"acoustic"

Architects HLW reached out to the Radii Pre-Construction Design team back in September 2021 with their design intent for a really unique glazed partition project for British multinational retail company Kingfisher.With the client being the home of many notable DIY and home improvement brands such as B&Q and Screwfix, HLW’s initial design aimed to create a ‘workshop’ aesthetic to the space through a combination of timber doors and upstands with glazed windows.The final design required steel framework to support the glazed windows and create the timber upstands.Radii’s Product Development Department developed this detail with the Pre-Construction team and conducted virtual stress testing to ensure the structures would be adequate to support the weight of the glass.The bespoke nature of the design and system meant that acoustic assessments needed to take place before the system could be specified for the project.Radii’s internal acoustic team helped to develop the design and conducted our own assessments, before the system was externally assessed by a third party to provide certification to the architect.

The University of the West of Scotland’s launched ambitious plans to relocate to a new £110m campus in Lanarkshire, 2 miles away from the current Victorian building.Modern new build environment.The relocation of the campus was tasked to achieve a modern new build environment, “to develop a truly inspirational and world-class University campus fit for existing and future students.” – Prof Craig Mahoney, Principal.Soundis Absorb-R WoodTec Wall Slats was specified for its acoustical performance of Class A NRC and robust material.The WoodTec Wall Slats are based on a fibre gypsum board which has excellent properties regarding both fire safety and acoustics. The slats are less sensitive to changes in temperature and humidity which results in 100% straight aligned slats over their full lifetime.A work of art...Soundis installed the WoodTec Wall Slats to the main wall within the foyer. In addition to the purely functional benefits and its sound quality, this particular area of installation was described by the client as ‘a work of art in its own right’.

Stargroves, a Grade II listed building, is a manor house and estate in Hampshire. Its best known for being the home of Mick Jagger in the 70s. The on site recording studio has been used by The Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart, and Bob Marley, adding to the rich history of the site.Other bands who have recorded on the grounds include Bob Marley, Iron Maiden and Status Quo.The project entailed the refurbishment of the internal swimming pool area. Main contractor SizeBreed Construction, gave the project to Soundis, to resolve the persistent reverberation issues within the area. Crucially, however, they didn’t want a solution which took away from the character of the building.This was perfect project for the seamless 25mm Spray Plaster Boards. This system can be applied to virtually any surface, including straight and curved walls, dramatic angles and arching domes. Which was particularly helpful on the outside the pool area. Acoustic spray plaster solutions offer a more flexible, discreet alternative to traditional acoustic solutions, such as suspended ceilings.

‘Autobarn’ is an unusual build comprising an elegant five-bay garage and accompanying workshop sitting within the grounds of a Grade-II listed 18th-century home in Somerset.Designed by Bindloss Dawes Architects, the brief was to create a garage with an adjoining workshop to house the client’s classic car collection. The finished result is an aesthetically beautiful building with its deceptively simple wooden barn-themed styling using agricultural materials such as concrete and recycled wood under a zinc roof. With surfaces comprising steel, timber and polished concrete floor, the architects incorporated Troldtekt acoustic panels to clad both the walls and ceilings between the steel frames for sound absorption and to combat the issue of reverberating noise.The added advantage of having services hidden behind the white panelling means the final result is a stunning simplistic and minimalist design allowing the classic cars to be the focus of attention and transforming the space into more of a gallery than a traditional garage.Troldtekt acoustic panels are available in a variety of different surfaces and colours and combine sound absorption with a tactile surface. With an expected life cycle of at least 50 years and resistance to humidity and impact, they are available in various sizes and four grades, from extreme fine to coarse. The panels can be left untreated or painted in almost any RAL colour. Depending on the panel specified, reaction to fire is classed in accordance with EN 13501 as B-s1,d0 or A2-s1,d0 respectively. Founded on the Cradle-to-Cradle design concept and having attained Gold certification, Troldtekt wood wool acoustic panels are manufactured using wood from certified forests (PEFC™ and FSC®C115450) and can contribute positively to a building’s BREEAM, DGNB or LEED points. 

