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 […]
22
May
May
Having already performed training for over 50 architecture firms in Florida and Georgia, and over 500 architects and designers, Commercial Acoustics has continued to develop its Architectural Acoustics curriculum. Acoustic Training and Services for Architects We’ve grown beyond our initial territory in the Southeast, and now offer CEU’s (Continuing Education Units) to AIA-certified architects across […]
07
May
May
When it comes to acoustics, there can be times when absorption and blocking aren’t enough, or even the right solution. In doctor’s offices, counseling centers, and other medical facilities, speech privacy is of the utmost importance. Not only to provide a peaceful and quiet environment for both patient and caregiver, but to protect confidentiality. In […]
16
Apr
Apr
Hospital Acoustical Assessment Overview: Healthcare facilities have a number of unique sound requirements, from speech privacy between patient rooms to acoustic treatment in lecture halls. Remember that STCs of 40 or higher are required in a number of partitions in hospitals, clinics, and labs, while even stricter isolation is required where doctor-patient confidentiality is needed. […]
20
Mar
Mar
Many products described as Acoustic furniture promise to give acoustical treatment to open offices. These products imply they can isolate sound, reduce, and absorb noise without the necessity of walls and ceilings. There is a possibility that the word “acoustic” is added to the description of this item as a selling point instead of a proven fact to […]
20
Mar
Mar
We performed a case study in the Commercial Acoustics conference/office room to calculate how much absorption does a room need. The room in which the experiment was performed in is a square drywall space with flat walls and flat ceiling that has a high reverberation. The more absorption a room has the lower the reverberation is; […]
20
Mar
Mar
There is a way to quantify how much sound is reflected in a room by using a metric called the absorption coefficient. In a nutshell, an Absorption Coefficient is a measure of how much sound is absorbed, and NOT reflected. What is Sound Absorption? Acoustic Absorption is the process of turning the motion of air […]
06
Mar
Mar
Basic Overview of STC Ratings Acoustical consultants are able to provide developers with valuable information regarding a structure’s noise reduction abilities, but have you ever wondered what rating systems they use or how those systems work? Keep reading for a basic run-down on the workings of the currently used STC system for the next time one […]