"acoustic"

Hush Acoustics helped the developer of a new build apartment scheme in Surrey to deliver high quality homes which are highly insulated against the risk of flanking noise from the properties below and above.Composition Design, the architects tasked with designing the two, three-storey apartment blocks in Cranleigh, approached Hush to advise on what is a relatively common, but sometimes overlooked, issue in multi-occupancy buildings constructed using brick and block walls with timber joisted floors. In addition to ensuring the separating walls and floors were acoustically insulated to levels compliant with Approved Document E of the Building Regulations, measures were incorporated to prevent the potential for flanking noise to transmit between properties through the continuous blockwork.Flanking can be a major issue in buildings created with masonry walls and timber joisted floors because of the lightweight blocks and large voids which are characteristic of this type of construction method, particularly in walls of continuous brick and blockwork for the full height of the building.This can result in a noise issue so significant that projects of this kind are highly susceptible to sound test failures due to flanking. Hence why the architect sought specialist guidance from Hush Acoustics at an early stage.The Fairhaven development features two apartment blocks, which were constructed by Bohunone Building Contractors. One of the blocks incorporates three 2-bedroom flats, and the other provides four 2-bedroom flats and one 1-bedroom property, all designed and built with a traditional brick and tiled roof exterior to complement other properties in this established residential area.To address the flanking issue, the HD1013: Hush System 2003 acoustic floor system was used for all the separating floors within both blocks, and a wall lining was specified for the inside of any masonry walls that rise up continuously to the full height of the building. The wall lining consisted of the Hush Bar Deep resilient bars, Hush Slab 25 acoustic insulation slabs and a single layer of 15mm SoundBloc acoustic plasterboard. It was applied to all of the separating walls of the first floor properties, mostly single sided but double sided on those that are most susceptible to flanking, as well as the walls between any flats and the communal stairway.The HD1013 acoustic floor system consists of a floating floor created using Hush Panel 28, a 19mm plasterboard plank and Hush Slab 100 absorbers within the voids between the timber joists. Hush Bar resilient bars are then attached to the joists to provide acoustic separation, to which two layers of plasterboard are then screwed to form the ceilings – one being a layer of 15mm Fireline and the other a 12.5mm SoundBloc.Both the wall and floor acoustic systems were sealed at the perimeters to further prevent flanking noise. Once approved by the architect, the systems were installed by the building contractor under supervision from Hush Acoustics to ensure all the components and materials were fitted in accordance with its guidelines. The performance was confirmed by the pre-completion sound test. It recorded airborne sound levels as high as 60 dB DnT,w+Ctr for the party walls, demonstrating far higher acoustic performance than the minimum of 45 dB required under Approved Document E. The party floors were found to perform equally well, recording levels as low as 49 dB DnT,w+Ctr for airborne sound and 51 dB L'nT,w for impact sound. The latter also represents a significant improvement compared to the minimum compliance level of 62dB or lower stipulated by the Building Regulations.As the Fairhaven project demonstrates, early design consultation is key to addressing the potential for flanking noise and reducing the risk of sound test failures further down the line. If flanking is not considered and treated in the floor/ceiling or wall design and the building fails a sound test, the cost and disruption associated with remedial work could be extremely high.

Style first installed DORMA moveable walls at global law firm, Mayer Brown, back in 2007, soon after announcing its exclusive UK partnership with DORMA. After 12 years, Mayer Brown decided to update its flexible space with the latest operable wall technology. Working with MCM Architecture, and contractor Overbury, Style installed two semi-automatic Variflex partitions and three Skyfold vertical-rising, fully automatic systems, both taken from the comprehensive DORMA range of operable walls. Mayer Brown visitors and staff now enjoy outstanding acoustic privacy between divided areas of 52dB Rw for the Variflex’s and 59dB Rw for the Skyfolds.

Tudor House was opened as the offices for Hatfield Rural District Council by the Marquess of Salisbury in 1930. A grand old building, it was built in a Georgian style with a host of period features.When its purpose as a public administration building was over, a proposal for a conversion (material change of use) into apartments was put forward by Lioncrest. Whilst not a listed building, they proposed to retain all of the period features and, where time had taken its toll on the building fabric, restore and renovate the brickwork and stonework back to its former glory.Permission has been given to convert the offices into seven new luxury apartments comprising of four two bedroom apartments and three one bed apartments. The largest apartment was constructed in the roof space which entailed reconstructing the existing roof incorporating two large dormer windows and five roof lights. The building includes a large basement which was converted into stores for the occupants and for each of the apartments to have an allocated car parking space.Lioncrest consulted with Hush Acoustics at the design stage of this development for soundproofing advice and assistance with the design, specification and supply of the materials needed.There were a number of design issues to take into account due to the history of the building and the period features. Our soundproofing experts worked closely with Lioncrest to develop the most economical and convenient acoustic system to achieve the high results sought. The detailed and careful installation of the Hush materials allowed some fantastic sound reducing results giving the owners of the apartments a very good standard of living.A variety of products were combined to achieve the necessary sound reduction throughout the building’s separating floors, ceilings and walls. These included Hush Panel Cem 28, Hush Slab 100 Sound Absorber, Hush Seal 20 perimeter strip, Hush Bond Panel Adhesive, Hush MF Ceiling System and Hush Acoustic Hangers.Through detailed planning from Lioncrest with regard to the schedule, Hush Acoustics were able to deliver all acoustic materials to site ensuring that the deadline for completion was met. 

