Noise reduction in an acoustically hostile environment
Increased attention is being paid to acoustics in train stations. The materials necessary for function
are generally hard, reflective surfaces with little absorption to prevent ambient noise build up. When
you introduce the noise from trains, general activity and a PA/VA system, this can lead to an acoustically
hostile environment.
More importantly than this, In the event of an emergency it is vital that speech intelligibility is sufficient
to allow members of the public to hear important safety messages clearly.
Quietstone wall panels are suitable for use in this environment as they are far more durable than
other stand alone options, have high fire safety rating and are also non toxic or fibrous.
In Esplanade station, the panels were mounted on an aluminium frame which provides an air gap to
the rear of the panels. This greatly increases the sound absorption, particularly in the low frequencies,
but also provides protection for any services behind.
Installation
The panels were installed on a simple aluminium framework, the type typically used for facade mounting.
This framework was fast to install and the panels were attached using Tek, self-drilling screws. This leads
to rapid installation as there are no need to pre-drill holes and once the panels are up, mechanical fixings are ‘plugged’ with the same material to hide the holes. Smaller panels were also installed to hide to fixings to the side.
Advantages
High sound absorption
Non combustible
Weather resistant
Self bearing
Easily cut on site
Bespoke sizes available
Music School News
Creating flexible acoustics in multi purpose performance spaces
Quietstone Light panels were used in several performance spaces to ‘tune’ the rooms, while still allowing for flexible acoustics depending on the type of performance
For this project, the acoustic consultants, Korea Soltech were looking for a sustainable solution which allowed them to get very specific sound absorption coefficients throughout the rooms, while still allowing for flexibility in the acoustics depending on the type of performance.
Along with suitable diffusion, our panels were mounted at different thicknesses and with varying air gaps behind to allow the acousticians to get the frequency responce and reverberation times they desired.
To allow the rooms to be used for different types of performance, some of the panels were reversable, enabling the reverberation times to be adjusted to suit the different types of performance the spaces are required for.
A4 Burgerveen – Leiden Road Tunnel, Holland News
An innovative project to reduce the noise impact of a new motorway
The A4 motorway is an important road between Amsterdam and The Hague. Due to congestion, the motorway is being widened from 2 lanes. This resulted in extensive planning on minimising the environmental impact from the development, one of the main concerns being the impact the new tra ffic will have on noise levels for local residents. It was decided that the road would be recessed into the ground with a partially open ceiling. While this obscures the direct sound path between the source (road traffi c) and receivers (local houses), if left untreated, the reverberating sound fi eld would leave complex refl ective paths for the sound.
This could be particularly troublesome in the low frequencies, where sound is di ffracted the most around the edges of the ceiling, exposing residents to unacceptable noise levels.
After extensive development, Quietstone, along with our partners in fi xing engineering and metal work; Van Campen Aluminium, were awarded the contract to line the tunnel with acoustically absorbent panels on a bespoke mounting framework. One panel for the wall, and a lighter version for the ceiling.
The system provides high broadband sound absorption, with high fire safety, stone-like durability and a range of colours to add an aesthetic bonus to the installation.
Mounting
The fi xing for the wall mounted panels includes vertical steel C-sections with bespoke brackets to quickly fix the panels. These sections also include supports for mineral fi bre slabs which add to the acoustic performance. Panels are mechanically fixed, with plugs of the same material used to fi ll the fi xing points. The ceiling utilises a very similar system, only the mineral fi bre is pinned against the concrete, and the panels have more fixing points.
“Noise pollution is one of the most prevalent sources of environmental complaint in the European Union.”
– Rok Ho Kim – Occupational health scientist at the World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional O ffice for Europe
Technical information
Physical properties
Standard size: 1000 x 600 x 30mm
(other sizes used to t around services)
Weight FR30 – 37.5kg/m
FR30L – 22.5kg/m
Fire resistance
Tested by Efectis Nederland BV for tunnel re safety.