For Harrogate Borough Council's new Civic Centre Offices Milliken worked with Farrel & Clarke to install its Laylines design with Transitions in a range of different colours. Colour coding each floor helped with way finding around the building. With a central open atrium, the sound absorbing properties of the Comfort Lite backing contributes to the building's acoustic performance and underfoot comfort.

Milliken's Tectonic modular carpet from the Nordic Stories design collection flows seamlessly throughout this award-winning building in Falkenburg, Germany. Inspired by geological landscapes, the design was the perfect floor covering for this pared back office environment set in a stunning rural setting. The product's Comfort Lite cushion backing delivers excellent acoustic performance and underfoot comfort.

BMJ transformed its London office into a more flexible and dynamic, ‘smart hub’ style workplace. A combination of Milliken's carbon neutral LVT and modular carpet floor coverings have been define the various collaboration areas, meeting spaces and workstations. This installation is a great example of the flexibility of modular floor coverings and in managing acoustics in a largely open workspace.

Lorient’s high-performance TS fire, smoke and acoustic door seals have been acquired for use on the Claridge’s Hotel doors. Since the 1850s, Claridge’s has excelled at the finer things in life: glamorous design, inspiring dining and impeccable service - so only the best is good enough.We are delighted to be specified for this prestigious 5-star luxury hotel.

Donabate Portrane Library, recently refurbished by the Fingal County Council, is now a warm and inviting community library as a result of products chosen from Forbo Flooring Systems. The Marmoleum and Tessera products were chosen for their practicality, cleanliness and variety of interesting designs. And Sarlon Topography from Forbo’s acoustic vinyl collection was a must providing a quiet reading or studying environment.

This spacious showroom in Germany for one of Europe's leading furniture manufacturers is zoned beautifully throughout with Milliken's Wireframe cushion backed carpet tiles and Open-Shut wood style planks from the First Call luxury vinyl tile collection. The acoustic performance of the floor coverings offers a comfortable and sound absorbing solution for this double height open space.

This technology business wanted to create a calm, productive work environment that would enhance employee well-being. Two Milliken cushion backed modular carpet designs have been used to create a naturalistic aesthetic and manage the acoustics in Spire's open collaborative workspace. Milliken's carbon neutral floor coverings play a crucial role in this sustainable refurbishment.

For a hotel at the very top of its industry, guest experience is paramount. At the “KRONE’ Hotel, achieving an exceptional flooring solution meant keeping with the lavish interior design aesthetic, but also ensuring high levels of comfort and wellbeing. Rustic Limed Wood from Spacia, with Amtico Acoustic backing was the solution the hotel’s managing director chose because it met those important requirements.

This innovative, smartphone accessories company chose Milliken's Comfortable Concrete for its newly refurbished offices in the heart of Cork's business district. While offering the perfect aesthetic for the building's raw industrial heritage, the product also offered luxurious underfoot comfort due to its Comfort Plus cushion backing. The cushion backing also provides this environment with great acoustic performance.

A combination of two cushion backed modular carpet designs - Facet and Coastline and one LVT floor covering Polished Concrete have been specified to colour zone this impressive warehouse transformation project by Wylde IA. Milliken's 10 day delivery service and Comfort Lite cushion backing, for acoustic performance, were key factors in the specification of these floor covering products.

For this largely call-centre based business, this case study demonstrates how Milliken floor coverings have been installed to effectively manage the acoustics in the space. The four modular carpet designs specified create a comfortable, welcoming environment that helps to enhance employee's well-being at work. For this BREEAM Excellent rated building, it demonstrates how the carbon neutral carpet contributes to the

This environmental building services business's office is Glasgow and Edinburgh is carpeted with Milliken's vibrant, carpet planks. Designed with Milliken’s proprietary Millitron® digital colour placement technology, the patterning is sharp, complex and multi-layered. This carbon neutral modular carpet product incorporates Milliken's WellBAC Comfort cushion backing which plays an important role in managing the office acoustics.

