University of Santo Tomas

COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE
A Report Submittal on
BUILDING UTILITIES 3
Acoustics and Lighting
Module No. 07
Acoustical Treatment
Application for Sound Absorbing Materials
By:
Group No.7
Almeida, iego Solomon
!apellan, Maria Lovella
Marsal, Megan "uniece
#$ August %&#'
() (ntroduction: Acoustical Treatment
*e +no, that ,hen sound is generated part of it is absorbed and transmitted, and the
other is reflected bac+ in the enclosed space)
(() Application of Sound Absorbing Materials
A) Reverberation !ontrol- these materials can be used to control reverberation, so that speech
may not be garbled) The larger the enclosed space, the longer the reverberation time)
B) .oise Reduction- ,hen correcly used it can control the moise build up in a room) (t can also
contribute to speech privacy in large open plan rooms since it decreases sound energy as
distance increases)
!) "cho !ontrol- can be used to control delayed, distinct long reflections of sound or echoes
,hich usually ,or+s together ,ith reverberation control)
((() Acoustical Materials
All building treatments used in construction and in creating spaces can absorb sound but
differs in the amount o sound energy it can absorb) Some sound absorbing materials are used in
sound insulation under special conditions) (n a materials there are only t,o ,ays of ho, it ,ill
react ,hen sound energy hits it, it may either absorb the sound or reflect it) *hen sound energy
is absorbed it is partially converted to heat but most of the energy is transmitted to the other side
of the material not unless it is retained by another material that acts as a barrier for transmission)
A good sound absorber is a good transmitter and insulation) *ith an effective sound insulator
enclosure ,ill prevent sound transmission of sound from one side to the other)
(/) !ommon Building Materials
A) Bric+- this is a building bloc+ made from clay) (t is usually used for load bearing ,alls, non-
load bearing ,alls li+e veneers and as paving material) This material attenuates sound ,ell
especially ,hen it is used as t,o side by side ,alls that are unconnected) To be able to
reduce sound energy transmission it should also be mortared or sealed ,ell) (t is a very good
all-fre0uency sound reflector)
B) !oncrete- this is a mi1ture of cement, sand and aggregates li+e gravel) Usually, especially
today, it is reinforced by steel bars as structural members) (t usually accepts and transmits
sounds li+e any other hard material) *hen it comes to absorption, concrete doesn2t really
absorb sound e1cept ,hen it is intentionally porous)
!oncrete 3ollo, Bloc+s- The attenuation of these materials depends on their ,eight)
Light,eight bloc+s may be ade0uate in non-critical cases) .ormal ,eight chb
especially ,hen their cores are filled ,ith mortar can attenuate sound ,ell) ouble
,all of chb can attenuate sound in a very high degree) Since its surface is slighty
porous it can absorb sound unles it is sealed or painted) (f sealed, it can also be a
good all-fre0uency reflector)
!) 4lass- principally used to gla5e ,indo,s and other openings that needs to be closed ,ithout
e1cluding light) Since it is a very light material, its sound attenuator is very small but it is very
reflective for high fre0uency sounds an can absorb an amount of lo, fre0uency sound)
Laminated 4lass- composed of t,o or more sheets of glass that has interlayers of
vioelastic ,hich provides damping) Some types are better at sound attenuation than
an e0ually thic+ monolithic glass)
) *ood ec+ing- structural materials that is suported bybeams or trusses) Sometimes it is
e1posed as finished ceilings) They are usually reflective unless there are crac+s that are
unsealed that ma ycause absorption)
") *ood 6aneling- thin finish made of ,ooden board or panels) (t doesn2t contrbute much to th
eattenuation of the ,all) (t absorbs lo, fre0uency sounds as ,ood does and may cause bass
defieciency in musical rooms)
7) 6ly,ood- laminate of several layers of ,oo veneer) (t has many uses in construction li+e
underlayment for floors to finished paneling of ,alls) Because its density is lo,, it is an
ineffective sound attenuator) Since it is made of ,ood it is a very good lo, fre0uency sound
absorber, and refective at high fre0uencies)
4) Metal-
/) Sound Absorbing Materials and !onstruction
All materials have sound absorbing properties) Some of the sound energy that are not
absorbed are ,8either transmitted, reflected, or dissipitated) The sound absorbing
property o a material can be described as the sund absorption coefficient in a particular
fre0uency range) The coeffient #)& or #&&9 can be vie,ed as coplete absorption and
