Acoustics

Fundamentals
Environmental Technology IV
Professor Tango & Parker Spring 2009

Acoustics

is usually very broadly defined as "the science of

sound."
Room Acoustics
The shaping and equipping of an enclosed space
to obtain the best possible conditions for faithful
hearing of wanted sound and the direction and
the reduction of unwanted sound.
Room Acoustics deal primarily with the control of
sound which originates within a single enclosure,
rather than its transmission between rooms.

The balance of keeping

wanted
sounds
and eliminating

Sound Waves
What is a wave?
http://www.kettering.edu/~drussell/Demos/waves-intro/wavesintro.html

frequency;
vibration cycles per second

amplitude

wave length:
distance between identical points on a wave

http://www.surendranath.org/Applets.html

Amplitude and Frequency

Applet Menu >Waves > Transverse Waves
http://www.surendranath.org/Applets.html

Speaker

diameter Frequencies
(cm)
(Hz)

Woofer

30

20-2,000

midrange

12

2,000-5,000

tweeter

5,00010,000

supertweeter

10,00020,000

The human ear can detect sounds between

20 HZ and 20,000 HZ.
Most sensitive in the range of 100HZ to 5000HZ
Hear it: http://www.surendranath.org/Applets.html , then select: menu/
new applets/new menu/ waves/ hear the beats.

The length of a sound wave

20,000 HZ

- 11/16

20 HZ 56 feet

Velocity
Rate at which sound travels through a conductor

Air:
Wood:
Steel:

Velocity
Rate at which sound travels through a conductor

Air:

1128 feet per second

Wood:

11,700 feet per second

Steel:

18,000 feet per second

Sound Pressure/
Amplitude

Sound Pressure/Amplitude vs. Frequency

Complex Waves

http://www.surendranath.org/Applets.html

Multiple Tones
Applet Menu >Waves > Transverse Waves > Adding
Transverse Waves (continuous)

The Mobility of Sound

Direct Sound
Since sound travels in all directions from the
source, each listener will hear just the segment
if the overall sound wave that is traveling in a
direct line to his hear (in a space free from
reflecting surfaces). As the distance from the
source increases, the sound pressure at the
listener's ear will decrease proportionately.
(Example: good Headphones)

Reflection

Diffusion

Diffraction: The Sound Squeezes Through

Sound waves are not always reflected or
absorbed. When an obstacle is the same size as
the wavelength or less, the sound can bend
around obstacles or flow through small openings,
and continue onward. This is called diffraction.
This action is more likely for deeper sounds (of
low frequency, and this with longer waveforms).

Reverberation
The perpetuation of reflected sound within a space after
the source has ceased is called reverberation. The time
interval between reflections is usually so short that
distinct echoes are not heard. Instead, this series of
reflections will blend with the direct sound to add
"depth". Reverberation is a basic acoustic property of a
room. It can enrich speech and music in all areas -- or
it can slur speech and generate higher noise levels
throughout a room, depending upon the room volume,
timing, and absorption.

Room Acoustics
Shape

Materials

Room Acoustics

Volume

Reflect

Room Acoustics
Absorb

Sound re-enforcement

The shape of a space

determines the sound
path within the space

Room Acoustics
C

B
A
A

Reverberation

Parallel reflective
surfaces generates
unwanted
reverberation

Reverberation time must

match room function
Pure speech requires short
reverberation time
Symphony blends notes with long
reverberation time

The lower part of the band is best for rooms intended primarily
for speech, the upper part is better for music rooms, and the
middle portion is recommended for general purpose rooms.

Studies based on the audibility of speech and

music reveal that the most desirable
reverberation times generally fall within the
ranges shown below. These values are based on
a sound frequency of 500 Hz (approximate pitch
of male speech).
Reverberation time in seconds
Speech
Small offices
0.50 to 0.75
Classrooms/lecture rooms
0.75 to 1.00

Live!

A classification of typical rooms by acoustical

environments
"Dead" : Very Absorptive
"Live: Highly Reflective

Absorbing Materials
Carpet
Soft ceiling tile
Rigid foam
people

Reflecting Materials
Masonry
Wood smooth panels
Smooth concrete
Glass

Live

Auditoriums, theaters
(for music)
Obtain proper reverberation time to enhance musical
quality.
Provide reflective surfaces near source to reinforce sound;
absorptive surfaces toward rear.