Situated in Portsmouth Historical Dockyard, the Boathouse was a development that required an acoustic raised batten system for hardwood decking, Oak plank flooring and a plywood substrate for the 1st floor. New Era Cradles were specified to provide a finished floor height range from 74-190mm and was fitted at 400mm centres. This proved a versatile and cost effective way to overcome all the different levels

The high performance folded steel frames with an integral perforated plaster bead allow the plaster or tape and jointing compound to be applied up to the edge concealing the door frame and all fixings. Extensive testing has been carried out to cover all fire and acoustic requirements. As such, Selo’s range of concealed riser doors is the most extensive and versatile range on the market to date.

When the 2012 Olympics design team wanted a third party accredited firestop, with tested high acoustic performance, to close the movement cavity between the rear of the facade and the partitions and floor slabs, SIDERISE was their only choice. For London’s most prestigious event they demanded that performance levels for the Athletes Village not only met, but exceeded the criteria demanded by Building Regulations ‘Approved Document E’.

Cambridge Biomedical Campus. (CBC) created a vibrant and groundbreaking health care community at the forefront of science and medicine.Dortek’s brief was to supply and installation of doors to a very specific programme, across primarily 3 floors.Our Dortek doors were installed within the BRF rooms, laboratories, holding room, procedure rooms, CL3 labs, equipment store, changing rooms, and circulation routes. The type of doors we installed were GRP hinged and sliding in stainless steel frames, many with integrated privacy panels.SolutionThe particular project requirements that made our doors suitable was the durability, acoustic performance, non organic door quality of our SS frame which ensures suitability to this environment. The SS frame had previously been used at Francis Crick Institute also. We fulfilled the clients expectations by meeting the specification and programme, and working closely with planners to interface with other trades. There was some complexity about the project as most doors are very large for equipment access and some have acoustic requirements, also to include is there are a lot of doors in a concentrated area.

The Friedrichscarrée is a modern office and retail complex in the center of Stuttgart.Named after the former king of Württemberg, Friedrich I., it is characterised by its modern architecture and glass front. In addition to numerous companies, it now also hosts retail, catering businesses and event spaces. The good access to public transportation and the close proximity to restaurants and cultural institutions, make Friedrichscarrée an attractive location for businesses and visitors.As the general contractor for the expansion, Lindner carried out an extensive interior construction - ranging from drywall work to floor systems and wall cladding. In addition to high-quality floor coverings and also partly automated partition walls, the special construction of the hollow floor FLOOR and more® for the pedestal in the barista bar was a central element of the revitalisation. Lindner hallway ceilings LMD, heating and cooling ceilings and acoustic sails were also installed to optimise room acoustics.Furthermore, GiB mbH supported Lindner in upgrading the existing fire protection. The entire conversion was carried out during ongoing business, which required precisescheduling of noise-intensive work.

The hospitality industry has been hit hard by the pandemic as visitors, for obvious reasons, have been conspicuous by their absence. Hotel Savoy in Luleå took advantage of the situation by completely renovating the hotel’s restaurant with new surfaces, design and furnishings.The old brick wall in the interior of the restaurant had taken its toll. In order to find a new material that would fit in, they looked for a wooden panel that could also contribute to a better atmosphere in the form of an acoustic absorbing solution. But finding such a product that would also meet the fire requirements of the premises was not the easiest thing to do.We at Gustafs received the request at the same time as we were working on the development of our new product, Lamellow+. In short, the Lamellow panels delivered to the Hotel Savoy in Luleå became a pilot project for the product. The panels installed in the restaurant are made of American Oak wood veneer with a grey gypsum core and Wool grey acoustic felt – a combination that feels natural and minimises the contrasts in the product. The panel was also approved by the fire engineers working on the project, thanks to the natural fire protection provided by the reinforced fibreboard.

