ARCHITECTURAL ACOUSTICS NOISE CONTROL SOUND SYSTEMS

BILL GASTMEIER, MASc, PENG HGC Engineering 2000 Argentia Road, Plaza 1, Ste 203 Mississauga, Ontario L5N 1P7 905 826 4044

COURSE OUTLINE - PART 1 - ARCHITECTURAL ACOUSTICS 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 1.2 Scope of Acoustics & The Role of The Architect What is Architectural Acoustics ?

2.0 PROPERTIES OF SOUND 2.1 2.2 Origin & Propagation 2.1.1 Wave Terminology Speed, Frequency & Wavelength 2.2.1 Speed of Sound 2.2.2 Frequency or Musical Pitch Source Path & Receiver Description & Measurement of Sound Pressure 2.4.1 Sound Pressure 2.4.2 Decibels 2.4.3 The Sound Level Meter The Perception of Sound 2.5.1 The Hearing Mechanism 2.5.2 Loudness & A Weighting Behaviour of Sound In The Atmosphere 2.6.1 Directivity 2.6.2 Sound & Distance 2.6.3 Effects of Wind on Sound Propagation 2.6.4 Effects of Temperature Gradients 2.6.5 Absorption of Sound by the Air

2.3 2.4

2.5

2.6

3.0

BEHAVIOUR OF SOUND IN ENCLOSED SPACES OR THE ACOUSTICS OF ROOMS 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Reflection of Sound Absorption of Sound Diffusion of Sound Diffraction of Sound
2

3.5 3.6 3.7

The Reverberation Time Standing Waves or Room Resonance Materials and Constructions For Absorbing Sound 3.7.1 Porous Materials 3.7.2 Effects of Paint and Membrane Facings 3.7.3 Panel Absorbers 3.7.4 Resonating Absorbers 3.7.5 Perforated Facings Sound Transmission Through Partitions 3.8.1 Sound Transmission Class (STC) 3.8.2 Impact Isolation Class (IIC) Constructions For Reducing The Transmission of Sound 3.9.1 Multiple Partitions 3.9.2 Ceilings & Floors 3.9.3 Windows 3.9.4 Doors

3.8

3.9

4.0 DESIGN FOR GOOD ACOUSTICS 4.1 General Requirements For Auditorium Design 4.1.1 Room Shape 4.1.2 Room Surfaces & Reverberation Control 4.1.3 Acoustic Defects 4.1.4 Noise Reduction Design of Rooms For Speech Design of Rooms For Music 4.3.1 Concert Halls 4.3.2 The Use of Scale Models 4.3.3 Music Practice Rooms Design of Spaces With Mixed Acoustic Requirements 4.4.1 Churches 4.4.2 Variable Volume Spaces 4.4.3 Theatre Stages and Stage Enclosures 4.4.4 Community & Church Halls 4.4.5 Motion Picture Theatres 4.4.6 Swimming Pools

4.2 4.3

4.4

5.0

NOISE CONTROL 5.1 Descriptors of Noise 5.1.1 dBA 5.1.2 Leq 5.1.3 Noise Criteria (NC) Curves Criteria For Acceptable Noise Levels In Various Spaces 5.2.1 Damage to Hearing 5.2.2 Comfort Criteria Outdoor Noise Sources and Methods of Control Inside Noise Sources and Methods of Control 5.4.1 Noise from Plumbing Systems 5.4.2 Noise from HVAC Systems 5.4.3 Effect of Adding Sound Absorbing Treatments to Rooms Vibration Control Active Noise Control

5.2

5.3 5.4

5.5 5.6

6.0

ELECTRONIC SOUND SYSTEMS 6.1 6.2 Factors Effecting the Intelligibility of Speech Basic Components 6.2.1 Microphones 6.2.2 Electronic Controls 6.2.3 Loud Speakers Types of Sound Reinforcement Systems 6.3.1 Central Cluster System 6.3.2 Split Central Cluster System 6.3.3 Distributed System - Ceiling Mounted 6.3.4 Distributed System - Column Loud Speakers 6.3.5 Distributed System - Pew Back 6.3.6 Combined Systems 6.3.7 Comparison of Basic Types of SoundReinforcement Systems Sound Masking Systems Sound or Music Reproduction Systems Hearing Assistive Listening Systems

6.3

6.4 6.5 6.6

APPENDIX A -The National Building Code of Canada 1995, Rev. July 1998 Sect. 9.11 "Sound Control" Tables A 9.10.3.1.a and 9.10.3.1.b and Section A9.11.1.1.(1) APPENDIX B -Sound Transmission Loss of Walls and Floors From Doelle L.L. "Environmental Acoustics" APPENDIX C -"Field Sound Transmission Loss of Demising Walls and Floor Ceiling Assemblies" Gastmeier and Wu, 1992

REFERENCE MATERIAL The lecture notes and handouts for this section were developed with reference to materials from the following sources: 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 12) Egan, M.D. "Architectural Acoustics" McGraw Hill Book Co., 1988 Doelle, L.L. "Environmental Acoustics", McGraw Hill Book Co. (out of print) Knudsen, V.O. & Harris, C.M. "Acoustical Designing & Architecture", Published by The American Institute of Physics With the Acoustical Society of America, 1978 Ginn, K.B. "Architectural Acoustics" Published by The Bruel & Kjaer Company, 1978 Hassall, J.R. & Zaveri, K. "Acoustic Noise Measurements", Published by The Bruel & Kjaer Company, 1979 "Halls For Music Performance - Two Decades of Experience", Published by The American Institute of Physics for The Acoustical Society of America, 1982. "Acoustics of Worship Spaces", Published by The American Institute of Physics for The Acoustical Society of America, 1985. Miscellaneous Materials taken from the files, company seminars and publications of HGC Engineering, Mississauga, Ontario Product information taken from data sheets of various acoustic material suppliers. CMHC Publication "Noise Control", 1987. "Workplace Noise and Measurement" Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, 1988. "Noise Control - A Guide for Employers & Employees", The Industrial Accident Prevention Association, 1985.

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Makrinenko, Leonid I."Acoustics of Auditoriums in Public Buildings", Published through the American Institute of Physics for the Acoustical Society of America, 1994. Duncan Templeton and David Saunders "Acoustic Design", The Architectural Press, 1987 Reference 1 above is available in the bookstore and is an excellent reference text book which is suitable for purchase. The other references are suitable for extended study.

14) Note: