National University - Manila

551M.F. Jhocson, Sampaloc, Manila

College of Architecture

BUILDING UTLITIES 3: ACOUSTIC AND LIGHTING SYSTEMS

(ABUTLI3S)

Submitted by:
Laude, Vhena V.

Submitted to:
Ar. Phil Arlou M. Dela Cruz
ACOUSTICS

The study of all mechanical waves in gases, liquids, and solids, including vibration,
sound, ultrasound, and infrasound, is the focus of the multidisciplinary field of
acoustics. An acoustician is a scientist who works in the science of acoustics, whereas
an acoustical engineer is a person who works in the field of acoustics technology.
Acoustics is used in practically every facet of contemporary life, the audio and noise
reduction sectors being the most evident.

TYPES OF ACOUSTIC MATERIALS

• SOUND ABSORBERS

These sound absorbing acoustical panels and sound proofing materials are
used to eliminate sound reflections to improve speech intelligibility, reduce
standing waves and prevent comb filtering. These materials vary in thickness
and in shape to achieve different absorption ratings depending on the
specific sound requirements.

Types:

➢ ACOUSTIC FOAM PANELS - An acoustic panel is a specialized panel

crafted to diminish noise and manage sound reflections in an area.
Frequently employed in architectural and interior design, these panels
enhance room acoustics by minimizing reverberation, echo, and
undesirable noise. these panels enhance room acoustics by minimizing
reverberation, echo, and undesirable noise. Acoustic panels are usually
crafted from sound-absorbent materials like foam, fiberglass, or mineral
wool, and are often coated with fabric or acoustic-friendly materials to
improve aesthetics and match the décor.

Availability: Acoustic foam panels are readily available from various

suppliers. They come in different sizes, shapes, and thicknesses to suit
different needs and applications. Some popular brands and
manufacturers include Auralex, Foam Factory, and ATS Acoustics, among
others.

Properties: By absorbing sound waves, acoustic foam panels help to lower

noise levels, echo, and reverberation in an area. They are usually
composed of fire-resistant, lightweight, and flexible open-cell
polyurethane foam or melamine foam. Many acoustic foam panels have
been treated to be fire-resistant, but if fire safety is a problem, it's
important to review the requirements.
Applications: In recording studios, acoustic foam panels are frequently
used to regulate the room's acoustics, reduce reflections, and enhance
 sound clarity. Meetings can be more productive with acoustic panels
installed in conference rooms because they reduce noise levels and
enhance speech clarity.

Photos from google.

➢ WHITE PAINTABLE ACOUSTICAL WALL PANELS - Paintable white

acoustical wall panels are an adaptable and useful way to enhance the
sound quality in a variety of settings, including theaters, businesses,
studios, and residences. Usually composed of materials intended to
absorb sound waves, these panels lower the amount of echo,
reverberation, and noise in a space. To make sure white paintable
acoustical wall panels fit your unique acoustic and visual needs, take into
account panel thickness, material composition, and NRC (Noise Reduction
Coefficient) value.

Availability: Several vendors who specialize in acoustic treatments offer

white paintable acoustical wall panels. In addition to being available online,
you can find them in physical stores that specialize in building materials or
audio equipment, such as Auralex, Primacoustic, and ATS Acoustics.
Acoustic foam panels are frequently used in recording studios to control
room acoustics, reduce reflections, and enhance sound clarity.
Properties: Paintable acoustical wall panels are made to absorb sound
waves, just like other acoustic panels, which lowers noise levels in an area
by minimizing echoes and reverberation. Usually constructed from
fiberglass core or acoustic foam, these panels have a paintable fabric
overlay. Check the specs for fire resistance ratings as many paintable
acoustical panels are coated to fulfill fire safety standards.
Application: Make sure the paint you select won't damage the panel's
acoustic qualities and is compatible with the fabric cover. In order to
effectively absorb sound, installation must be done correctly. For best
 placement, adhere to the manufacturer's instructions or get advice from an
acoustics specialist. The panels' performance may be impacted over time if
regular maintenance isn't done to maintain them dust-free and clean.

Photos from google.

➢ FABRIC WRAPPED PANELS - Custom-made textiles known as acoustic

fabrics are used in acoustic treatment to enhance the quality of sound in a
room. These materials are designed to absorb sound waves, which lessens
unwanted noise, reverberation, and echo. They are frequently employed
to improve a room's appearance and acoustic performance by covering
speaker grilles, wall treatments, and acoustic panels.