London’s new Design Museum has been created within the shell of the original Commonwealth Institute, well known for its distinctive copper covered, hyperbolic parabolic roof. With the emphasis on the display and teaching of design, the priority for designer John Pawson and Dutch architects OMA was equally about the building’s new reconfigured interiors and the design and performance of the products used. For example, the Museum’s galleries are arranged around an oak and marble lined atrium with floors covered in pale grey terrazzo while Troldtekt acoustic panels tie spaces together with a visually attractive textured surface.

A leading supermarket in Leicestershire situated near a flourishing housing development came to the attention of local residents when the noise associated with the running of a major mixed retail outlet became too much by the constant flow HVG. Jacksons employed multiple solutions for this issue including - Installing a large 13.2m Acoustic gate with a 9m opening and a smaller single leaf automated swing gate with Acoustic fencing which helped to reduce noise levels from running components within the supermarket delivery area.

Over the last 12 months, partitioning experts Style, sole UK distributor for Dorma Hüppe, has seen a noticeable increase in demand for glass partitions from within the education sector. Combining transparency with exceptional acoustic privacy, glass systems create bright, open spaces which can be quickly reconfigured to meet the teaching requirements. Another trend in the education sector Style has witnessed is a shift towards fully automatic moveable walls, allowing teachers to change the space available at the push of a button. Automatic movable walls avoid any manual handling and ensure the most effective acoustic seal is formed every time.

A high specification sound absorption solution...GRAHAM Construction were appointed to lead the refurbishment of Senate House, part of the University of London which is to house the School of Oriental & African Studies. SOAS is the world’s leading institution for languages, cultures and societies of Asia, Africa and the Middle East.The plan is to improve the student experience significantly by offering state-of-the-art facilities, with a high specification sound absorption solution for reverberation control in the Teaching Rooms, Seminar Rooms, Meeting Halls, Study Units and Lecture Theatres.Increased sound absorption helps to improve speech transmission quality, sometimes as much as 35%, control echo as well as background noise and reduce reverberation times in teaching areas.The SOAS project will accommodate a 25% planned increase of the cosmopolitan student numbers, with staff and students together on one centrally located campus, so reverberation control is paramount in this instance.We have undertaken the supply & installation of 2,650 sq metres of the Absorb-R GypLine αw Acoustic Plaster along site our installation partner UK Acoustics. The Absorb-R GypLine αw system includes 25mm and 39mm Acoustical Absorption Boards which can be fitted direct to soffit, to a shallow narrow void track-line carrier ceiling or a deep void MF Ceiling Grid. The boards are then sanded and treated with a 3mm acoustic spray plaster with a choice of finishes. The Absorb-R GypLine αw System finishes can then be colour coated to any RAL top coat colour and provides a virtually seamless monolithic ceiling with high and exceptional sound absorption levels that meet or exceed typical reverberation criteria.

New Era was specified to provide a high level of acoustic isolation for this 3000m2 residential project in Fitzrovia, London

A residential developer approached Hush Acoustics after an acoustic test conducted on their project in St Leonards on Sea failed to achieve the acoustic compliance level needed under Approved Document E of the Building Regulations.The problem stemmed from a separating wall between two bedrooms which was constructed using a timber stud wall and had an overall thickness of 170mm. Its acoustic design was adequate on paper, but there was one issue that had not been correctly treated.One of the rooms measured 37m3 and the other 29m3 in size, with one notable consistent feature being a screed laid over a concrete floor.An airborne sound insulation sample test was carried out with no floor covering in place and this revealed a result of DnTw+Ctr 31dB.Levels of ‘flanking’ sound were significant - this meant sound was passing under the separating wall via the floor screed. The solution proposed by Hush Acoustics was to install Hush Mat 15 over the screed floor in both rooms.The effectiveness of this solution was evident in the follow-up test result of DnTw+Ctr 44dB. Whilst this result would be regarded as an average performance in most other types of buildings, the improvement here from a poor DnTw+Ctr of 31dB to 44db showed that Hush Mat 15 had delivered significant improvement and provided a solution to flanking transmission sound sources.The ensured the residential development satisfied the requirements of Approved Document E.

Rushcliffe Oaks is a new crematorium situated in open countryside in Nottinghamshire. Partitioning specialist, Style worked with contractor, A&S Enterprises to increase the functionality of the space between entrance lobby and the chapel.A Dorma Hüppe Variflex semi-automatic glass moveable wall was chosen as the best option, allowing the chapel to be quickly closed off from the main entrance area whenever a funeral is in progress. Minimising possible disturbance, Variflex delivers an impressive 50dB acoustic rating, with further privacy being offered by the inclusion of automatic blinds that are integrated into the individual glass panels.Providing a sensitive and calming space to remember loved ones and say goodbye in a peaceful and tranquil setting, Rushcliffe Oak Crematorium is set in beautifully landscaped grounds. The environmentally conscious facility uses renewable energy sources and is one of the first in the country to invest in innovative all-electric technologies.Contributing to the facility’s drive for a low carbon footprint, the Dorma Hüppe Variflex moveable wall has an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) in accordance with ISO 14025 and EN 15804, making it a highly sustainable solution.“This is a perfect example of where a moveable wall can add so much more to a room than simply dividing the space,” said Steve Williams, Style’s sales director for the Midlands.“When not in use, the moveable wall can be stacked neatly away creating a large, open plan area. However, when in situ it plays an important role in ensuring ceremonies benefit from maximum privacy, helping to create an environment that is peaceful and free from outside disturbance.To ensure the room is fully accessible, Style increased the height of the pass door in the moveable wall to 2400mm, enabling a coffin to be easily manoeuvred into the chapel.

