Josh Murphy of Broadwater Academy did a Science Fair presentation to
determine if a sound barrier does reduce noise, and which type of barrier
is the most effective in reducing unwanted noise. His conclusion: A
combination of 16 oz. Acoustiblok and sound engineered plywood was the most
effective in reducing noise. We were very happy to furnish Josh with samples
of our materials, and swapped an Acoustiblok T-shirt for the photo shown above.
Even in the 9th grade, independent 3rd party tests confirm that Acoustiblok
really works.
Many excellent reference and educational resources for architectural acoustics
and related design and construction issues are available on the Internet.
When requirements for "soundproofing" or "sound proofing materials" come up,
these resources may provide adequate solutions to many routine problems, and
help to identify situations where a qualified professional acoustical consultant
should be brought in. This list is not intended to be comprehensive, but should
provide an excellent starting point for learning more about architectural acoustics
and specific issues in sound quality and noise control.
Note: Links to off-site pages will open in new windows (or tabs). Please close
the window or tab to return here. Acoustiblok Inc. has reviewed the sites listed
here and found them useful, but we are not responsible in any way for materials that
are not under our direct control.
Contact Acoustiblok with your
design and installation questions. Independent acoustical laboratory reports
giving full acoustical data for numerous construction designs using Acoustiblok sound
barrier material and other Acoustiblok products are available on request.
Architectural Acoustics
by M. David Egan
If you only buy one reference book on architectural acoustics, this should be the
one. Architectural Acoustics by M. David Egan gives a complete overview
of the practical applications of acoustical science to construction, from basic
physics of sound to specific challenges and solutions. Very effective examples and
illustrations accompany common sense explanations anyone can follow. Acoustics
professionals agree, Architectural Acoustics stands out as the unique classic in
its field.
The link at left will return current pricing and availability from Amazon.com.
Canadian Institute for
Research in Construction
The Canadian Institute for Research in Construction website provides very
extensive educational and reference documents related to building design
and technology, including architectural acoustics. The documents linked
below are only a very small sample of what is available there:
Control of
Sound Transmission through Gypsum Board Walls:
An introduction to conventional
wall construction techniques that reduce sound transmission. Provides STC numbers
for comparison.
Controlling the Transmission of Airborne Sound through Floors:
An overview
of the effectiveness of conventional construction techniques, covering both wooden
joist and concrete slab designs. Provides STC numbers for comparison.
Controlling the Transmission of Impact Sound through Floors:
An overview of
the effectiveness of conventional construction techniques, covering both
wooden and concrete slab designs. Provides IIC numbers for comparison.
Flanking Transmission in Framed Buildings:
Three reports that describe how sound is transmitted through the frame of
a building, and how different construction techniques affect this. These reports
are available for download as 3 large PDF files.
Masonry Advisory
Council
The Masonry Advisory Council provides many valuable construction resources,
including technical information, articles on new products and technologies, and
an online cost estimator.
Sound Research Data:
This page from the Masonry Advisory Council gives STC (Sound Transmission Class) data for
many typical masonry walls. It is helpful to know that a "CMU" is a "Concrete Masonry
Unit", a.k.a. cinderblock, when reading this table. Also gives STC and IIC ratings for
hollow core precast concrete floors, and acoustical data on specially made concrete
"diffuser blocks" used as facing material. This data is useful for estimating the
acoustical properties of masonry walls, including the thickness and weight required
to obtain specified STC ratings with masonry alone.
Institute of Noise Control
Engineering of the USA
The Institute of Noise Control Engineering of the USA (INCE/USA) is a non-profit
professional organization incorporated in Washington, DC. A primary purpose of the
Institute is to promote engineering solutions to environmental noise problems.
Acoustiblok Inc. is a long time member of INCE/USA.
Draft Glossary Of Terms Used In Noise Control Engineering:
This 9-section glossary is one of the most complete guides to
acoustics terminology available.
Municode.com
From the website: "Municipal Code Corporation is the leader in the ordinance
codification industry because we are committed to customer service and dedicated
to staying abreast of technology. Contained on this website are Codes for more
than 1,500 local governments in searchable online databases..."
Municode lives up to this. Their site is usually the first place to check when
questions about local code requirements come up.
Custom Electronics
Design & Installation
Association
Home Cinema installations require close attention to acoutsical factors, to
produce high quality in the listening room, and minimum disturbance through
the rest of the home. CEDIA certified designers are fully qualified in
architectural acoustics.
Acoustics - Meanings, Myths and Misconceptions
This CEDIA article provides an introduction to basic architectural acoustics
terminology, and sets many common "myths and misconceptions" straight.
The CEDIA Finder Service
This CEDIA search utility will help you find a CEDIA certified home cinema
consultant or contractor in your area.
QuietClassrooms.org
From the website: "Quiet Classrooms is an alliance of non-profit organizations
working to create better learning environments in schools by reducing noise.
Quiet background noise levels and good classroom acoustics are important for
good learning. This is true for students in general and hearing impaired students
in particular."
Classroom Acoustics
This online booklet (PDF format available) is one of the best introductions to
architectural acoustics on the Internet. It covers many aspects of building
design that affect sound quality, explaining general principles and providing
examples of simple solutions to common problems. Fully applicable to offices
and institutional buildings as well as classrooms.
