep is greatly affected by exposure to certain types of noise. Further, the ability to concentrate on tasks or listen to a conference call in the workplace can often be impacted by outside sounds.

The World Health Organization[4] (WHO) reports, “Chronic noise exposure in classrooms can impede academic performance in areas such as reading ability, comprehension, short- and long-term memory, and motivation. On average, children who are exposed to noisy learning environments have lower assessment scores on standardized tests.”

For reference, WHO[5] recommends less than 30 dB in bedrooms for quality sleep, and less than 35 dB in classrooms for optimal learning. A pamphlet[6] released by the New York City health department shows that:

• a whisper is 30 dB;
• normal conversation is 50 to 65 dB;
• midtown traffic is 70 to 85 dB; and
• a nearby jet is 130 dB.

WHO reports[7] very similar numbers, and also includes information on safe listening levels and duration of noise exposure.

Essentially, “the total amount of sound energy to which an individual can safely be exposed remains constant: the sound energy of lower volumes listened to over long periods of time is the same as that of louder sounds heard over a short period.” For example, exposure to 85 dB should be limited to less than eight hours per day and only nine seconds for 120 dB.

Since many homes, schools, offices, hotels, churches, and other buildings are situated near airports, railways, street traffic, and other constant/loud exterior noise, it is evident many people are being exposed to unsafe sound levels on a daily and nightly basis.

How cities are responding

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New York City and Chicago are aggressively addressing noise pollution and its effects on human health. In Chicago, the O’Hare Residential Sound Insulation Program[9] (RSIP) was created to reduce the impact of noise on homes near the airport, and the O’Hare School Sound Insulation Program[10] (SSIP) addresses noise levels in nearby schools. These programs work to install sound insulation in homes and schools impacted by aircraft noise. For example, by incorporating acoustical insulation batts in ceiling assemblies, installing new air-conditioning and ventilation systems, and weather-stripping windows and doors, as well as adding vestibules at exterior doors, they were able to mitigate noise in schools.

In New York City[11], about one in six adults report ringing in their ears or hearing loss. According to the NYC health department, a 2012 study found there are many outdoor spaces in the city where noise levels are higher than is considered safe for public health. The NYC department of environmental protection (DEP) has created the NYC Noise Code, which lays out restrictions on city noise and decibel levels impacting comfort and safety, such as noise from construction, air-conditioner units, rooftop circulation devices, food trucks, and motor vehicles. For example, every construction site must have a noise mitigation plan prior to the start of work and the use of vehicle horns is illegal, except as a warning in situations of imminent danger.

Understanding STC versus OITC

The construction industry is seeing a growing number of façade innovations designed to improve acoustic comfort. It is critical to understand acoustic ratings to ensure proper product selection, installation, and desired outcome. It is first important to know the difference between sound transmission class (STC) and outdoor-indoor transmission class (OITC) ratings. STC specifies noise transmission from room to room and OITC deals with transfer of sound from outside to inside. The STC rating has been around for decades and is often relied on for soundproofing a building. Established in the 1990s, the OITC rating is newer to the industry and often overlooked.

While both are effective, it is important to apply ratings to the right scenarios in order to provide the highest level of occupant comfort. An STC rating is sufficient for soundproofing walls between offices, hotel rooms, or condo units, while OITC is necessary for commercial buildings in close proximity to an airport, or in the midst of an urban core.

Additionally, it is important to understand the frequency of the noise that should be dampened (i.e. air traffic [lower frequencies] or train/subway noise [higher frequencies]). A product may have a high STC or OITC rating, but struggle with the frequency that needs to be dampened. Product test results are a great way to evaluate this piece of the acoustic puzzle. When a product is tested according to ASTM E90, Standard Test Method for Laboratory Measurement of Airborne Sound Transmission Loss of Building Partitions and Elements, and serves as part of the American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) 1801, Voluntary Specification for the Acoustical Rating of Exterior Windows, Doors, Skylights and Glazed Wall Sections, protocol, the transmission loss is recorded in multiple frequencies, as the entire sound spectrum is checked, which helps to pinpoint performance based on the surrounding environment. Knowing and understanding the frequency one is dealing with ensures the best product match.