Rockfon® Mono® Acoustic is installed to create unique acoustic ceiling designs in the refurbished headquarters of both building services engineers Max Fordham, and A+DP Architects – both long established expert practitioners in the field of construction and interiors.

Style has won the coveted Contractor’s Gold award yet again at this year's FIS awards.It makes it the 13th time that Style has won the top award, and with 5 silver accolades also under its belt, Style has won an incredible 18 times during its 24 year history.The award was presented at a gala dinner at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London, with Julian Sargent, Style’s group managing director, picking up the award for Style’s creation of flexible office space at Reckitt Benckiser in Slough.To deliver room flexibility at Reckitts, Style installed a combination of Skyfold, vertically rising, fully automatic, acoustic moveable walls and a Dorma Hüppe Variflex semi-automatic moveable wall, all with impressive 59dB acoustic ratings.Read the full case study of the award-winning installation“We are thrilled to have won the gold award for another year,” said Julian, “and this is a tribute to everyone who works at Style and their incredible professionalism and dedication.“What makes this award even more special is the Skyfold we installed at Reckitt Benckiser was our 300th in the UK market, which goes to show how demand is soaring for this world-class operable wall. If anyone hasn’t seen a Skyfold in action it is worth visiting the videos section of our website as it looks incredible as it descends smoothly into position from a cavity in the ceiling.“I’d like to thank everyone at Style who has worked so hard to make Skyfold such a success, and as market leader we look forward to continuing to offer even better moveable wall solutions for all requirements and budgets across multiple market sectors.”For more information please contact your nearest regional Style office

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Walsall College is the largest provider of qualifications for 14-to 19-year-olds in the West Midlands Borough of Walsall. In addition, it also provides education and training for adults, which is delivered both at the college campuses and on-site at workplaces and community centres. In total, more than 11,000 people study vocational technical qualifications, apprenticeships and higher education programmes with the college each year.Its main Wisemore Campus was built in 2009 following a multi-million-pound investment programme designed to provide a vibrant, lively environment that inspires and motivates students. The state-of-the-art facility includes bespoke areas for studying business, creative arts, computing, health, public services and automotive.As is the nature of modern building design, the Wisemore Campus features many hard interior surfaces such as plastered walls, glazed partitions, large windows and carpet-tiled floors. Despite being integral to creating a visually appealing, energy-efficient, safe, secure and comfortable learning environment.Hush Acoustics were invited to carry out a site survey in these relatively poor acoustic environments by Lee Bate, Head of Operational Services. He sought to find an effective response to a large number of complaints from college users in relation to noise in these areas of the building, chiefly as a result of sound reverberation, echo and ambient noise. These issues are known to affect the concentration, focus and engagement of students and staff in schools, colleges and universities, so Walsall College were keen to take the necessary action.The learning pods are used for online training, enabling students to participate and collaborate in Zoom and Teams calls or simply access a quiet area to work. Due to the construction of these rooms, there was a significant acoustic issue that could only be addressed by the introduction of a Class A sound absorber. These would prevent noise reflecting back into the room, which was the cause of the issue.The boardroom presented similar issues. It also features many hard reflective surfaces which were causing it to be very echoey, especially during conference calls and training sessions. To reduce the issue here, a number of Class A absorbers would also need to be installed.Step one was for Hush Acoustics to conduct a site survey. This allowed information to be gathered in order to carry out a series of reverberation calculations with a view to determining how sound absorbers could be used in the affected spaces to control and reduce reverberation and echo.The solution came with Hush Absorber 50 panels installed to the ceilings and walls. These Class A absorber panels utilise a specially formulated 50mm thick acoustic foam, hand finished with interior fabric that is applied to the face, edges and back return. They are designed to fit on any alignment and angle including slopes and ceiling in both portrait and landscape, with a choice of stylish and visually pleasing designs available in sizes, colours and finishes to suit any internal environment.Hush Absorber 50 panels have been highly effective in controlling the problem noise within the areas, dampening the sound issue with a level of absorption material that complies with the design guidance of BB93.The transformation of the learning pods and boardroom has been a great success according to Walsall College’s Head of Operations for the campus, Lee Bate. He said:“We are delighted with the difference the Hush Absorber 50 panels make and the service from Hush. We are extremely happy with how the areas are instantly more comfortable to work from and the panels look good in the spaces they have been installed.”

