Seamlessly integrating acoustics
The need to stick to deadlines can lead to decisions made under pressure to ensure a project can remain on schedule. Small or quick changes made without looking at the bigger impacts could mean literal echoes or vibrations in strange places. Additionally, acoustical treatments are one of the most misunderstood elements in a building, with some changes made based on the wrong information.
For example, while most contractors understand conduits need to be run in the wall, it is important to understand the acoustical reasoning of how to run an electrical conduit so it does not affect the wall’s acoustical separation. The separation is solid when there are two one-sided walls, but this acoustical separation will be lost as soon as a conduit is placed across two studs. A good acoustic wall should have one wall moved but not the other. Once a pipe is placed in between and screwed tight, both walls will move together and the acoustic benefit is lost. This is particularly important in condominiums where dwellings are close together and privacy can be a concern. According to the International Building Code (IBC), wall and floors/ceilings of dwelling units and sleeping units have to satisfy a sound transmission class (STC) rating of 50.
While most contractors strive to ensure buildings are solid, acousticians want portions of the building to be flexible to reduce sound propagation through the building structure. This needs to be communicated to an entire project team. However, this should not be perceived as a battle between the various parties involved in a construction project. It needs to be a collaborative effort whereby working together, both parties may find a better way to implement the design and reach the acoustical goal. Startup meetings with the contractors, acoustically related mockups, and implementation discussions can all help get the contractors on the same page as the design team.
With specialized knowledge and expertise, the acoustics contract administrator can be a wealth of information that can head off problems before they become issues. By providing insight into elements such as acoustic door seals or vibration isolation, a contract administrator can provide information on how these treatments can be used to create an acoustically sound building.
They can also provide accurate information on acoustics and how materials will impact the sound. One of the common myths is glass fiber in walls absorbs sound, but this is not true. Rather, the material acts as an ‘enabler’ in the wall to help block out sounds and allow the wall’s acoustic performance to be realized. Adding a glass fiber baffle above a partial height wall to block sound will not work—other modifications should be considered instead.
Acoustical contract administrators can help correct these common mistakes early in the process and can answer questions throughout the project. Acoustics is becoming more technical and the contract administrator can provide both expertise and education to help contractors better understand how small changes can have big sound impacts. By being available to answer questions, contract administrators can recognize when the acoustics may be compromised and ensure the minimum sound requirements are met.
Ideally, an acoustics contract administrator should be involved from the beginning of a project and be onsite at least once a month to provide input and expertise. While it represents more upfront cost to a contractor, it will ultimately be more economical than tearing apart areas that have acoustical issues after completion.