Availability: There are many manufacturers and suppliers who specialize in

acoustic treatments that offer fabric-wrapped panels. They are available for
purchase both online and in-person at establishments that sell interior
design goods and acoustic solutions, such as Fabricmate, ATS Acoustics,
and Guilford of Maine.
Properties: Effective sound absorption is a feature of fabric-wrapped
panels, which lowers noise levels in an area by minimizing echoes and
reverberation. Usually, these panels are made of a cloth cover encasing an
acoustic core (such foam or fiberglass). Although many fabric-wrapped
panels are treated to comply with fire safety regulations, it's crucial to review
the specifications to determine the fire resistance ratings.
Application: Recording studios frequently utilize abrasion-wrapped panels
to manage the acoustics of the space, reduce reflections, and offer a neutral
backdrop for audio mixing and processing. These panels provide a touch
of elegance with their customized fabric covers, and they can improve the
acoustics in home theaters by lowering echoes and increasing sound
clarity.
 Photos from google.

➢ ACOUSTICAL WALL COVERINGS - Paintable white acoustical wall panels

are an adaptable and useful way to enhance the sound quality in a variety
of settings, including theaters, businesses, studios, and residences. Usually
composed of materials intended to absorb sound waves, these panels
lower the amount of echo, reverberation, and noise in a space. To make
sure white paintable acoustical wall panels fit your unique acoustic and
visual needs, take into account panel thickness, material composition, and
NRC (Noise Reduction Coefficient) value.

Availability: A variety of providers and manufacturers who specialize in

acoustic treatments offer acoustical wall coverings. In addition to being
available in actual locations that sell interior design or acoustic solutions,
they can also be found online at the websites of businesses like Carnegie
Fabrics, Acoustigreen, and Acoustical Solutions.
Properties: Usually, an acoustic core (made of fiberglass or foam) is
covered with a pretty cloth or vinyl to create these wall coverings.
Applications: Acoustical wall coverings are frequently utilized to improve
acoustics, create a nice atmosphere, and improve the general customer
experience in offices, conference rooms, restaurants, and retail stores.

Photos from google.

➢ CEILING TILES - Acoustic tiles are specialty ceiling tiles made to lessen
echo, absorb sound, and regulate noise levels in order to enhance a
room's acoustic performance. Usually, sound-absorbing materials like
mineral wool, fiberglass, foam, or perforated wood are used to make these
tiles. To accommodate a range of aesthetic tastes and functional needs,
acoustic tiles are available in a variety of sizes, shapes, and designs.
Commercial buildings, offices, conference rooms, classrooms, and other
areas requiring efficient sound management frequently employ them.

Availability: Ceiling tiles are easily accessible from a number of providers and
manufacturers that focus on interior finishes and building materials. Both
physical and brick-and-mortar retailers that sell building and interior design
supplies carry them, as does the website of Armstrong Ceiling Solutions, USG,
and CertainTeed.
Properties: Ceiling tiles come in a variety of surface textures and patterns to
complement or improve a room's interior design.
Application: Ceiling tiles are frequently utilized to improve acoustics, create
a nice atmosphere, and improve the general customer or employee
experience in offices, retail establishments, restaurants, and healthcare
facilities.

Photos from google

➢ BAFFLES AND BANNERS FOR CEILING - Baffles and Banners are designed
to solve acoustical problems economically in any large cubic volume space
such as arenas, gymnasiums, theaters, restaurants, and auditoriums.
Reverberation times that range from 4-9 seconds can be reduced to ½ to
2 seconds. Baffles are an economical way to reduce sounds pressure levels
 and lower reverberation times in large spaces such as gymnasium,
theaters, restaurants, health and fitness clubs, etc.

Availability: Ceiling baffles and banners are offered by a number of

suppliers and manufacturers who focus in interior finishes and acoustic
treatments. They are available in real locations that sell building supplies
or acoustic solutions, as well as online via the websites of businesses like
Armstrong Ceiling Solutions, Rockfon, and Fabricmate.
Properties: Banners and baffles are made to efficiently absorb sound
waves, which lowers the amount of reverberation, echoing, and general
noise in an area.
Application: Offices, conference rooms, retail establishments, and
restaurants frequently use baffles and banners to improve acoustics,
create a welcoming atmosphere, and improve the whole experience for
guests or staff.

Photos from google

➢ FIBRE GLASS BLANKETS AND ROLL - Fine glass fibers are used to make
fiberglass insulation, a kind of thermal and acoustic insulation. Typically,
molten glass is spun or blown into a substance that resembles cotton
candy to create these threads. The resultant fiberglass material has
outstanding acoustic and thermal insulation qualities, is lightweight, and is
flexible.
Availability: There are many manufacturers and vendors who specialize in
insulation goods that have fiberglass blankets and rolls accessible.
Properties: Good acoustic insulation is also provided by fiberglass rolls
and blankets, which absorb sound waves and lessen noise transmission
from outside sources or between rooms.
Application: Fiberglass rolls and blankets are frequently used in
residential construction to insulate floors, walls, and attics in order to lower
 heating and cooling expenses, increase energy efficiency, and maintain
pleasant interior temperatures.