SubFloor acoustic flooring was used to renovate, raise and acoustically dampen a 828 m² floor into 12 luxury apartments near Nottingham city centre.This simple and elegant solution raised an uneven floor up to 300 mm to allow for installations and insulation. The joist and screw system allows for quick and easy assembly so that the floor can reach the desired height. Acoustic feet were mounted onto the SubFloor screws for acoustic damping between apartments.Products:Wooden Joist 45x45x3600 mmSubFloor Screw 300 mmScrew Foot AcousticHeight Variation: 73 - 323 mmSystem Weight - c/c 600 mm: 2.86 kg/m²Materials:Pine T0-C24Fibre-reinforced VitamidePolyamidePoint Load 50 x 50 mm: 5.3 kN12.84 kN/m² - Between screws12.73 kN/m² - Next to screw over joist[According to SS-EN 1195:1998] Acoustic Damping: Up to 28 dB[rating according to ISO 717-2]

Harbour Light Assisted Living CIC housing association approached Hush Acoustics to upgrade the floor within one of its flats to offer a higher level of soundproofing in line with the specific requirements of one of its tenants.The housing association, which specialises in providing bespoke accommodation and services to assist people with disabilities to fulfil their responsibilities as tenants and help them live an independent life, sought to improve the acoustic performance of a separating floor in the flat for a new resident. The individual suffered from an Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC), also referred to as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), which meant any flooring solution had to be appropriate for their needs, not only to reduce both impact and airborne ‘noise nuisance’ encroaching to the flat below, but also to ensure the final floor finish could be fully bonded to the acoustic substrate. The potential noise issues were regarded as higher than typical domestic noise which meant a more robust specification was required.The solution was provided by Hush Mat 15 with Hush Ply 28 overlaid. This provided the required mass, flexibility and isolation, as well as a robust surface to allow the floor covering to be directly bonded, ensuring it could not be lifted.

As one of the pioneers of remote working solutions, Citrix recently chose to reconfigure their offices, taking on an additional space at the Cambridge Science Park. Aiming to create an environment that would facilitate engagement, creativity and productivity, moveable wall specialists, Style worked closely with architect, Gensler, and contractor, Area Sq, to offer intensely flexible workspace.Delivering exceptional acoustic ratings of 55dB and 52dB respectively, Style installed two Dorma Hüppe Variflex solid moveable walls and a single Variflex glass moveable wall, allowing Citrix staff to section off a meeting area from the main hall and then further sub-divide the space as required. Contributing to the vibrant new décor, all walls feature black RAL 9005 profiles and dry wipe magnetic boards to encourage brainstorming. Cambridge Science Park has been home to the UK Citrix Research and Development team for over a decade. Having occupied approx. 30,000 sq ft of space on the first floor, Citrix was keen to refurbish their existing workplace as well as expand operations by taking over additional space on the ground floor.Reflecting the Citrix vision and culture, the new layout and design maximises the potential of the space, allowing staff to establish new ways of collaborating.When all three walls are in place, three smaller meeting rooms are created. Alternatively, a combination of one large and one small meeting room can be formed, or just one very large space using just the glass moveable wall. The entire space can also be opened-up into one large open plan area. “This is an excellent example of how a combination of glass and solid moveable walls can create really adaptable office space,” said Steve Williams, sales director for Style Midlands.“Thanks to the inclusion of three pass doors, access is simplified and also allows the glass wall to be left in place for extended periods if desired, creating a more permanent space. “However, due to the semi-automatic operation of these operable walls, they can be opened up extremely quickly so that the entire space can be reconfigured for different vents throughout the day.” 

Offering invaluable space flexibility, Style was commissioned to install nine Stylefold 120 moveable walls in the Sisters of Prayer Hall within the Darussalam Centre, Southall.A busy facility that is used for a multitude of different activities and gatherings every day, the newly adaptable space ensures the Centre is fully utilised at all times. With the moveable walls forming a grid throughout the vast, open-plan area, staff and visitors can now create an extensive range of large and smaller room configurations as required.Style is the UK’s multi-award winning market leader in moveable partitioning walls and works with all requirements and budgets, from small community centres to vast conferencing venues.The Darussalam Centre provides a platform for all Muslims to practically apply Islamic principles and work together for the community’s advancement through the provision of social, educational, and religious services, as well as outreach programs to build bridges of mutual understanding with other communities.“This is a great example of how moveable walls can take a large open plan area and create the flexibility to change it into whatever room arrangement is needed on the day,” said Michael Porter, sales director for Style South.“Simple and quick to manoeuvre, they can be changed at a moment’s notice and with a 37dB acoustic rating they offer Darussalam Centre the desired level of sound reduction for their requirements.”Style is the exclusive UK partner to Dorma Hüppe, Skyfold and SWG moveable wall systems and offers a complete range of manual, semi-automatic and fully automatic solutions across a wide range of market sectors.

Coal Drops Yard, the new retail and lifestyle district where acoustic performance was vital for the SamsungKX experience space. Rockfon® Mono® Acoustic provides Class A sound absorption helping create the perfect environment for visitors to interact with Samsung technology. Associate Trevor Gidlow from KSS, “The installation fully achieved the original design vision”. ROCKFON Mono Acoustic is a unique product providing the elegance of a seamless ceiling with high performance sound absorption, previously thought only possible with modular suspended ceilings. Craig Wheatley, Pacy & Wheatley Acoustics, “What an amazing project, from design to completion, another real flagship project for us.“

A significant new building project has recently been completed at one of the National Trust’s most popular properties in Hampshire, Mottisfont Abbey. The new development, situated on the banks of the River Test, uses Troldtekt natural wood wool panels to improve the entrance facilities at this historic priory and country estate - visited annually by over 250,000 people. Designed by Burd Haward Architects, the new welcome buildings are arranged around a central courtyard, raised above ground level to avoid risk of flooding and impact on the existing flood plain.

Three villages and 2,450 new homes have been built in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. We provided 335 metres of 4m high Jakoustic® Commercial and Highway acoustic fencing which was installed on top of the earth bund. Jakoustic® Commercial and Highway fencing is installed on galvanised steel I-beams which provide strength and durability. It is also the only complete timber acoustic barrier system to hold a CE mark. For this project, reflective acoustic fencing was used, which works by reflecting noise away from its flat profile, which is very effective in large open spaces.

Newcastle University’s Frederick Douglass Centre is a £34 million flagship teaching facility. Seating in the impressive stepped auditorium is maximised thanks to Style’s installation of a world-first, bespoke set of moveable wall systems, dividing the room into two separate lecture halls, seating 500 and 250 students. Style worked in close collaboration with Sheppard Robson, and Sir Robert McAlpine, to design a solution that is fully automatic, concurrently moving a double skin of Dorma Hüppe sliding wall panels, up through the tiered seating. The final installation surpasses the client’s demands for acoustic privacy between divided areas.

Perfect for office spaces, our MG600 glass office partitions and movable glass walls offer several benefits to your workspace and your employees.The advantages of glass acoustic walls include excellent light flow in offices, low-cost installation, flexibility in the work environment, and the simple fact that they look classy and classy. Not only that, but they also provide excellent sound insulation, enabling privacy between clients or important internal meetings.These flush glazed movable acoustic wall panels are constructed from an aluminum frame with flush tempered glass panels mounted on either side of the panel for a flush glass look. They work especially well in office spaces, impressing everyone who sees them, be it stakeholders, important clients or business partners.Additionally, you can choose to tint the aluminum frame according to your own design or branding needs. These panels maintain the spaciousness of the room's proportions while maximizing light and clear sightlines. Really great office aesthetic.

‘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. 

The iconic sporting and entertainment venue in London contacted UK Roller Shutters seeking a security solution that also provided acoustic soundproofing for their loading bay.