&)&# or #9 as the minimum)
/() Three Basic !ategories of Sound Absorbers
A) 6orous Materials- e1amples are fiberboards, soft plasters, mineral ,ools, ans isolation
blan+ets) These are interloc+ing pores that forms a cellula net,or+) Sound absortion is
efficient in high fre0uencies than in lo, ones) But it can be improved by increasing the
thic+ness an solid bac+ing of the materials)
6refabricated Acoustical Units-
Acoustical 6laster and Sprayed-on- li+e any other plaster product it is used to seal in
crac+s and other spaces so that sound may not be absorbed)
Acoustic tile- ,idely used as ceiling material made of fiberglass or cellulose fibers)
Li+e ordinary tiles its si5es vary from :&&1:&&mm to $#&1#%%&mm) these are usually
suspended n metal grid but some can be glued or attached to solid surfaces) (t is
prone to damage that is ,hy it is not recommendable to use it for ,alls) Suspende
tiles provides more lo, fre0uency absortion)
Accoustical 7oam- usually made of polyurethane) (t can either be produced ,ith open
or closed cells) ;pen ones are very effective sound absorbers especially ,hen
provided in a thic+ layer) !losed cells are less absorbing but are usually applied to
metal surfaces to provide damping)
Acustical Blan+ets- can befrom roc+ ,ool, glass fibers, ,ood fibers, hair felt etc) it is
usually installed in a framing system ,hich can be as thic+ as one to five inches) The
effectiveness of this material ,hen it comes to absorption varies as it differs in
thic+ness) These are usually covered ,ith panelboards for a much pleasing finish)
7iberglass- a very e1cellent sound absorber)
#) insulation) (t reduces noise and reverberation because it absorbs sound)
%) 7ibrous Board
:) 7ibrous 6lan+
') 7ibrous Spray- often for fireprofing application) (t is absorptive because it is
porous)
(nsulation- similar to batts and blan+ets) (t improves attenuation)
!arpets- eliminate surface noises li+e shuffling of feet, clic+ing of heels, and moving
of furniture)
!urtains and fabrics- can be used as covering for materials that are not sound
absorbing) This as a material do not really absorb sound but if stretched over
materials li+efiberglass it can give an acoustically e1cellent finish)
B) 6anel or Membrane Absorbers- impervious material installed on a solid bac+ing but
separated by airspace is a panel absorber as it ,ill vibrate ,hen sound ,ave hits it) They are
efficient lo, fre0uency absorbers)
!) !avity resonator- also called as /olume) (t is consist of an enclosed body of air confined ,alls
and connected by a anarro, opening called the nec+ to the space ,here sound travels) The
unit can be ad<ust to be able to resonate at a desired fre0uency)
(ndividual Resonator- made up of empty clay vessels of varied si5es from ' to =
inches)
6erforated Resonator- they contain a large number of nec+s)
Slit resonators
/(() 6refabricated Sound Absorbing Materials- for ,alls use fibrous material ,ith a protective facing or
panelboard) Use membrane faced or tiles for humid environments)
/((() Suspended Sound Absorbing 6anels and Units- installed ,ith all edges and sides e1posed)
"1tremely high absorption because all si1 sides of the material is e1posed)
(>) Relative "fficiency of Sound Absorbers
Thin 6orous Materials- from sound energy to heat by friction
/ibrating 6anels- sound energy to vibrational energy ,hich is dissipated by damping and
radiation
/olume resonators- also called 3emholt5, reduces sound energy by friction at opening
and by inter reflections ,ithin cavity)
>) !ommercial Type Acoustical Materials for /arious Building Applications
A) 6olyurethane 7oam Sound Absorber
- Material : ;pen cell 6olyurethane Acoustical 7oam
- 6attern : Scientifically engineered pattern designed to absorb the ,idest range of fre0uencies
- 7eatures : "ffectively reduces reflected noise and reverberation time to produce safe and
en<oyable surroundings
- Applications : (ndustrial, commercial, audio room, residential, sound recording studios, radio
stations, band rooms, s,imming pools, churches, schools, gun ranges, e0uipment enclosures
B) Melamine 7oam Linear *edges
- Material : ;pen cell melamine or polyurethane
- 6attern : Linear ,edge pattern ? offers e1cellent absorption and allo,s you to create different
designs
- Applications: (ndustrial, commercial, audio rooms, and residential mar+ets) !eilings, ,alls,
partitions, sound studio, radio rooms, band rooms, gyms, s,imming pools, gun ranges,
mechanical rooms, and enclosures) Thic+er variety are designed for use in anechoic
chambers and test cells)
!) Melamine 7oam Sound Absorber
- Material : ;pen !ell Melamine Acoustical 7oam
- 6attern : !onvoluted ouble 3ump Anechoic *edges
