Commercial Acoustics was contracted by Amgen Pharmaceuticals to review the modular partition layout and design of their new corporate offices in Washington, DC and Tampa, FL. While care had been taken to select suitable, STC-rated walls and a Sound Masking system had been installed and implemented, significant noise complaints were immediately evident after the TI […]
27
Sep
Sep
Minimize Hotel Noise Complaints by Using New Soundproofing Methods There are all types of noise intrusions in hotels – from other guests to nearby roadways and airport noise. However, one noise is persistent above all others in hotels – HVAC noise! Often times the air conditioners are directly in the room, and cycled compressors or […]
16
Aug
Aug
Ochsner Hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana needed an acoustic treatment for a noisy presentation room. The room hosted a number of healthcare workers that often use telecom and speaker technology in order to collaborate with other offices. The excessive reverberation in the space, due to low-pile carpet and otherwise hard surfaces, resulted in difficulty hearing […]
15
Aug
Aug
Noise is a critical component on sleep quality. Unlike other sensory perception, such as sight, there are no protective coverings over the ears. While eyelids close to limit perceived light, the ear canals remain open and unchanged throughout the night. That means the only difference between perception of sound between the day and night is […]
10
Aug
Aug
The building industry has evolved enormously in the past 20 years. While labor rates have increased, the amount of skilled labor available for many construction jobs is extremely limited. This is even more true for highly-skilled jobs, such as welding, carpentry, plumbing, and other trades. When this occurs, Architects and Contractors are forced to find […]
07
Aug
Aug
Drywall contractors are often tasked with ensuring constructed walls reach or exceed minimum STC values. In order to do this, it may seem simple to add extra layers of drywall and reap the benefits. However, the fallout could mean lost contracts when competitors realize there are much cheaper ways to hit high STC values. Related: […]
Your IIC Rating, or Impact Insulation Class, is a major factor in how much sound tenants will hear directly below a floor-ceiling assembly. The rating is determined by using a tapping machine on an existing assembly, and measuring the amount of sound that comes through below. This test measures structure-borne, or vibrational sound – the […]
28
Jul
Jul
STC Ratings for Walls One of the ultimate trade-offs in wall design is structural load versus STC ratings. It’s a relatively straight-forward proposition to achieve an STC 50 on a 25-gauge stud wall, but if the wall requires shear strength or structural load capacity, then the gauge size and spacing become a major hindrance. For […]
25
Jul
Jul
Fins Restaurant in Venice, FL was dealing with excessive noise complaints from their patrons. This high-end restaurant in Sarasota has an amazing view overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, and is surrounded by boutiques and other fine dining establishments. However, the noise issues were still significant, even after the restaurant had acoustic panels installed last year. […]
24
Jul
Jul
A corporate office client in Tampa FL was experiencing conversation sound transfer in their closed offices. The offices were designed with a proprietary modular wall system (STC range 31 – 48) and Armstrong Calla ceiling tiles (CAC 35) with a Lencore sound masking system is in place. Prior to determining what modifications needed to be […]