The clinking of glasses, the chatter of patrons and the selected music are all essential to a vibrant dining experience. This experience is, other than that of the food, is one of balance that is often found tipping towards the more noise-related end of the scale. An enjoyable experience does not include people having to raise their voices above one another, or by missing out on a conversation because they cannot hear. This effect is called the Lombard effect, or ‘Café effect’ where groups unconsciously raise their voices over others so that they can listen to. This effect continues to happen until the room reaches a dreadful cacophony.There is now greater access to online reviews that can be brought up in seconds on your smartphone. There are even Crowdsourcing apps (check out SoundPrint) that allows the user to measure the loudness (in decibels) and categorise how loud it is. You will also find those food critics discussing how ‘noisy’ a restaurant is, as over time they have cranked up the volume. Potential customers now have these ‘tools’ to help avoid eateries that do not match what they want as an experience, and this could be potentially your restaurant(s)!When it comes to noise and sound, this is your ‘acoustic environment’. When Bluebell got hold of iKoustic to see how a new and thriving restaurant could create a better acoustic environment, we walked them through what is possible, and the path to dimming the cacophony.Noise in Restaurants.In open-plan restaurants like Bluebell, designers are creating a living, breathing space. These feature kitchens that blend into dining areas and have high ceilings that expose the ducting of air conditioning with light fixtures that extend the reach of the room. They are also made up of hard-finished furnishing and surfaces to appeal to the current boom in minimalism. Not only this, but the hard furnishings are easy to clean, another area of management for making sure your restaurant is in tip-top shape. But, what these mean for your acoustic environment is far less manageable without professional input and a series of effective resolutions in place. There has been a rise in studies of noise, music, taste and experience in hospitality in recent years; it is a complete sensory experience combined with social interaction. It is our vision, hearing, taste and smells that all become excited. The rise in noise found in restaurants has steadily grown year on year. On some occasions, these measurements have been found at damaging levels to our sensitive ears, let alone at levels that are comforting for allowing conversation; an essential part of the social element of dining out. The Guardian has found that“The dB levels at many restaurants far exceed this pleasant thrum [between 55-65dB]. The average sound level recorded in UK restaurants on Soundprint, taken between 6pm and 9pm, is 79dB. “I’m sure many of those are above 80, and I’m sure some are above 85,” says Scott. “It’s really loud for conversation.” In 2017, the UK charity Action on Hearing Loss (AoHL) found that noise levels in some well-known chains, such as Patisserie Valerie, topped 90dB on busy evenings. That’s the equivalent of munching your croissant next to a lawnmower or motorbike.”and if you are finding these kinds of levels at your restaurant, these would most definitely land complaints and critiques pointing this out.There are possible connections between the sound intensity and the drinking of alcohol, but when combining this with food, it comes up as the second most common complaint in restaurants. Different intensities in background noise may even affect what you taste. PRI’s study on the impact of sound on taste highlights the following.“Researchers asked participants to eat chips and cookies while listening to white noise at either high or low volumes, or in silence. They found that the eaters perceived saltiness and sweetness as less intense when they ate the food in the presence of loud background noise, in contrast to when they ate it with quieter or no background noise.”The fascinating part of what we are beginning to discover is that there are certain foods that taste best or worse at specific sound intensities, with the aviation industry tailoring their meals to match the loud roar of jet engines, to the average dB levels of restaurants revamping their menu for the different intensities. Reverberant spaces are open and reflective. They allow everyone’s conversation, the clanging of pots and pans in kitchens and the background music to all meld together as intrusive background noise. It is the introduction of more absorptive surfaces that help to control this ‘bouncing around’ and reinforcement of perceived amplitude of the sound. Acoustics Today has highlighted that“The higher the average absorption coefficient, the more sound will be absorbed by the room surfaces. So, if a restaurant is to offer a quiet, subdued environment, where people can talk quietly, it is important to use larger amounts of sound-absorbing material on the available ceiling and wall areas. If a venue is to have a more “energetic” feel, less sound-absorbing material should be used, but that material should be used in strategically placed areas that have the potential to get louder than others”. It is not that that whole room would require absorptive materials; this would not create a vibrant balance and would be more like dining in an anechoic chamber! The aim is to place them evenly across walls and ceiling so that there is a more even surfacing that will absorb the sound energy.As we mentioned, it is about the balance of what you want for your restaurant’s atmosphere and experience. These will determine the amount of internal acoustic treatment you will need to create it. BluebellBluebell has had a successful start with their food, but after receiving a few reviews about the noise at their restaurant, especially on busy evenings, they got in contact with iKoustic. With an open-plan dining space made up of glass partitions, hard finished walls and floor – this resulted in a very challenging and reflective environment. Both at lunchtimes and evenings, the noise reverberated and caused massive disruptions to the conversation of others.The team at Bluebell wanted a complete design that would complement their current interior design and colour scheme, so we needed to work together on finding a solution that would do so. We went to visit them to present our Note™ range on-site to show them the possibilities of not only matching their surface colours but also their light fixtures and cooling fans. We brought along our ‘mood-board’ to collaboratively choose the right tone and mood of the room by comparing these internal features with our available options!MeasureWe took a simple projection of estimated reverb time by using a modelling of the room. These take what is called the ‘absorption coefficients’ of the surfaces, how absorbant a surface is in other words and calculates an estimated reverb time. This reverb time is how long it takes the sound to decay. You can discover more about reverberation by pressing on our icon below.Dimensions of the spaceLength – 8.1mWidth – 4.9mHeight – 4m (top of pitch) 2.4m (bottom of the pitch.)Estimated Reverberation CalculationsFrom these dimensions, our calculations were estimated at a reverberation time of 3.3 seconds, much too high for a restaurant with receiving even modest levels of speech intelligibility. We would usually aim between 0.8 – 1.2 seconds. We proposed that at least 17.3m2 of Class A sound absorption would be needed to be at the levels between 0.8 – 1.2 seconds. This would need applying across the wall and ceilings space for best coverage.LookTo present our proposed finished look, we provided them with our visualisation service. 2D drawings would help display the layout of our Hexagonal Soft Note™ panels wrapped in Camira Cara Fabric. The choice of using Hexagonal cuts in various sizes and colours not only creates a visually stimulating space, but the shaping also allows more space to add sound absorption in these areas, just as bees do with its honeycomb structure.From the measurements, we then created a 3D scale of the room with its current colour scheme and implemented our approved Note designs with the addition of Soft Note™ Pro on the ceiling, evenly spaced. In this process, we include all fixtures and furniture that we closely match to assure best representation.Hexagonal Soft Note™ x 18 (various sizes)Soft Note™ Pro x 20All ceilings panels were evenly spaced to provide the best performance possible, and this is important when reducing reverberation as there is more available absorptive surfaces.FeelOur installation team installed the panels as direct adhesive fixing so as not the impose on the room or interfere with the fixtures. The Hexagonal shaping in these colour gradients created an off-beat style of imagery but at no time feeling out of place. The different sizing and placement also allowed various shapes to appear from the original wall which we think creates a stimulating visual.The texture of the Hexagonal Soft Note™ panels comes from the Camira Cara Fabric wrap, and this gives them more depth instead of a solid colour wrap. An approach that both us and the team at Bluebell love.The final sound was vastly improved and the ‘feel’ of the room was undoubtedly more controlled, we now await those reviews after a busy period from customers that congratulate them on the improved acoustics of the room!

