Why are acoustics so important?

It is no secret that acoustics play a vital role in the workplace’s productivity, usability, and design. Especially with our heightened focus on wellbeing within open-plan offices and the research-based evidence associating this to acoustic ratings.

Here we will introduce acoustics to help reassure designers that expertise and technical support are always on hand. You can also view the range of Acoustic Partitioning that we offer.

How is sound measured?

Sound is measured in dB (Rw), which is the weight sound reduction. This measurement is designed to provide a single figure for comparison and calculated using the data from a laboratory test for airborne sound reduction – the higher the dB rating, the better the acoustic performance.

Sound and acoustic ratings need to be tested rigorously and measured accurately. Each partitioning and door system should have an acoustic rating that has been independently certified in a laboratory environment.

Where is controlling sound important?

As the needs of working environments are constantly evolving, the importance of controlling sound is becoming more and more paramount; specifically in places where privacy is essential and in places that serve different functions.

Sound control is unique to each building and establishment; however, we have listed some typical areas where sound control is highly important.

• Corridors, atriums and space which connect different levels
• Meeting rooms and private offices
• Lecture theatres and classrooms

Acoustic vulnerabilities 

It is often the case that when installing partitioning systems, doors are part of the package, especially for meeting rooms and corridors. But what happens to the acoustic performance when you install doors?

Doors can often cause acoustic vulnerabilities when looking at the whole system’s performance. This could be due to gaps around the framing, the system itself or how it has been installed.

One way to reduce the impact is to specify doors with an automatic drop-down seal or threshold. These seal any gaps surrounding the door when shut, improving acoustic performance. Also, it is worth mentioning that framed doors provide higher acoustic performance than frameless doors.

How Acoustic Partitions Work

Acoustic partitions minimise noise in open-plan environments by combining multiple glass panes, including a laminate PVB sound-dampening core. Any sound is absorbed and transmitted by the first pane of glass; the thickness of this glass then disrupts and reduces the sound waves. The sound then hits the PVB laminate core which absorbs more of the sound waves. Finally, the sound is absorbed and transmitted by the second pane of glass, eventually creating a much more muted sound on the other side.

The glass alone can only reduce sound so much, which is why it’s important for acoustic glass partitioning to include different glass thicknesses combined with a PVB laminate for effective sound reduction.

Pricing and Fees

The cost of your bespoke acoustic partitioning system will depend on the scale of your project and factors such as your choice of materials, your noise cancelling requirements, and the complexity of the installation process.

For a more precise estimate of the cost of your project, get in touch with us today for a competitive quote at specifiersupport@komfort.co.uk or on +44 (0)121 332 2550.

Customisation

We offer a wide range of customisation options to suit your space, including various finishes, colours, and glass types such as frosted, etched, or tinted.

Get in touch with Komfort today to discuss your vision for your project. Whether you’re aiming for subtle elegance or a bold statement, we’re always happy to help.

Top tips

There are a couple of top tips to take away with you when specifying acoustic systems.

• Always ask for test evidence
  Ask the manufacturer to provide evidence for acoustic certificates that have been tested in accordance with BS EN ISO 140-3 and that the resulting Rw measurements are derived from BS EN ISO 717/1.
• Don’t mix and match
  Your test evidence may only be for one product, such as glass partitioning, or two products, such as glass partitioning and doors. It is important to remember that you cannot mix and match different products and necessarily expect the same acoustic rating.