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Oct. 15, 2015 — Sound has a massive effect on all of us, said Julian Treasure, an internationally known sound and communication expert and chairman of The Sound Agency, and it’s time for buildings to be designed on the basis of experience — taking into consideration all five senses — not just appearance, as they often are today.
Speaking at the launch of Total Acoustics ceiling panels from Armstrong Ceiling Systems, Treasure said building owners and facility managers have good reasons to devote much more attention to improving the acoustical environment. “This is conscious, appropriate soundscape design,” he said.
Total Acoustics ceiling panels are a new generation of ceiling panels that combine high levels of both sound absorption and sound blocking in one ceiling panel. Treasure called the new product line “transformational” because it can be specified for any space without having to worry about whether sound absorption or sound blocking will be most important consideration for that space.
By providing the ability to both absorb unwanted sound and block noise from traveling into adjacent spaces, Total Acoustics ceiling panels are well suited for today’s flexible workspaces where a mix of private offices, quiet concentration areas, and collaborative teaming areas often share the same floor space.
“Noise is the number one problem in modern offices,” he said. “A big part of addressing this issue is making sure unwanted sound from adjacent spaces doesn’t intrude or interfere.”
To meet the criteria for Total Acoustics performance, ceiling panels must have an NRC of 0.60 or greater and a CAC of 35 or greater.
Treasure highlighted the problems caused by noise and poor acoustics in a variety of buildings. Distractions caused by unwanted sounds in an open plan office — like overheard conversations or ringing phones — can reduce productivity by 66 percent, he said. While an open plan office is an effective environment for teaming, it doesn’t work well when the task requires concentration or contemplation. But when looking at the economics of open offices, businesses conflate cost savings and productivity, when in reality they are two very separate things.
It’s not just open plan offices where noise is a problem. Noise in hospitals makes it harder for patients to get the rest they need. “In noisy environments, we taste food less well,” Treasure said. Poor acoustics in classrooms makes it harder for children to hear. Treasure said that, according to one study, speech intelligibility for children sitting in the fourth row of the classroom is just 50 percent — and it gets worse the farther back you go. While there’s a lot of attention being paid to the teacher and what is being taught, Treasure said, “Do we ever ask, ‘Can the children hear?’ ”
Retail facilities are starting to understand the importance of good acoustical design, he said. For example, at the soon-to-be-opened Mall of Scandinavia, “they paid attention to acoustics from the beginning,” incorporating curved surfaces and acoustical ceiling tiles.
Retail facilities have a very tangible reason to invest in good acoustics: Inappropriate soundscapes, he said, can lead to a 28 percent decline in sales. “You can measure the effect on sales,” Treasure said. “We’ve proved categorically that [appropriate soundscapes] can increase sales by 3 to 10 percent. There’s a return on it.”
While better acoustics isn’t all that needs to be done to improve the sonic environment, good acoustical design is essential. “If you get the acoustics right, you automatically improve the noise,” Treasure said. “It's the base, it’s the building block. Without getting right, everything else is a waste, basically.”
Armstrong ceiling panels with Total Acoustics performance can enhance the acoustic environment of a myriad of applications. In offices, they can help lower stress, increase worker effectiveness, and boost employee satisfaction. In schools, they can help meet ANSI standards, contribute to LEED points, and create a better place to teach and learn. And in healthcare facilities, they can help reduce noise to improve HCAHPS survey results, address HIPAA requirements, and aid in patient recuperation.
For additional information on Total Acoustics ceiling panels, including videos featuring Julian Treasure, visit armstrong.com/totalacoustics.