The internal environment of a newly built, highly sustainable school sports hall building on the south coast of England required acoustic enhancement to ensure it could be used and enjoyed to its full potential.The facility at the New Horizons Seaside Primary School at Lancing in West Sussex was created to provide much needed additional space for PE sessions, which had become more difficult for teachers to deliver effectively as pupil numbers have been increasing. The long term forward-thinking vision of the school to create a highly sustainable new building, rather than opt for a standard, compliance-level hall, was brought to fruition by architects Burns Guthrie and Partners.They proposed a design with materials and features that would minimise the carbon footprint of the sports hall, both in terms of its embodied carbon and carbon emissions during its lifespan. This included using a cross laminated timber (CLT) structure rather than steel, which represented an 85% reduction in embodied carbon for this major element of the building. In addition, windows were positioned on the eastern elevation to maximise solar gain from sunlight early in the day and underfloor heating was installed supplied by air source heat pumps. The building is also naturally ventilated, controlled automatically by the temperature and carbon dioxide levels within the hall.Once completed and in-use, attention turned to optimising the acoustic conditions through measures to reduce reverberation. Sports halls of all types are prone to high levels of reverberation given the presence of so many hard surfaces and few materials capable of absorbing soundwaves generated through speech, music and sporting activities.Following consultation between the architects and Hush Acoustics, a solution was proposed in the form of wall-mounted absorber panels. The technical team at Hush produced acoustic calculations based on the drawings provided by the architect, which enabled a plan to be developed showing how many absorber panels would be required and their locations within the hall.Hush Acoustics recommended the installation of 40x Hush Absorber 50 panels in three sizes – 1200 x 1200mm, 800 x 1200mm and 600 x 1200mm – which would cover more than 43 sq. m on the hall’s four walls. These absorbers are manufactured using a specially formulated 50mm thick acoustic foam which is hand finished with interior fabric applied to the face, edges and back return to offer a visually attractive result.The Hush team calculated that the installation of these panels would transform the acoustic environment through a significant reduction in reverberation time (RT) – that is the amount of time taken for sound to decay by 60 decibels (dB) in a closed space after the sound source stops. It would also ensure that the RT was in line with the levels specified for school refurbishment projects in BB93 (Building Bulletin 93) of between 1.67s and 2.01s.Prior to completion of the acoustic treatment, the 1000Hz RT was calculated at 3.90s. Following the installation of the Hush Absorber 50 panels, this reduced to 1.70s. Similarly dramatic reductions were also noted in the RT for lower and higher frequency sounds at 500Hz and 2000Hz.Now that Hush Absorber 50 sound absorber panels are installed, the New Horizons Seaside Primary School sports hall not only provides a model for sustainable development, but a high quality teaching space that is popular with teachers and pupils alike.

St Gemma’s Hospice regularly host seated exercise classes, lunches and other activities in their main hall. They noticed there was a lot of echo and sound reflection within the room, this was leading to verbal communication breaking down and leaving residents feeling isolated.Hearing loss is a common issue among elderly citizens, combined with a room with poor acoustics, this issue can be amplified significantly and have a detrimental effect on their mental & physical well-being.Hear the difference the Still Note raft panels made to the acoustics in our YouTube video.It takes our brains 35% more effort to interpret information through poor audio, this can lead to a slower response to stimuli over time.Reflection is where soundwaves emitted from a source hit a solid object such as hard wood flooring or a brick wall & bounce back into the room in several directions. Large rooms with a lack of soft surfaces such as soft furnishings or carpet are especially susceptible to this phenomenon which is what St Gemma’s Hospice were experiencing.Absorptive Acoustic PanelsBy installing absorptive Still Note acoustic panels on the walls & hanging them from the roof we were able to reduce the reflection of soundwaves, completely transforming the soundscape & the room aesthetics.So what did St. Gemma’s have to say about the results?"Just wanted to say a big thanksfor getting this work over the line – the difference it has made is incredible! We had Community MDT yesterday with a full room and everyone commented on the significant improvement to the sound – people could clearly hear what was being said and the sound no longer bounces around or drifts away. The positive difference is also very noticeable when there are only a few people in the room."We have also had some super patient feedback from the Thai Chi group yesterday – “Normally I struggle and can’t hear a thing that is said, and today I heard everything – it’s brilliant”.

Drawing on over 20 years of experience installing operable walls, Style was recently challenged to come up with a solution to divide a large meeting area, despite there being no suitable structure in the ceiling to utilise as a fixing point. After some lateral thinking and close communication with the client, a non-structural timber frame was created for support, with the weight of the folding wall being transferred to the ground via a surface mounted floor track. A Stylefold 120 folding wall system was chosen as the only operable wall that could realistically accommodate the room structure.The client for this project was the international company, CEMAR, which offers a state-of-the-art, cloud-based administration support and contract administration product to companies in the construction sector. As part of a substantial refurbishment project of the Gloucestershire offices, CEMAR wanted to incorporate space flexibility to the existing open-plan meeting area. This would allow the expansive space to be quickly divided into two separate meeting rooms, or opened up for larger gatherings, presentations and as a general break out space.Demonstrating their expertise in this sector, Style was able to rise to challenge of installing an operable wall in an area with insufficient ceiling structure to support a partition, delivering a high-quality solution that directly meets the clients’ needs.“We’re very proud of our ability to work with clients to overcome complications in room structure and design, and develop a solution that works perfectly for them,” said Julian Sargent, Style’s group managing director.“The final installation not only complements the room’s interior design with a white melamine finish, but also offers 46dB Rw acoustic integrity and a pass door for room access when the wall is in place.”Style is the multi-award winning, market leader in moveable partitioning walls. With 4 regional offices across the UK and a showroom in London, the company specialises in creating flexible space across a broad cross section of sectors including corporate, hospitality, religion, education, local authority and healthcare.

From floor to ceiling this 'Sport For All' school chose the DYNAMIK treatment with an area elastic sprung sports floor finished in Tarkett Sports Vinyl and DYNAMIK Sports Wall panels to provide the best acoustics. The Solid & Acoustic (Perforated) sports wall panels in Classic Oak CPL wood-effect finish complement the Grey floor surface.