Medium Live

Conference and board rooms

Normal speech must be heard over distances up to about
35 ft.
Allow middle section of ceiling to act as a reinforcing
sound-reflector. Apply absorbent to periphery of ceiling or
to wall surfaces (not both). Additional treatment will
contribute little to noise reduction.

Medium
Cafeterias (school or office)
Reduce overall noise level.
Use highly sound-absorptive ceiling; also use quiet
equipment such as rubberized dish trays.
Gymnasiums
Instructor must be heard over background noise
Use acoustical material over entire ceiling to reduce
noise; walls remain untreated to permit some
reflected sound.

Medium Dead
Elementary-grade classrooms
Teacher must be heard distinctly; reduce noise level
produced by children.
Acoustical ceiling essential. Supplementary acoustical
space units on upper rear and side walls are
desirable.
Music rehearsal rooms
Unlike music hall, instructor must hear individual
notes distinctly; minimum reverberation desired.
Entire ceiling, sidewalls, and wall facing musicians
would be treated; wall behind musicians may be left
sound-reflective for proper hearing. Room should be
located away from normal use rooms.

Dead
Kindergarten
Maximum noise reduction.
Maximum acoustical treatment on ceiling; space units
on available wall surfaces.
Vocational classrooms and shops
Maximum noise reduction.
Acoustical tile or lay-in panel ceiling, plus acoustical
treatment of available upper wall areas; locate away
from normal use rooms.

Reverberation time (in seconds) =

.05 x volume of room
______________________________

sabins

Sabin
The amount of sound absorbed is measured in
sabins. One sabin is equal to the sound
absorption of one square foot of perfectly
absorptive surface. The sound absorption
equivalent to an open window of one square
foot. (theoretical, since no such surface exists).

Measuring Absorption:
Sound Absorption Coefficient
The fraction of the energy absorbed (at a
specific frequency) during each reflection is
represented by the sound absorption
coefficient of the reflecting/absorbing surface.
In the building industry, this is a meaningful
and widely accepted quantitative measuring
of sound absorption, and applies to all
surfaces -- whether they be of reflective or
absorptive materials.

Reflective Surfaces
Hard, massive, non-porous surfaces, such as
plaster, masonry, glass and concrete, absorb
generally less than 5% of the energy of
striking sound waves and reflect the rest.
Such materials heaver absorption coefficients
of .05 or less.

Absorptive Surfaces:
Porous materials such as acoustical tile,
carpets, draperies and furniture are
primarily absorptive. They permit the
penetration of sound waves and are
capable of absorbing most of the sound
energy. These materials may have
absorption coefficients approaching 1.00
(one sabin per sq. ft.).

Poor acoustical characteristics in this lecture room.

Reflective surfaces near the speaker.

In lecture rooms more than 40 feet long, the rear wall
should be absorptive to prevent echoes.

Why Sound Conditioning??

The objective of sound-conditioning is
to create a haven for the occupant,
shielded from annoyance and
distractions. With such an environment,
individuals show increased productivity,
tenants complain less, turnovers and
vacancies are reduced, and property
values rise.

Structure borne sound

Steel Frame
Plumbing Pipe

Source

Path

Receiver

Isolation Of Equipment

Isolation Of Equipment

Low-end RTUs (roof top units) are

typically loud . No isolation springs /
poorly balanced

Background Noise

Acceptable Background Noise Levels

As a rule, we can tolerate, and even welcome, a
certain amount of continuous sound before it
becomes noise. An "acceptable" level neither
disturbs room occupants nor interferes with the
communication of wanted sound.
Recommended category classification and
suggested noise criteria range for steady
background noise as heard in various indoor
functional activity areas as indicated in the

Preferred Noise Criterion (PNC)Curves.

Type of Space (and acoustical requirements)

PNC curve

Concert halls, opera houses, and recital halls (for listening to

faint musical sounds)
10 to 20 db
Large auditoriums, large drama theaters, and churches (for
excellent listening conditions)
Not to exceed 20 db
Broadcast, television, and recording studios (close microphone
pickup only)
Not to exceed 25 db
Small auditoriums, small theaters, small churches, musical
rehearsal rooms, large meeting and conference rooms (for
good listening), or executive offices and conference rooms for
50 people (no amplification)
Not to exceed 35 db
Bedrooms, sleeping quarters, hospitals, residences,
apartments, hotels, motels, etc. (for sleeping resting, relaxing)
25 to 40 db
Private or semiprivate offices, small conference rooms,
classrooms, libraries, etc. (for good listening conditions)
30 to 40 db

