Common acoustic failures: When construction departs from specification
Posts by Russell in Building Regulations
It’s a sad state of affairs that in today’s market, so many see acoustics as an expense that’s somehow less important because it’s buried behind walls or floors. With so much emphasis on light and space, it’s not unusual for sound to get pushed out of the picture, but while this short-term view of specification and construction can still result in beautiful interiors and exteriors, one has to consider the impact it has on the long-term usability of a building.
Make the right soundproof specification
Of course, if you want to make the right specification, you have to know the products available and how they may or may not suitable for the specific project you’re working on. At Hush Acoustics, we do our best to make sure architects and specifiers fully understand our range so they have a clear idea of what will work best for them. The problem is, even our most well informed clients are open to having their plans ruined by those who would look to ‘value engineer’ everything. And, as we all know, these two words only ever mean one thing – cutting corners. So, how do you avoid this?
Knowledge and Experience is key
Well, the first hurdle is getting the products right and getting the best understanding of why they work for you, but the next is using that knowledge to convince your contractor that you’ve made the right decision. Having confidence in your specification sets you apart for your product knowledge, establishes trust with the contractor and developer, and helps protect your reputation in the longer term once the project is complete.
Establishing that trusting relationship between specifier and contractor is essential if we are to avoid creating living, working or even education spaces that aren’t truly fit for purpose today and are even less likely to be tomorrow. A value-engineered version of your plans may struggle to pass the initial sound test, but even if it does (and ticks all the Part E building regulations and Robust Details specifications boxes) there’s no guarantee it will provide an environment conducive to the original intentions of its construction. In fact, it could even have the opposite effect.
Trust in the products
In 2011, a study conducted by the Institute of Education tested student memory, reading and numeracy of 14-16 year olds in noisy conditions – and found that kids this age were unable to perform better than those who were in the 11-13 year age group and learning in a more acoustically sound environment. Research shows that the reduction of unwanted noise can help us be more susceptible to learning, so trusting in products that can aid education, as well as make us happier at home, work or in a retail environment, is a no brainer.
Sadly, the regulations for acoustic insulation have never truly been able to keep up with changes in the way we live, so while adhering to those rules is a common way to ensure the building is up to standard, the truth is it may still fail later. This means knowledge and experience should always trump short-term commercial gain.