Holland Park Villas has set a new benchmark for quality in the super-prime central London residential development market. Unparalleled interior finishes combined with exceptional landscapes to show what a truly world-class team can deliver.On arrival, an impressive 30 year old Acer Palmatum tree takes centre stage. Granite paving, hornbeam trees, ornamental planting and a water wall further add to this sense of elegance and quality.This level of quality and attention to detail continues to areas not easily seen by the new tenants. Around 13,200 m2 of Soundis High density dry screed panels able to span between joists were installed by our installation partner UK Acoustic Systems as a raised access floor system. Chosen primarily for the ease of maintenance and future extensions of the underfloor network, the system is also an integral part of the underfloor heating system.Not only does this system demonstrate its practical heating properties, but the new apartments will also benefit from the pleasant acoustic characteristics provided from the floor system.

Enfield Care Homes was fabricated and installed by EYG Commercial, a project which showcased a range of AluK products including; 58BW windows, GT55 TB commercial doors, BSC94 sliding doors and SL52 curtain walling. An important element of the specification by developers, Morgan Sindall development was for the windows to achieve high acoustic and thermal performance to ensure minimum noise pollution and maximum energy efficiency.

Derelict market buildings in the Conservation Area of Smithfield, central London have been converted to create a warmer, quieter and more secure environment to house the new Museum of London, thanks to Granada’s secondary glazing.Secondary glazing specialists Granada Glazing designed, manufactured and installed bespoke aluminium secondary glazing to improve the thermal, acoustic and security performance of the original timber single-glazed windows.

Rather than eliminating external noise, secondary glazing manufactured by Granada Secondary Glazing has been installed to keep the noise in at a university’s music department and prevent disturbance to nearby residents.Although more commonly specified to reduce noise intrusion in buildings, secondary glazing is equally effective at stopping excessive sound levels leaking out due to its superior acoustic insulation performance.

When Provident financial services were establishing their headquarters in Bucharest, they chose Milliken's richly layered Without Reserve from the Artistic Liberties collection and the hand-woven look of Woven Colour from the Crafted Series collection to zone the space. The modular carpet's WellBAC™ Comfort cushion backing delivered the acoustic and wear performance qualities that the client required for this largely open office environment.

This workplace transformation includes Milliken's Facet modular carpet design as a neutral backdrop for the circulation areas with Clerkenwell's Three Corners installed to zone the office's variety of meeting and collaboration areas. This case study demonstrates the flexibility of Milliken's Millitron digital design technology for creating a unique look across a floorscape. The carpet's cushion backing also plays a crucial role in maintaining the acoustic performance of the building.

This major Eastern European construction company is located in Romania's tallest building, Sky Tower. For RPHI's clean, sharp office space, Laid Bare and Urban Drama from Milliken's iconic Comfortable Concrete 2.0 design collection has been installed to stunning effect. The installation also underfoot comfort and acoustic benefits of the product's Comfort Plus cushion backing. Photography: Andrei Tudoran

With more than 70 specialists working for big clients such as Signify, Royal Philips and AkzoNobel, digital marketing agency intoAction (becoming iO) had outgrown their old office building. A former shoe factory offered much more space and as a shell and core delivery, it providing complete creative freedom for the agency. With Rockfon as one of its customers, the acoustic element was a priority at the outset of the renovation.

Project: UCLAN, Foster and Hamilton Buildings
Product: Shiluvit by Oranit in Stained Yellow Pine
Architect: AHR Architects, Manchester
Installer: The Giotto GroupUniversity of Central Lancashire, Foster and Hamilton Buildings.(2017) Photos by Paul WhiteSpecification:
Shiluvit 7-501 in A-9-1 Stained Yellow Pine
20 x 45mm Blades with 40mm Gaps
Quantity: 966mLSA Projects Ltd are pleased to share with you a great new Oranit installation at the University of Central Lancaster, Preston Campus.
The new £8 million addition to the Preston campus includes additions to two seperate buildings at the university; an extension to the Foster building and a linking space between the Harrington and Greenbank buildings.The new building is the first part of a £200m regeneration masterplan to expand the campus over the next 5 years, giving additional teaching and learning space as well as contributing to the regeneration of Preston city and the Adephi Quarter.The two new additions to the campus were designed by AHR Architects in cooperation with the University and Students Union to create functional social spaces that would fit the needs and desires of the students who will be using them. Both social hubs have spaces for staff and students to mix and meet socially or for work as well as facilities for refreshments, pool tables, and public computers.Oranit Shiluvit panels were chosen in part for the ceilings of the spaces due to their impressive acoustic power; the configuration chosen which included LSA Black High Density Acoustic mineral wool achieves an overall rating of Class A for acoustic absorption making it perfect for ensuring minimal reverberation in the busy social spaces helping to keep a relaxed casual atmosphere.Yellow Pine timber was chosen for its depth of texture as well as its PEFC Certification, the timber was then stained to resemble the tone of Oak.