- 7eatures : esigned for sound absorption, in a ,ide range of fre0uencies) (ncreased surface
absorption area
- Applications : (ndustrial, commercial, audio, residential, ceilings, ,alls, partitions) Sound
recording studios, radio stations, board rooms, s,imming pools, churches, schools, gun
ranges, enclosures
) Acoustical Baffles
- Material : 6orous "1panded 6olypropylene @6"66A, 7iberglass-free
- 6attern : Soft-te1tured beaded surface
- 7eatures : economical, multi-purpose, moisture resistant, durable, light,eight and cleanable
- Applications : gymnasiums, auditoria, classrooms, music rooms, arenas and stadia,
churches, offices, computer rooms, restaurants, concert halls, theatres, gun ranges,
manufacturing plants, machine enclosures, ,ater treatment plants, s,imming pools, food
processing plants, animal hospitals
") AbsorptiveB.oise Barrier Cuilted !urtains
- Material : Acoustical 7oam or 7iberglass core, face ,ith 0uilted aluminium fabric
- 6attern : Cuilted 6attern
- 7eatures : "ffective durable absorber ,ith mass loaded vinyl barrier option
- Applications : effective solution to a ,ide range of noise control problems @machinery,
outdoor, etc)A Silicone fabric available for outdoors)
7) Melamine 7oam !omposite Sound !ontainment System
- Material : #D Melamine Acoustical 7oam, Bonded to #B=D th+, # lbBs0) ft) mass loaded noise
barrier ,ith ED melamine foam vibration decoupler
- 6attern : !onvoluted or 7lat Surface 6attern
- Applications : (deally suited to line e0uipment enclosures) !ommonly used to line ,alls and
ceilings of utilityBmechanical rooms) Use ,here sound absorption, noise reduction and
vibration control are needed)
4) 3anging Acoustical Baffles
- Material : Bonded Acoustical 6ad @BA6A, Recyclable, 7iberglass-free
- 6attern : Soft-te1tured surface
- 7eatures : "conomical, multi-purpose, high performance, durable, light,eight
- Applications : 4ymnasiums, auditoria, classrooms, music rooms, arenas and stadia,
churches, offices, computer rooms, restaurants, concert halls and theatres, gun ranges,
manufacturing plants, machine enclosures, ,ater treatment plants
3) Lo, 7re0uency Sound AbsorberB(nsulator
- Material : #)% lb) density, recycled bonded acoustical cotton fiber
- 6attern : Soft gray) (deal behind acoustical fabric, perforated or slotted panel surfaces
- 7eatures : e1ceptionally good lo, fre0uency absorption
- Applications : (ndustrial, architectural or audio applications, machinery and mechanical
rooms) 7or harsh noisy environment that re0uire high performance lo, fre0uency reduction)
Above acoustical ceiling grid systems) User-friendly alternative to glass fiber insulation
() Sound eadening, Sound Absorbing, (nsulating, Lo, !ost
- Material : Recycled ,ood fiber residue
- Applications : Acoustical board can be used as flooring underlayment or as damping layer
bet,een studs and gypsum boards to improve Sound Transmission !lass @ST!A
F) 6orous "1panded 6olypropylene @6"66A Acoustical *all 6anels
- Material : Semi-rigid 6orous "1panded 6olypropylene Acoustical Bead 7oam @6"66A
- 6attern : .on-abrasive, slightly te1tured, porous
- 7eatures : Light,eight, impact-resistant, moisture, bacteria, and fungi resistant) Tac+able
surface, U/ stable
- Applications : 4ymnasium, auditoria, s,imming pools, arenas, food processing plants, food
preparation areas, cafeterias and restaurants, manufacturing plants, car ,ashes, rooftop and
machine enclosures, gun ranges, dog +ennels, loc+er rooms
G) Sailcloth and /inyl "ncapsulated Acoustical Baffles
- Material : 7iberglass core encapsulated in 6olyvinyl !hloride 7ilm or sailcloth
- 6attern : plain- type a or type b mounting
- 7eatures : !ost-effective, light,eight, high acoustical performance, moisture and chemical
resistant
- Applications : Any large area ,here noise and reverberation needs to be reduced
L) 6olyurethane 7oam !omposite Sound !ontainment System
- Material : 6olyurethane acoustical foam bonded to # lb) s0) ft) mass loaded vinyl noise barrier
,ith polyurethane foam vibration decoupler
- 6attern : flat surface
- Applications : (deally suited for line e0uipment enclosures) Use ,here sound absorption,
noise reduction and vibration control are needed) !ommonly used to line ,alls and ceilings of
utility or mechanical rooms)
M) Bonded Acoustical 6ad
- Applications : (deally suited to schools, gymnasiums, cafeterias, classrooms, churches, multi-
purpose rooms, community centers and more)
.) Acoustical !otton 7iber !omposite 6anel H Sound Absorber
- Material : Bonded Acoustical 6ad @BA6A, recyclable, fiberglass-free, high density fiber
- 6attern : Soft te1tured surface, foil on one side
- 7eatures : "conomical, multi-purpose, high performance absorption combined ,ith ST!
