MMC 52pp M10 WEB

ARTICLE
A lesson in acoustic
control in education
With research highlighting that ineffective
sound control has a lasting negative impact on
education performance * , it’s an ideal time for
those involved in the education build sector to
reflect on whether they are implementing
adequate acoustic control to ensure building
compliance in accordance with BB93.
Here Rodney Davidson, Head of
Specifications at AG looks at current
standards and highlights Cheltenham
Ladies College where AG’s Alphacrete ®
Acoustic masonry was used to create an
aesthetically pleasing, calm, safe and healthpromoting
space.
Acoustic control: Why it’s important
The link between ineffective noise control and a
poor education performance affects those
involved in the Education build sector two-fold.
Firstly, careful consideration should be given as
to whether the correct building products to
control external noise pollution and safeguard
the health and wellbeing of the school’s
surrounding community and local residents
have been used. For example, a gymnasium
housing a loud basketball game with cheering
crowds should not be heard in nearby
classrooms where lessons are taking place.
Beyond the obvious distraction to students,
proven hormonal responses to loud,
unpredictable sounds suggests that students
exposed to chronic loud noises over time are at
risk of damage to their general health and
mental wellbeing, not to mention academic
performance.
Secondly, consideration should be given as to
whether the correct building products have been
specified to instil adequate reverberation time
control within each particular room or space.
Without appropriate acoustic control measures
in place large unfurnished areas like sports
halls or assembly halls will have extremely long
reverberation times; in layman’s terms this
means that the room will have a lot of echo and
it will be difficult to hear and understand speech
44 MMC
Nov 2018 M10
or music within that space which is not at all
ideal for students in a learning environment.
What are the current standards?
BB93: February 2015 sets out, minimum
performance standards for acoustic
requirements of school buildings. The overall
objective of the performance standard is to
ensure that the design and construction of
school buildings provide acoustic conditions that
enable effective teaching and learning.
All parties involved in the build have a
responsibility to ensure the products used
successfully help to control reverberation time
and meet the performance standard set out in
section 1.5 table six of BB93: 2015.
Achieving the right reverberation characteristics
is critical to the acoustic performance of an
interior space, particularly in school buildings.
Good acoustics reduce distraction from airborne
noises and make it easier to hear people speak,
which is critical in a learning environment and
helps aid and enhance pupils’ learning
capabilities.
Acoustic control in action
AG completed the impressive gymnasium at the
Cheltenham Ladies College in Gloucestershire
using AG’s Alphacrete ® acoustic block range;
providing structural support and optimumal
light reflectance value (LRV) for sports halls
according to Sport England’s guidance.
The low-maintenance blocks arrived on site in
the chosen colour (Ernestone Buff) negating the
need for painting or adding a protective sealant,
and were built below wooden panelling at
Cheltenham Ladies College to create a
distinctive contrasting aesthetic that was
practical too. Alphacrete ® acoustic block’s
durable surface made the hall hard-wearing
against knocks, bangs and wayward balls, whilst
also absorbing sound efficiently.
The brief included the need for a brand-new
wall mounted basketball and netball nets.
Sports equipment, door frames and window sets
are all easily integrated with Alaphacrete ®
acoustic when installed in line with AG’s design
guidelines.
Alphacrete ® acoustic blocks are compatible with
a wide range or mortar blends. For this
particular project M4 Medium Buff mortar was
used as supplied by CPI Mortars.
Peace of mind with Alphacrete
Design and build contractors and Specifiers can
now have the BB93 reverberation time
compliance confirmed prior to construction
when AG’s Alphacrete Acoustic range is used,
negating the need for post construction testing.
For more details contact AG’s specification
team at specifications@ag.uk.com or visit the
website.
www.ag.uk.com
*usir.salford.ac.uk/34536/2/A%20survey%20of%20acoustic%20con
ditions%20and%20noise%20levels%20in%20secondary.pdf:public