Flagship of the University’s Science Central site...The building is a living laboratory dedicated to the aim of making urban centres more sustainable for future generations.We were contracted to supply & install various major acoustic elements required on this project. From the get go, our client and architect loved Soundis Absorb-R WoodTec range due to their versatility, and the fact we were able to manufacture the products exactly to the project specific specification. One of the Soundis products from the range were the Absorb-R Micro Perforated Timber Panels which were located and installed on the curved rear wall of the auditorium. The timber core panels were faced with Micro Perforated Formica and the client decided upon the colour red which contrasted the other products within the auditorium tremendously. Another major element of our acoustic package were the Absorb-R WoodTec Grooved Timber Panels which were installed within the main classrooms and smaller teaching spaces to provide excellent working spaces for the students by reducing reverberation times and enhancing the quality of Soundis within the areas. The panels in these areas were RAL painted to the colour chosen by the architect to provide the envisaged aesthetic look and feel of the spaces. Finally Soundis Absorb-R WoodTec Timber slats were installed not only on the walls of the corridors and staircases from ground level all the way to the third floor but they were also used as freestanding dividers in large open atrium and circulation spaces throughout the Learning and Teaching Centre. These timber slats were manufactured the exact specification of what the architect wanted to create a modern but sophisticated look within the newly constructed building. All installation carried out by our installation partner UK Acoustics.

When Formby Point Construction needed to specify the insulation for The Gables, an exclusive housing development in Crosby, the project had multiple objectives. Firstly, the company wanted to go beyond the thermal and acoustic requirements outlined in the building regulations. Secondly, with such a large number of applications across multiple construction types, Formby Point Construction wanted to use one manufacturer and supplier to specify the correct product for each application. This would ensure ease of installation and ensure the project was delivered on budget.With this in mind, Formby Point Construction, consulted Formby-based builders’ merchant, Huws Gray, who referred it to Knauf Insulation.For the separating floor applications, Knauf Insulation recommended Knauf Insulation OmniFit® Roll 40, a versatile, non-combustible Euroclass A1 reaction to fire classification Glass Mineral Wool insulation that provides both excellent thermal and acoustic performance. Knauf Insulation also recommended Knauf Insulation DriTherm® Cavity Slab 32 for the masonry cavity external walls, Knauf Insulation Masonry Party Wall Slab for separating walls to comply with Document E and Knauf Insulation Loft Roll 40 for the insulation of the loft.As well as considering the comfort of the homeowner, Formby Point Construction considers the welfare of its employees as part of its decision making. In addition to excellent thermal and acoustic performance, Knauf Insulation scored highly on this aspect thanks to the ECOSE® Technology, its patented sustainable bio-based binder. Products manufactured with ECOSE® Technology contain no added phenol or formaldehyde, and they are 70% less energy-intensive than products manufactured with traditional formaldehyde-based binder. They have no odour, are softer to touch, making them much more pleasant to handle and install. They have also achieved the best possible Eurofins Gold Certificate for Indoor Air Comfort, contributing to a high level of indoor air quality for installers and homeowners alike.Once the specification had been agreed, Knauf Insulation then worked with Huws Gray to price the project and take advantage of volume discounts. This meant that Formby Point Construction had some additional budget for insulation. The company therefore decided to install Knauf Insulation Acoustic Roll within the stud walls between all rooms, going above the minimum standard required between bathrooms and bedrooms outlined in Document E.Thanks to Formby Point Construction’s commitment to going above and beyond the regulations, and Knauf Insulation’s high performance Glass Mineral Wool insulation, homeowners at The Gables will enjoy quieter, warmer homes. To see how Knauf Insulation can help with your insulation needs, check out our Housebuilders Hub.https://www.knaufinsulation.co.uk/Housebuilders-hub