SubFloor acoustic flooring was used to help renovate, raise and acoustically dampen a 1318 m² old mill floor into 16 luxury apartments near Nottingham city centre.This simple and elegant solution raised an uneven floor by a step height to allow for installations and insulation. The joist and screw system allows for quick and easy assembly so that the floor can reach the desired height.Products:Wooden Joist 45x45x3600 mmSubFloor Screw 200 mmScrew Foot AcousticHeight Variation: 73 - 223 mmSystem Weight - c/c 600 mm: 2.65 kg/m²Materials:Pine T0-C24Fibre-reinforced polypropylenePolyamidePoint Load 50 x 50 mm: 5.3 kNUniformly Distributed Load:9.32 kN/m² - Between screws7.96 kN/m² - Next to screw over joistAcoustic Damping: Up to 28 dB[rating according to ISO 717-2]

There has always been a relationship between design and the marrying up of form, function and aesthetics. While popularity of materials and styles comes and go over the years, how products look, feel and perform is constant. This interesting interplay is explored in the latest online theme from Troldtekt A/S, the Danish manufacturer of acoustic panels. Comprising expert articles, white papers and interviews, the ‘Architectural Beauty’ theme looks at the concept of architectural beauty and the importance of aesthetics in leading certification schemes for sustainable building. It acknowledges that it is not always possible to harmonise the aesthetic with the practical but that there are some ways in which they can be combined to provide value to a building while enhancing its beauty. Australian artist and designer Jay Dee Dearness sums it up well - “Beauty is the melding of functionality and aesthetics in just the right proportions to achieve the desired result.’ Acoustic product manufacturers, such as Troldtekt, embrace this relationship and are at the forefront of practical, aesthetic and high performance products and design. Troldtekt’s wood wool panelling is a perfect canvas allowing architects and designers to realise their most creative schemes, safe in the knowledge that acoustical performance will not be compromised.Since 1903, Copenhagen has presented annual awards for beautiful buildings, landscaping and urban spaces within the city. The Copenhagen Building Award comprises four categories - new buildings, restoration, refurbishment and urban environments. “We present the awards to honour the architects, engineers and developers behind the projects. Also, we’re keen to support projects and urban spaces that are of particular benefit to the city and its citizens”, comments Camilla van Deurs, City Architect of the City of Copenhagen and chair of the building award jury.Copenhagen’s Grøndalsvængets School (pictured), is one of the winning projects chosen by the Copenhagen Building Awards 2020. The school has undergone thorough renovation and expansion, all designed by JJW Arkitekter. It now has a fully modern learning environment where the original qualities have been preserved – and where the indoor climate is exemplary. Like most schools, it used to be noisy by nature from the exuberance of children. Now, this stunning example of architectural beauty shows how large bright spaces, natural daylight and interesting design works well with aesthetic high performance products. It also shows how wood wool acoustic panels make such designs possible while dampening ambient and reverberated noise which would otherwise be unbearable for users.  Many buildings have unique challenges relating to acoustic issues but all can benefit from acoustic panelling to help contribute towards improving the interior environment. Specified throughout the UK and Europe, the benefits of 100% Troldtekt natural wood wool panels include high sound absorption, high durability, natural breathability, low cost life cycle performance and sustainability. Available in various sizes and in four grades from extreme to coarse, the panels can be left untreated or painted in virtually any RAL colour. Samples, case studies and technical information are easily sourced from www.troldtekt.co.uk (tel 01978 664255). In addition, information on Troldtekt’s Architectural Beauty theme can be found at https://www.troldtekt.com/news/themes/architectural-beauty or https://bit.ly/3jvFmV2

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’.

The BBC TV Centre at Wood Lane London is world renowned for its television output over many years. Completed in February last year, much of the interior was extensively redesigned by HOK architects, with refurbishment and construction carried out by the BDL Group, one of the largest specialist dry-lining contractors in the UK. One of the key factors to ensure that noise was kept to a minimum and reverberation time reduced. The solution was high performance Troldtekt acoustic panels which were used to line all the ceilings and the soffit around the circular atrium.

This £7.88 million Student Accommodation project started in 2014 and is a Timber Frame construction specifically designed as a Student Accommodation Residential Development and Halls of Residence for Liverpool University.The specification for this project consisted of 231 studio apartments fitted with acoustic flooring. The project which is located close to the busy Lime Street Train Station in Liverpool City Centre, was extremely complex.The acoustic flooring of choice was a 23mm T&G profile dry screed pre bonded with 18mm wood fibre.

The Osborn consists of 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments, including a top floor 3 bed penthouse. Inspired by a modern industrial design, this building is well-proportioned with generously high ceilings, filled with light from huge Crittall-style windows and doors. Located opposite Brick Lane, moments from Whitechapel Gallery and The Old Truman Brewery, the unique flavour of the area has been enhanced with the inclusion of balconies or terraces, with views towards the London skyline. Cellecta’s ScreedBoard 28 was specified by Moreno Masey due to its high density and unique resilient layer providing unrivalled acoustic performance, typically 5dB better than legislative requirements. It is an award-winning composite acoustic overlay treatment featuring interlocking edges for installation convenience.This 1,000m² Goldenstone development in East London was awarded to Michael Brady.