Another critical factor specifiers should understand when setting requirements for product performance is human perception to decibel level changes, as it can greatly impact occupant comfort. For instance:

• +/– 3 dB is barely perceptible;
• +/– 5 dB is clearly perceptible; and
• +/– 10 dB is perceived as double or half noise level. Also, nighttime ambient noise is 10 dB lower than daytime.

How to improve acoustics

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While there are many aspects of interior spaces that could make an environment comfortable, such as sound-absorbing surfaces and interior partitions, exterior façades are key. To obtain the desired level of acoustic performance, it is important to consider the type of glass and fenestration used on a building.

While standard window wall and curtain wall can provide effective acoustical performance, denser assemblies that are more strongly reinforced, like high-impact systems, have better sound-dampening qualities, as they are heavier with thicker laminate glass (Figure 1).

There are also high-performance panels that when added as an interior secondary access panel to the interior wall of the glass system, can significantly dampen the sound waves. These can be added to storefronts, curtain walls, or windows in new and retrofit buildings. This simple addition, when incorporated early on in a project, can improve an STC and/or OITC rating by eight to 10 points. Another solution for dampening outside noise is adding laminates to insulating glass units (IGUs). Additionally, it is critical to select the appropriate thickness as the heavier the glass, the better the sound dampening quality. Of course, it is critical to ensure the framing system and glazing are sealed appropriately. Further, various laminate options can be explored to potentially improve acoustical performance. Polyvinyl butyral (PVB) interlayers, for example, when used at 1.5 mm (0.060 in.) could provide better performance.

Early collaboration

There are many benefits to early collaboration with fenestration product manufacturers and acoustics specialists. It is more cost effective to consider acoustics on the front end of a project. Although the type of glass needed may be more expensive to purchase upfront, the cost of retrofitting for acoustics is higher. The failure to budget for acoustics can also lead to additional unforeseen expenses. For example, when building a hotel near a busy street, airport, railway, music venue, or other noisy environment, acoustics will be of utmost importance for guest comfort and for business to thrive. According to an earlier article in The Construction Specifier, the Residence Inn Sandestin at Grand Boulevard in Miramar Beach, Florida, is an example of how acoustics can make an incredible impact on occupant comfort, and ultimately sales.¹⁰ A busy street and nearby highway noise was greatly impacting guests’ experience at the hotel, despite excellent customer service and amenities. Since noise mitigation was not considered upfront in the hotel design, management spent more than a year assessing the problem and figuring out a solution. The end result, after installing a second, inner soundproofing window to 176 units along the front of its property, was a jump in ratings and superior comfort for guests.

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For some projects, only part of a building may be impacted by noise. In these instances, it is beneficial to understand the type and frequency of exterior noise because this allows for cost-effective planning and each side of the building can be dealt with as differently as need.

In the case of the Standard New Orleans, a luxury condominium building, acoustics were a critical factor in defining comfort for occupants. Since one side of the building faces a higher level of outside noise than the other, it has a different OITC rating. As a result, a higher level of fenestration was needed for that side. A hurricane-impact window wall was leveraged for this reason. The glass in this system is 33 mm (1 ⁵/16 in.) laminated, thereby providing a better sound performance. This wall system was leveraged for acoustical performance, as it was not close enough to the coast to fall into hurricane code requirements. It provides strong sound attenuation as the system stops at each floor, eliminating the transmission of sound waves from floor to floor. The system itself has an STC rating of 39, about three points better than a typical non-impact window wall that typically uses two monolithic glass lites of different thicknesses.

Conclusion

It is evident acoustics will impact the future of the construction industry. Greater acoustical performance is already mandated by several jurisdictions, including California, New York City, and Chicago. The mandate is likely to spread across to other areas and also become more stringent in the future. As experts continue to link noise exposure to comfort and well-being, acoustics need to be considered as highly as thermal and accessibility standards for new construction projects and renovations. Architects and specifiers will likely find clients are satisfied and grateful when they experience the benefits of high acoustic performance.

Heather Evans is a certification program engineer at YKK AP America Inc. She joined the company in 1999. Evans spent several years managing and implementing collateral and estimating software before joining the product development team in 2016. Evans holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial and systems engineering from Auburn University. She can be reached at heatherevans@ykkap.com[14].

Source URL: https://www.constructionspecifier.com/improving-acoustics-in-a-noisy-world/

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