It’s not everyday you get a phone call from an architect asking for help on a grade 2 listed mill building, but that is what happened to us back in April 2017 when Stephenson Studios contacted us with a problem they were having with floor to ceiling heights on their Brownsfield Mill project in Manchester.Their design criteria was for the existing 75mm thick timber mill boards to be retained and each of the apartments in the building would have these as an exposed ceiling. The idea was to keep the building as rustic and to retain as much of the original look and feel of the listed mill building as possible. Because of this all of the acoustic (Part E.) and fire Building Regs. (Part B.) requirements would have to be installed above the existing floor.The drawings we were sent through identified a floor build up, on top of the mill boards, at nearly 300mm thick. This started with a self levelling compound on top of the mill boards, to level them to, and then a timber on timber solution with a final layer of cement particle board prior to the oak flooring being installed.This thick floor section was causing a problem due to the original oak beams that were in place meaning the floor to ceiling heights weren’t as high as they needed to be. This design was compounded flowing the removal of the bitumen floor covering. When the mill boards were exposed and then levels were taken across each of the floors it was clear that the original design was no longer suitable for the project.With the age of the building some of the mill boards were beyond repair and each of the floors needed levelling up so the use of self levelling compound and a timber/ cement board solution also became a very expensive solution. We were asked if we could come up with a solution that was able to reduce costs and time and also to be able to achieve the required acoustic and fire requirements for this type of conversion project.Our initial thoughts on the project was to use timber ferrings, 100mm wide at 600mm centres, to lay our Lewis Deck system onto. This was reducing the number of ferrings by 50% (these were originally at 400mm centres) and it also removed 4 layers of timber/ cement board as well as the self levelling compound from the project. Following a meeting on site however, and after being able to fully talk to the design team and developer about what the Lewis Deck system can do we agreed that we would look at putting the ferring strips at 1400mm centres with the Lewis Deck being laid across at these centres. Rubber granulate acoustic strips would be installed on top of each of the timbers and mineral wool insulation would then be installed between. This would allow more material to be removed from the project but crucially still hit both the acoustic and fire requirements of the project.A test floor was commissioned, by the acoustic engineer, and built in August 2018 which passed all tests. You can see from the photos below the Lewis Deck laid at 1400mm centres for the middle section of the test with the 15mm thick rubber granulate acoustic strip laid on top of the timber ferrings. These timbers, due to the nature of the mill boards below, had to be installed individually to differing heights.The first full delivery of Lewis Deck arrived on site at the beginning of June 2019 following on from the steel strengthening works that were being carried out on site.The deck was quickly installed across the whole first floor in just a couple of days and the first screed pour was scheduled for the following week. The whole floor was poured using an anhydrite screed in just a few hours.The project continued on and the last main section of floor was poured on 19th December 2019, exactly 6 months after the first of the pours.This grade 2 listed mill building was a great project to work on. One that gave us a lot of challenges to overcome from the outset and one that helped overcome a number of issues that kept dropping up as the remedial works on the building progressed. We are delighted with the final result.Developer: Urban SplashFloor Installer: Trent Construction Services Ltd.

As competition for schools construction projects remains high and costs are driven down, the need to meet standards of robustness, energy efficiency and acoustic performance become more challenging. At a school for girls, four roofs totalling over 2000m2 required two different finishes, three different build- ups and, crucially, one single Labour and Materials Warrantee to cover all four under our PI Insurance.

20,000 sq ft of brand new ‘BREEAM® Excellent’ Class A office space in Union Street, London, offers the character and qualities of Bankside’s industrial past, whilst offering a beautiful environment for modern office life. Open plan interiors featuring exposed concrete soffit and walls, full height ‘factory style’ windows, Maple timber Bathgate raised floor panels, and ‘acoustic’ decorative timber.