services
BABICHacoustics works with architects, engineers, building owners, and city planners to provide architectural acoustics, environmental noise control, and expert witness consulting services. Architectural acoustics encompasses three major consulting services: sound isolation, mechanical noise & vibration control, and room acoustics. Each section below describes the consulting services in detail.
sound isolation
Speech privacy between rooms is important for building owners and tenants. Therefore, a common acoustical issue addressed in the built environment is the transfer of noise from one space to another. The construction of wall partitions, ceilings, doors, and other building elements can affect sound isolation between two areas of a building — thus affecting acoustical privacy. It is a common misconception that adding acoustical treatment in a room improves speech privacy between rooms. Acoustical treatments inside rooms mainly improve acoustics within a room and not between two spaces.
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mechanical noise & vibration control
Sound and vibration from mechanical systems add unwanted noise in a space or community. There are multiple sources for the noise including sound radiating from the units themselves as well as sound traveling through ductwork. Poorly isolated HVAC systems generate structure-borne noise and vibration. Fans, excessive airflow velocity, and poorly sealed penetrations reduce acoustic comfort and speech intelligibility. All paths must be evaluated in order to ensure an appropriate amount of noise within a building and in a community.
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room acoustics
Appropriate room acoustics begin with architectural design and interior finish selections within the space. A correct balance of absorptive, diffuse, and reflective surfaces in a room leads to appropriate reverberation control. Sound reinforcement and program audio are often required to support speech intelligibility in auditoria, classrooms, worship spaces, and meeting rooms. Sound masking systems can be implemented in collaborative work areas to a generate steady-state background noise source in order to support appropriate speech privacy.
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Environmental NoisE Control
Environmental noise control solutions are essential to meet community noise codes. Noise surveys and assessments should be completed before a project begins to capture costs of noise control solutions.
Determining the effect that noise from airplanes, rail lines, highways, or industrial plants has on a new facility or neighboring residences is important for improving interior building acoustics and tenant comfort. Noise from exterior equipment such as air handlers, cooling towers, compressors, condensing units, exhaust fans, and emergency generators have a significant impact on building and surrounding communities. Design teams are encouraged to include an acoustical consultant to reduce community noise concerns.
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Expert witness
Expert witness acoustical consulting services are offered to assist clients with noise issues within buildings and communities. When disputes occur to determine if buildings or businesses meet acoustical codes, standards, and noise ordinances; noise analyses are completed. Acoustical data is used to determine if the businesses meet appropriate codes.