value
- Applications : 4ymnasiums, auditoria, classrooms, music rooms, arenas and stadia,
churches, offices, computer rooms, restaurants, concert halls and theatres, gun ranges,
manufacturing plants, machine enclosures, ,ater treatment plants
;) !eiling Tiles
Melamine foam ceiling tiles controls sound reverberation ,ithin a variety of rooms) 6lain face and
bevel cut tiles are available in the mar+et) This can create various visual patterns in the ceiling)
6) 4ypsum Board
4eneric name for family of products comprised mainly of non-combustible gypsum core and
paper facings
a) Types of 4ypsum Boards
i) Type >
ii) Type !
iii) *ater Resistant Board
iv) 4ypsum !ore Board
v) 4ypsum Liner Board
vi) 4ypsum Sheathing
C) 7oam Baffle
!an be suspended vertically from their o,n internal ,ire frame ,ith corner eyelets) By hanging
them in ro,s and columns it ,ould absorb un,anted echo) This too can be used to
dissipate sound energy if used ,ithin a suspended curtain system surrounding a noise
source)
: inches th+ convoluted open cell polyurethane acoustic foam are used for ma1imum absorption
of airborne sound energy) Available in %' 1 '= inches)
R) 6yramids
%21%2 s0uare, open cell polyurethane acoustic foam panels having symmetrically identical faces
that disguise their seams from piece to piece) Available in %2,:2, and '2 th+) (deal for studio
application)
S) 7oam 6anel
Available in %21'2 rectangular polyurethane foam panels cut ,ith standard egg shell face) Mostly
used in industrial establishments)
!onvoluted surface pattern cut into the face of the material, is designed to ma1imi5e the acoustic
absorption 0ualities of the foam) ;pen cell structure dissipates noise energy to control harsh
reflected noise energy to control harsh reflected noise and reverberates in a variety of
applications)
;pen cell polyurethane foam panels are typically not recommended for use in public building
re0uiring !lass A fire rating)
T) 7irefle1
Melamine foam designed for ma1imum sound absorption ,here !lass A fire rating is a must) !an
be installed in ,ith standard adhesive) Also available in ceiling tile design and suspended vertical
baffles) Standard thic+ness is %2)
U) Bass Trap
Thic+, self-standing, portable flutes of foam that stac+ on each other in the corners of a room)
This helps combat lo, impact noise) Available in #%1#% inches triangular cut pieces, measuring '
ft)
/) Acoustical .oise Reduction Blan+et
These are effective, economical solution in reverberation control and noise reduction in a ,ide
variety of applications such as industrial, commercial studio, and other applications) They have
modular panels used for effective sound absorption and noise reduction properties) These are dirt
and oil-resistant)
*) Acoustical 7oam
These are commonly used in areas that don2t have aesthetic consideration) The cellular structure
of the foam allo,s the sound to be trapped and dissipated ,ithin the foam) Acoustical foam helps
absorb sound to slo, do,n echo and reverberation ,ithin a room) These foams do not bloc+
sound or transmit through it) These are for treating the inside of a room to help deaden or
dampen echo and reverberation ,ithin such room
>) Loose 7ill (nsulation
!onsists of loose fibers or granules and is made from cellulose fiberglass, roc+ ,ool, cotton, or
other materials) These conforms to the space in ,hich it is installed)
I) 3elmholt5 Resonator
T,o parallel coils of ,ire ,hich is used to produce a region of uniform magnetic field and to the
acoustic resonators ,hich ,ere used in the #J
th
century for 7ourier analysis)
The 3elmholt5 has rigid ,alls and a small hole on one side of the ,all) Resonators sho, sharp
resonance, ma+ing it possible to detect individual fre0uency components of a comple1 acoustic
,ave configuration)
>() !hec+list for "ffective Sound Absorption
Apply sound-absorbing materials that may contribute to e1cessive reverberation, produce
annoying echoes, or focus sound energy)
o not use sound-absorbing materials on surface ,hich should provide useful sound reflections)
Use sound-absorbing ceilings to control noise build-up
6lace absorption on ,alls of very high rooms, small rooms, or long and narro, rooms, ,here
flutter echo may occur)
Mounting method used should be best suited for the amount of absorption desired)
o not overestimate the noise control benefits from sound absorption)