Type of Space (and acoustical requirements)

PNC curve
Living rooms and similar spaces in dwellings (for
conversing or listening to radio and TV)
30 to 40 db
Large offices, reception areas, retail shops and stores,
cafeterias, restaurants, etc. (for moderately good listening
conditions)
35 to 45 db
Lobbies, laboratory work spaces, drafting and engineering
rooms, general secretarial areas (for fair listening
conditions)
40 to 50 db
Light maintenance shops, office and computer equipment
rooms, kitchens and laundries (for moderately fair listening
conditions)
45 to 55 db
Levels above PNC-60 are not recommended for any office
or communication situation.

Minimize Background Noise Level -

Overall noise levels which may interfere with wanted

communication should always be anticipated and corrected. To
provide maximum quiet, typical methods include the following:
1. Elimination of outside noise by sound attenuation in walls,
ceilings, and floor
2. Use of quiet mechanical equipment wherever possible.

Masking:
Creating Background "Noise
When an undesirable background sound can't be
reduced or eliminated, it can sometimes be
masked (made less objectionable by introducing a
different sound). For example, piped-in music in
restaurants can mask the din of dish clatter and
multiple conversation.
At the other extreme, a masking sound may be
introduced to correct an oppressively quiet room.
For example, a telephone ring or a slight cough
can be distracting in a very "dead" room, and
speech privacy would be impossible. In many
cases the heating and air conditioning systems will

white noise

pink noise

Sound Isolation

The control of intruding sound ideally begins with the

initial building concept and continues to be a
consideration through the life of the building. Total
sound conditioning affects
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

site selection
building orientation on the site
room orientation within the building
design, detailing, specification
construction
inspection.
Predictable sound attenuation can be achieved by
careful attention to detail during all phases of
planning and construction.

Site Selection for Sound Control

Orientation

Room Arrangement

1. What is the STC rating of the outside kitchen exterior wall?

sound barrier

Sound Barriers
If the noise source is intense and no natural
sound barrier exists, a man-made sound
barrier should be considered as part of the
design. A solid fence-type barrier may remove
from 10 to 20 db from the noise level. Highfrequency sounds will be reduce more than low
frequency sounds. The cost of an outside
barrier may be less than the cost of reducing
the sound transmission in the construction.
This type of sound barrier must completely
shield the building from the noise source. It

Acoustical Zoning

Airborne Sound

Airborne sound includes conversation, outdoor

noises, music and machine noises (machines
usually also produce impact sound). It is the
major source of intruding sound from rooms on
the same floor and from the outdoors. It is
controlled by:
1.
Mass (weight),
2.
Isolation (decoupling),
3.
Absorption
4.
Limpness of Construction.

Mass

Impact Sound
Impact Isolation
If the surface receiving the impact, such as a floor, can be
isolated from the structure, the impact sound will not be
transmitted. Likewise, if the structure can be isolated from the
ceiling below, the impact sound will be restricted from traveling
into the room below.
Isolation of the ceiling of the receiving room can be accomplished
with resilient mounting of the drywall panels or lath. This still
allows some sound from above to enter the structure and travel
to other rooms. Resilient subflooring materials such as
insulation board and underlayment compounds are effective, as is
heavy carpet over thick under pad. A combination of these
methods is necessary to produce ideal attenuation of impact
noise.
Other sources of structure-borne sound, such as motors, flushing
toilets, dishwashers, garbage disposals, blowers, and plumbing,
can be isolated from the structure by resilient mounting
procedures.

Isolation (Decoupling)

staggered 2x3 studs on a single sill plate, with alternate

studs connected to opposite diaphragms

double row of studs on separate sill plates

2x4 studs with one diaphragm attached

through sound deadening board.

2x4 studs with one diaphragm attached

by means of resilient channels

Resilient Channel
1/2

Absorption
The amount of sound energy dissipated depends on the

thickness of the material, its density (which determines

the amount of difficulty that the sound encounters in
traveling through), and it's resiliency (flexibility with the
ability to spring back to its original shape). Mineral wool
insulation because of its porous yet dense character, is
highly effective in this application. Sound attenuation
blankets are manufactured with higher density than
thermal insulating blankets to obtain optimum
attenuation. Mineral fiber sound attenuation blankets,
placed between the studs in a resilient partition with
resilient channels, retard movement of the air column and
convert considerable sound energy into heat. However, if
the diaphragms are directly connected to rigid studs, the
partition will act as a single diaphragm, rendering the
wool ineffective in dissipating sound energy.

www.usg.com
search for

SA 100 - Fire Resistant Assemblies

www.usg.com

SAFB:sound attenuation fire blankets

Effective mass is contributed by the gypsum panels or plaster.

