Fundamentals of Architectural Acoustics
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Fundamentals of Architectural Acoustics A Practical Handbook for Contractors and Architects Walker Peek, INCE President, Commercial Acoustics A special thanks to Rachel Lodato, Marc Cordes, and John Bishop, for helping to make this handbook as accurate, thorough, and helpful to the reader as possible. ISBN #: 978-0-578-23049-8 Copyright 2014. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. Except as permitted under the United States Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher. 2 Table of Contents Preface ......................................................................................................................................................................... 1 About the Author .......................................................................................................................................................... 4 Chapter 1: Basic Theory - Simplified .............................................................................................................................. 5 Chapter 2: ABC2 – Acoustic Approaches & Solutions .................................................................................................... 13 Chapter 3: Soundproofing ........................................................................................................................................... 19 Soundproofing Walls .............................................................................................................................................................................. 19 Target STCs ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 27 STC Ratings ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 28 Soundproofing Floors ............................................................................................................................................................................ 33 Target IICs .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 35 IIC Ratings .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 35 Soundproofing Equipment and Machinery ............................................................................................................................................ 39 10 Most Common & Serios Soundproofing Mistakes - Summary .......................................................................................................... 41 Chapter 4: Sound Absorption ...................................................................................................................................... 42 Target Reverb Times .............................................................................................................................................................................. 44 NRC Ratings ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 46 Acoustic Panel Placement Guidelines .................................................................................................................................................... 50 Noise Reduction by Absorption ............................................................................................................................................................. 52 Chapter 5: Sound Masking .......................................................................................................................................... 53 Speech Privacy ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 55 Dynamic Range ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 56 Sound Masking System Design .............................................................................................................................................................. 57 Installing Sound Masking Systems ......................................................................................................................................................... 60 Chapter 6: Acoustic Consulting .................................................................................................................................... 63 Design for NC Criteria ............................................................................................................................................................................ 65 Composite Noise Calculations ............................................................................................................................................................... 66 Exterior Noise Propagation .................................................................................................................................................................... 66 Vibration Paths ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 67 Chapter 7: Special Occupancy Types ............................................................................................................................ 71 Appendix A: Glossary of Terms – In Layman’s Terms ................................................................................................... 72 Appendix B: A Guide to Field Testing ........................................................................................................................... 74 Appendix C: Case Studies ............................................................................................................................................ 76 Tall Pines – Construction Administration Issues for Multi-Family ......................................................................................................... 76 Forum Architects – Design Changes for Multi-Family ............................................................................................................................ 83 Valrico Church – Room Acoustics .......................................................................................................................................................... 92 Yacht & Country Club – Exterior Wedding Noise ................................................................................................................................. 100 Elevated Fitness Center Adjacent to Spa ............................................................................................................................................. 102 Hospital Acoustics – Improving Sleep for Better HCAHPS Scores ....................................................................................................... 107 Appendix D: Acoustic Testing Checklist ............................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. Appendix E: General Design Considerations: .............................................................................................................. 112 Appendix F: Specialty Products .................................................................................................................................. 115 Appendix G: Relevant Standards & Specifications ...................................................................................................... 119 References & Citations ............................................................................................................................................... 120 3 Preface Fundamentals of Architectural Acoustics is designed to provide Architects and Contractors with the tools they need to design and build acoustically-comfortable and code-compliant spaces. This Handbook contains core soundproofing & acoustical principles that every building professional should know, derived from a dozen years of engineering analyses, field tests, and assessments. Most of the principles don’t require any cost increases, and in fact, many of them will actually result in cost-savings if properly implemented. From gym soundproofing in Seattle to 50-story high-rise multi-family developments in New England, and luxury cinemas from coast to coast, the same principles apply to give the end client a cost-effective design or remediation to noise issues. Our firm has engaged with the architectural industry, completing nearly 100 AIA Lunch & Learns over the past several years, in addition to countless other speaking engagements, to understand the most common and complex issues faced by Designers and Builders. Q1: What You Don’t Need to Know (or Care) About Noise issues are a commonplace concern – one with