Photos from google

• SOUND DIFFUSERS
These device reduce the intensity of sound by scattering it over an expanded
area, rather than eliminating the sound reflections as an absorber would.
Traditional spatial diffusers, such as polyclinical (barrel) shapes also double as
low frequency traps. Temporal diffusers such as binary arrays and quadratics,
scatter sound in a manner similar to diffraction of light, where the timing of
reflection from an uneven surface of varying depths causes interference which
spreads sound.
➢ QUADTRATIC PYRAMID DIFFUSER - Sound over a wide range of
frequencies can be diffused with quadratic diffusers. Several vertical slats
with diffusers adjusted for particular wavelength bands are frequently used
by them.

Photos from google

➢ DOUBLE DUTY DIFFUSER - Anywhere it is used, the polycylindrical (barrel-

shaped) diffuser will function to trap bass and disperse high frequency
sound. Size affects how much bass is absorbed. The maximum absorption
of a 2' x 4' unit is around 125 Hz.
 Photos from google

➢ QUADRATIC DIFFUSER - The quadratic residue diffuser serves as an

omnidirectional diffuser, disperses sound energy, reduces standing waves
and echo, and enhances sound brightness. Acoustic focusing can be
successfully avoided with QRD sound diffusers as opposed to flat
reflectors.

Photos from google

➢ PYRAMIDAL DIFFUSER - Sound diffusers with pyramid shapes for walls and
ceilings are a useful tool for evenly distributing sound throughout a
listening space, eliminating "dead spots," and dispersing and redirecting
sound. Rigid, molded E-glass is used to create a sturdy, lightweight, and
long-lasting surface for these diffusers.

Photos from google

• NOISE BARRIERS
➢ BARRIERS – Sound barrier materials are used to reduce the transmission of
airborne sound. The Block Aid series of products include the standard one
pound per square foot non reinforced barrier, transparent material when
observation or supervision is required, reinforced vinyl to create a hanging
barrier partition. These barriers also do not block all noise, they only reduce
the overall noise level. Effective noise barriers typically reduce noise levels
by 5 to 10 decibel.
• FABRICS
Acoustical Fabrics are typically used to either absorb sound or as a cover for
acoustical panels. Some fabrics can also be used as a speaker grill cloth or as
a finish on other types of materials.
➢ SOUND CHANNELS WALL FABRICS – Acoustic wall fabric is a dimensional
fabric that offers excellent acoustical properties.

Photos from google

➢ GUILFORD OF MAINE – Acoustically transparent fabric used to cover many

of our products including acoustical wall panels, diffusers and corner traps.
Fabric is also sold separately as speaker grill cloth, wall covering and for
other field applications.

Photos from google

• SOUND REFLECTORS
Acoustic materials called sound reflectors are used to concentrate sound
waves at a specific location. This characteristic facilitates sound amplification
without the need for artificial amplifiers. In smaller settings, this is typically
avoided since concentrated sound produces dangerous high-intensity
sounds. Reflective materials such as vinyl, fabric treatments, and gypsum
boards are frequently utilized.
➢ CEILING-MOUNT REFLECTOR PANELS - For the walls and ceilings of
lecture halls, theaters, auditoriums, and performance halls, ceiling reflector
panels are useful. These panels have non-perforated faces since their
purpose is to reflect sound rather than absorb it. The plenum's overall
acoustical performance is improved by the optional acoustic insulation on
the back of the panels, which absorbs non-directed sound. Convex and
concave geometries with a minimum radius of 6 inches are formed into
panels at the plant. The size, placement, curvature, and distance between
panels all affect the acoustic properties. Natural wood veneer,
reconstituted wood veneer, high pressure laminate, and factory painted
faces are the possible options for the panels.

Photos from google

References:
Ervine, M. (2023, October 20). 30 types of soundproofing materials explained.
Acoustiblok UK. https://www.acoustiblok.co.uk/soundproofing-materials/
Overview of acoustical materials. (2020, August
15). https://www.thomasnet.com/articles/plant-facility-equipment/overview-of-
acoustical-materials/
Francisco, M. A. (n.d.). Types of acoustic materials.
Scribd. https://www.scribd.com/document/559743953/Types-of-Acoustic-Materials
PytAudio. (2020, December 16). Acoustic, absorbent, phonic and soundproofing
materials. PYT Audio. https://www.pytaudio.com/en/acoustic-absorbent-phonic-
and-soundproofing-materials/