A common wood-stud partition with 5/8-in. SHEETROCK FIRECODE
"C" Gypsum Panels on each side will test STC 34. Using doublelayer panels on each side will increase the rating to STC 41,
an improvement, but certainly not optimum. Increasing the mass
beyond this point is of little value since other, less expensive
methods of achieving better performance are available. Gypsum
panels decoupled on one side with RC-1 SHEETROCK Resilient
Channels, will have sound attenuation of STC 49; STC 59 with the
addition of 3-in. THERMAFIBER Insulating Blankets.
The performance of an assembly can vary as much as 15 STC
points with the quality of the workmanship

The performance level being sought will usually

fall in the STC range of 45 to 60. The
partitions used in most single-family dwellings
today would test about STC 35 (although the
actual performance is often even less due to
leaks and flanking paths). On the other end of
the scale, STC-60 partitions are found
increasingly in luxury multi-family dwellings,
and other quality buildings. Partition
performance of STC 60 will, for practical
purposes, reduce an 85 db noise level (the
maximum normally encountered in a residence)
to a 25 db background sound (comparable to a
night-time rural sound level) -- near ideal for
sleeping rooms.

Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC)

The average amount of sound energy
absorbed over a range of frequencies
between 250 Hz and 2,000 Hz.

NORMAL SPEECH RANGE

What is CAC?
A: CAC, or Ceiling Attenuation Class, is a measure of the
sound transmission loss as noise travels between rooms.
Essentially, it is the ability of a ceiling panel to block sound
between rooms.
Q: What spaces require CAC values?

Details, Specifications
and Construction

Flanking Paths

Some of the most common flanking paths

are supplied by
plumbing pipes,
air ducts and
electrical conduit rigidly connected
between the floor and ceiling.
Continuous walls between floors, columns

Flanking Paths

Flanking Paths
HVAC
Good

Sound Control
Negative impacts
Flanking Paths
Electrical Boxes
Especially back-to-back

HVAC
Perimeter Seals
Doors
Other penetrations

Example: Back-to-back
electrical boxes

50 STC

Flanking Paths
Better

Best

Flanking Paths
CUTOUTS

Cabinet

Eliminating a flanking path with a nonresilent material

Sound Seal
2 Layers
5/8 Gypsum
Board

STC 53

Insulation

Sound Path

STC 29
Unsealed

Sound Seal
2 Layers
5/8 Gypsum
Board

STC 53

Insulation
Acoustical
Sealant

Sound Path

STC 29
Unsealed

Sound Seal
2 Layers
5/8 Gypsum
Board

STC 53

Insulation

Acoustical
Sealant

Sealed

Sealing
figure 50A. 29 STC
Unsealed

figure 50C. 53 STC

Sealant applied to runner
track and board.

figure 50B. 53 STC

Both Base layers sealed.
No relief on face layers.

figure 50D. 53 STC

Sealant beneath and on edge
of runner track. Base layer
not relieved. Face layer
relieved and sealed.

Sound Control

Usually the
Dimension of th
Framing 3 5/8

How to achieve Sound

Attenuation
Increase STC by:
Isolation
De-coupling

65 dB

15 dB

Absorption
Mass
RC-1 or resilient channel
Drywall or engineered panel
50 STC

Insulation
either SAFB
or fiberglass
to absorb
sound energy

Improving Sound TransmissionLoss

Rules of Thumb
Doubling Partition Width =
5 dB Transmission Loss Improvement

Doubling MASS =
5 dB Transmission Loss Improvement

Improving STC
ISOLATION

ABSORPTION
3 1/2 Insulation

STC 48

25 Steel
ga. Steel
STCSTC
43 - 43
25 -ga.
studstud
STC 40 - 20 ga. Steel stud
STC 37 - Wood stud

DECOUPLING

MASS

RC-1 Resilient Channel

STC 54

STC 61

Doors & Door Frames

High STC Partitions

Fill
Gasket

Solid Core

Assignment 11
Room sabin absorption calculations and
reverberation

last Environmental Tech class

Next Thursday:

:-(

Dave Duda With Newcomb Boyd

Security Design
then
Final Exam Review