The test involves exposure of a full wall construction
to 1150°C for 2 hours and panels must not
disintegrate or exceed …. °C in the rear cavity
Impact resistance
EN 1794-1 ‘Road trffia c noise reducing devices – non
acoustic performance – impact of stone’: “Elements
appear to show no visual damage.”
Freeze / thaw resistance
EN 1338 – Class 0
Acoustic performance
The setting
As you can see from the picture below, the motorway cuts through a fairly built-up area. Notoriously flat in plane, Holland has a large demand for noise barriers as it can be difficult to position new roads in areas where the surroundings will provide natural noise reduction. In this case the road was initially recessed down to break the direct sound path to the residents without the need to use large barriers which can obstruct views. Unlike light however, sound energy can bend around objects so by reducing noise build up, our panels make the design much more effi cient.
Manufacture
A project of this scale and importance has required the ability to produce rapidly, and with scrupulous quality control. This has meant developing a new plant and we now have the infrastructure to cater for projects of almost any scale.
Epping to Chatswood Rail Tunnel News
Bespoke panels to combat rolling noise
To reduce rolling noise generated by the contact of train wheels and the track, the engineers deemed that a porous absorber placed between the tracks would provide higher performance than lining the walls of the tunnel. The challenge was to find a long lasting, non combustible material with enough durability to withstand high impact from track workers, cleanability, and high sound absorption. The only product which answers all these requirements is Quietstone.
We designed bespoke panels with feet running along the bottom. The benefits being that acoustic performance is increased by adding an air gap, and workers have a higher platform to work across. The client gave us the order after we surpassed their target acoustic performance.
Installation
This project required urgent attention in a very tight timeframe. We produced all the panels in three months. The panels were designed to require minimum installation by simply laying the panels between the tracks with a small amount of cementitious adhesive. The weight of the tile alone stops it from being pulled up by the pressure changes generated by the trains and the adhesive stops them moving laterally
A simple aluminium frame is fixed to the wall.
Dimensions: 905 x 495 x 75mm
Weight: 80Kg
Sound absorption data provided by the University of Salford. Tested to BS EN 354:2003 Note – Having since undertaken more development work, we would now expect higher performance
Advantages
High sound absorption
Non combustible
Weather resistant
Self bearing
Easily cut on site
Bespoke sizes available
Dublin Port Road Tunnel News
A simple, resilient solution to reduce reverberant noise
Quietstone was used at both entrances of the Dublin Port Tunnel to control the noise levels experienced by near by residents. This was our first tunnel project and proved the suitability of our materials.
The pressure changes experienced at the entrance of a tunnel, particularly when used by articulated vehicles can cause a serious noise problem when residential properties are in the near vicinity.
The engineers working on the environmental impact assessments for the project deamed that this issue would be prevalent here, particularly as the start of the tunnel has parallel surfaces, adding to the effect.
Quietstone Light was used at the start of the tunnel as no other sound absorber would be able to withstand the pressure changes while providing high sound absorption, long life-span and non-combustibility. Since the project, we have developed Quietstone FMS which provides the same advantages but with increased fire safety.
Advantages
High sound absorption
Non fiberous
Sustainable
Ease of installation
Weather resistant
Durable
Leeds ‘Light’ Underpass News
A redevelopment project to provide a contemporary gateway to the city
Quietstone Light was installed behind robust, anti graffiti, anodised aluminium perforated metal to control ambient noise levels and improve acoustics for the audio installation.
The inspiration came from Berlin based sound and light artist: Hans Peter Kuhn. The goal being to transform the once dark archways, creating a unique experience for pedestriansand drivers alike. Thousands of LED lights were installed in the aluminum walls which form patterns as drivers pass through and the ambient noise is controlled by our Quietstone Light panels. These provide an unexpectedly tranquil passage through the tunnel and also serve the audio installation which further improves the ambience by playing urban music throughout.
Jonathon Porritt, former chair of the Green Party and Tony Blair’s Sustainable Development Commission said of the project:
“It’s a brave investment, but just the sort of thing we need to make cities places where people can live, and enjoy living.”
