54a8aa61-7687-4e17-9128-59cc25a861c8Acoustics and Wellbeing in the Modern Office (2)_opt_2

8/19/2019 54a8aa61-7687-4e17-9128-59cc25a861c8Acoustics and Wellbeing in the Modern Office (2)_opt_2

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Acoustics & Wellbeing

in the modern workplace25th June 2013Andrew Parkin, Acoustics Partner


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• Established for nearly 40 years

• Multi-disciplinary consultancy

• 20 offices in 11 countries

• 400+ staff

• High level of repeat business• Customer focused

• Award winning – projects & business

• Sustainable designers• One Planet Company

About Cundall


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Award winning

Building Awards 2013:

‘Cut the Carbon Award’ -Winner

Civic Trust Awards 2013:

Theatre Royal and Universityof the Arts London Campus

for Central Saint Martins

Shortlisted at Building

Awards 2013: ‘EngineeringConsultant of the Year’ and

‘Cut the Carbon Award’

The National Constructing

Excellence Awards 2012:‘Consultancy Practice of the

Year’ - Winner

West Midlands Constructing

Excellence Awards 2012:

‘The Legacy Award,Sustainability’ - Winner

Building Qatar live 2012:

‘The Open BIM Build Qatar

Live’ - Winner

Constructing Excellence in

the North East Awards 2012:

‘Consultancy Practice of the

Year Award’

Zero Carbon Sustainable

House 2012: ‘Collaborative

Future’ - Winner


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Our locations


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Cundall services

Building services engineering

Acoustic engineering

Fire engineering

Survey Solutions

Civil engineering Structural engineering Sustainability

Building Information

Modelling (BIM)

Geotechnical and

geoenvironmental

Transportation

Building automation

ICT and AV

Vertical transportation

CDM coordination

Lighting design

Data Centre Infrastructure

Management (DCIM)

Planning


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Cundall sectors

Critical Systems Education Government Healthcare Industrial

Lifestyle Masterplanning andinfrastructure

Residential Retail Workplace


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We practice what we

preach

– World’s first consultancy to be

formally endorsed as a One

Planet Company by

sustainability charity

BioRegional

– Applied the 10 One Planet

Principals to guide our

commitment, actions and

services

– Cundall SustainabilityRoadmap available on

www.cundall.com

One Planet Company

One Planet Living is a global initiative based on 10 principles

of sustainability developed by BioRegional and WWF.


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Acoustics and wellbeing…

• Sound vs. Noise

• One man’s draught…

• Effect on health

• Effect on wellbeing

• Productivity and staff

retention in the workplace

• Assessment tools

• Adding value to buildings


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Sound vs. Noise

• Many sounds are pleasant

• Soundscapes

• Noise is unwanted sound

• By definition, unpleasant and

promotes an adverse

response

• Individual responses vary

• Range from inconvenience to

severe impact


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Acoustics and wellbeing

• Positive sounds used to

enhance environment

• Soundcapes, Audio Branding

• Natural, pleasant sounds

• Anonymous masking

• Noise is a stresser

• Health: good RTs, low noise,

promotes healing

• Education: workplace and

learning

• Workplace: support activities

http://www.free-wallpapers.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/waterfall-rocks-Nature-Wallpapers1.jpg


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• BREEAM, SKA, BCO, BS

8233, CIBSE

• Internal noise levels

• Reverberation time

• Sound insulation

• All of the above, plus STI and

other factors

• AIS Guide to Office Acoustics

• Cat B design most

sustainable

Assessment tools


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Where did my walls go?

• Up until 1940s most offices

were cellular/cubicles

• Walls came down to make

space and increase

openness

• All research and guidance

since trying to emulate

cellular environment

• Is this how we now work?


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Acoustics in the workplace

• Acoustics must support and

facilitate activities

• If environment is poor, staff

retention is affected

• What is the space for?

• What acoustic conditions are

required?

• Privacy

• Communication

• STI


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Acoustic design of Cat B open plan

• Differing requirements need

differing approaches

• Acoustician needs to work

with interior architect and

planner

• STI > 0.6 within a team

• STI < 0.4 between teams

• Internal finishes

• Use of FF&E and office

equipment


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Acoustic design of Cat B open plan


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Tools at our disposal

• Ceilings and soffit treatment

• Suspended absorbers

• Screens

• Wall panels/artwork

• Floor treatment

• Office equipment

• Partitions

• Mechanical vent

• Sound masking

• Opening windows


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• Opening windows

• Double facades

• Displacement vent, chilled

beams (esp. passive),

chilled ceilings…

• Metal monolithic ceilings

(even perforated), BCO

• BREEAM vs CIBSE!

• Partial height partitions

But watch out for…


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Speech Privacy

Partition rating (Dw)

Background noise (L Aeq)

=

+

The key to good cellular design


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The key to good cellular design


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Added value

• Good acoustics needed for a

good environment

• Research shows good

acoustics necessary

• Acoustic environment a useful

tool in the workplace

• Early involvement essential

• Added value and value

engineering far outweighs fees


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• Benchmarking

• Explanation

• Engagement

• Work with architects

• Work with suppliers (R&D)

• Work with contractor

Case Study – US Law Firm


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Case Study – US Law Firm


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• Noise surveys• Planning liaison

• Explanation

• Engagement

• Work with architects

• Work with M&E

• Post-completion

surveys

• Troubleshooting!

Case Study – IT corporate client


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Questions?

[email protected]

@andrewjparkin

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