In open layouts – whether it’s offices, libraries, or museums – noise often becomes a major concern. Without a proper background noise, loud noises are particularly distracting, due to the Dynamic Range that occurs (difference between quietest and loudest moments). Large dynamic ranges make it difficult for employees to concentrate or visitors to enjoy the space. […]
Author Archives: Acoustics Expert
19
Dec
Dec
Commercial Office Noise Issues KForce’s international headquarters are located in Ybor City, near downtown Tampa. However, they have field offices throughout the country, including in St. Louis, Missouri, where dozens of employees work in an open office setting, creating a noisy environment. Nearby are conference rooms that require some noise reduction, and just beyond that […]
09
Nov
Nov
In many parts of the country where acoustic tests are not mandated prior to completion, there has been a growing number of class-action suits and corresponding renovations to multi-family developments. Often, one of the most straight-forward mitigations developers and architects can make is adding a flooring underlayment to reduce structure-borne noise in units above; mainly, […]
07
Nov
Nov
When designing or building a wall partition, it’s critical to understand what benefits you’ll get out of the wall assembly, and the associated costs and complications that come with more complex assemblies. The first step is to determine target STCs – how much sound do you need your wall to block? This is often dependent on […]
12
Oct
Oct
Commercial Acoustics recently treated a small art museum in the city of St. Petersburg, Florida. The facility was moving from bamboo flooring to polished concrete, and the facility manager had concern for an increase in noise level (for a room that was already relatively loud). They host parties and gatherings as well, which leads to […]
11
Oct
Oct
A common request we get is to soundproof sensitive areas of homes, from production houses to luxury abodes. The most sensitive areas tend to be Home Theaters, Master Bedrooms, and Home Offices. In the case of a recent custom luxury home in Tampa, off of Westshore Boulevard, there was a client with standard 2”x4” stud […]
05
Oct
Oct
Commercial Acoustics has developed as an independent division of the Residential Acoustics soundproofing firm. Started just 3 years ago on the kitchen floor of a noisy apartment, the company began focusing on soundproofing curtains. After prototypes and patents were completed on a shoestring budget, they brought the curtains to market and haven’t looked back. However, […]
05
Oct
Oct
While 1/2″ drywall is cost-effective, it often leads to marginalized sound attenuation in homes. Fiberglass batting and mineral may yield minimal increases, but they are primarily designed for thermal insulation, and do not have stand-alone STC ratings. For cost-effective soundproofing at home, soundproofing membranes and panels can offer a solution that meets your clients’ needs without exceeding […]
02
Oct
Oct
Soundproofing a home theater or other residential space is highly dependent on the expectations and requirements of the client. Two common areas that require additional soundproofing in many homes include the media room, primary lounge space, as well as an in-home office. Some clients also prefer soundproofing for their master bedrooms and other spaces throughout […]
13
Sep
Sep
Architects, developers and builders work in tandem to create ideal living and working environments and to do so, sound mitigation options need to be taken into consideration. STC and IIC requirements on a project are common. The best part is that there are cost-effective ways to achieve or exceed the requirements, many of which don […]