Building Technology II Course Instructor: Najwa Hany Marwa Mansour 201407442 Decades have shown that human activity has been progressing in many ways that affected our daily lives. Every day brings noise that is in fact unwanted sounds. In architecture, the designer ought to have rooms and buildings that have the perfect sound performance. This means that undesirable noises should be prohibited, and wanted sounds should be maximized. The attention to urban noise has become an issue after all the advancements in our world. Several studies have been performed in order to understand how to deal with Noise pollution and sound-proofing the buildings.The solution to this ecological conflict includes control by means of practical, radical, and instructive actions.
Architects are designing soundproof facades. These facades have become an essential factor in every city in order to ensure a “noise-Free” environment. Special buildings such as radio station, television house, or even schools each have specific ways in which sound is transmitted into and out of the building in a given specific environment.
Soundproofing facades controls the effect of noise according to its intensity for a normal individual without any impaired hearing. Therefore, noise control and sound Insulation in special constructions were suitable sound proofing is wanted, are achieved by good site investigations, good data collection, and analysis. Hence, the engineer chooses sound absorption technology as an effective way to absorb acoustics in the search to provide a sound-free environment.”Kowloon’s Kwai Tsing Theatre” demonstrates how architectural proposal can be used to shield inaudible spaces against airborne and structure-borne noises from inside and outside the theatre. It is located next to the MTR railway and the heavy traffic is perplexing because this multipurpose theatre and has several necessities due to the fact that it hosts several events. “Isolating structure-borne” noise from the building springs positioned on the pile caps can absorbthis noise before it is conveyed to the inside. The interior is built in order to decrease the flanking transmission of the noises.
In addition, in order to improve the sound decline index of the construction, the ceilings, parapets and grounds of the theatre are insulated from the building by springs or resilient pads with an air gap. This air gap is the most significant aspect – maximizing it (instead of the floors) will allow greater reductions in the noise.From this case study, we can say that noise can be controlled by suitable architectural design that works for the architect’s concept of the building. He will give devotion to acoustical intentions in designing the room arrangement, the windows places, and the height of the building, its balconies, and courtyards .Here is where the architect will achieve the maximum acoustical quality. In a pre-modification Conditions School Description located in Manchester, NH, north of Manchester Airport, The school consists of three one-story floors and a versatile room (auditorium/cafeteria/gymnasium). Because the school is located next to the airport, the material used are brick and concrete block walls.
Initial noise reduction measurements were done at the school in June 2001 to assess the pre-modification acoustical physiognomies. The test technique involved stimulating intensified amplifiers inside each room and producing a high-amplitude indication. Noise invasion because of the aircrafts have resulted in disturbance in the classrooms. From that the chosen sound insulation alterations are “Replacement of existing curtain walls and windows in the classrooms and offices with a new curtain wall system having a minimum Sound Transmission Class” and “Replacement of windows in the C-wing classrooms, library, offices and multipurpose room with acoustical assemblies having a minimum STC rating of 40”. Finally, replacement of exterior hollow metal doors in the multipurpose room and library area with insulated doors having a post-modification conditions noise level reduction. All in all,these modifications to Green Acres Elementary School have significantly decreased the noise levels from the aircraft operations and finally met the FAA criteria.
The third case study targets a junior school for deaf children that provides a special environment for hearing impaired kids through a natural acoustic approach. The designer have chosen considerable investments in order to reduce the acoustical barriers to help with the learning process such as a sound field system that provide benefits to the impaired child. In addition, carpeting to decrease the sounds in corridors and classrooms caused by the movement of the children.
The school contains attached to the main building a covered walkway which is called a resource provision for the deaf which has been sound treated in order to offer the children a great environment to study. Finally, the school’s roof will be improved and replaced which will allow the administration to upgrade the acoustic treatment within the classrooms, seeking to lower the reverberation which will in turn decrease the noise levels during essential times such as group work. For that sound proofing becomes a way to help children with impaired hearing to enjoy their childhood and have a foundation filled with knowledge and prosperity. In conclusion, there is “enough activity going on at once during the day to generate all kinds of sounds across the audible spectrum of human hearing” According to Nick Gromicko in Construction Methods and Materials for Noise Control. For that every design and construction needs a specific sound-roofing system that works well with its surroundings and the people inhabiting it.
Many people rely on different materials to ensure a sufficient barrier from these noise.
