ALUPROF
’WINDOW AND
FACADE ACOUSTICS’
BY WOJCIECH BROZYNA - MD OF ALUPROF UK
Most of us will be working from home at this
time and communicating through meeting apps
in order to progress what business we can. It
is at these times we notice the sensitivities of
the microphones on our devises and hear the
sounds that we filter out during our normal home
life. When specifiers design facades for new or
refurbished properties in our towns and cities,
there are a number of factors to put into the
design mix and acoustics are becoming crucial
both in workplace and residential properties.
Different types of noise can raise stress levels in
the body, releasing a number of different stress
hormones and, as the amount of stress hormones
in the body increases, the heart rate, blood pressure and blood
sugar levels increase. Excessive levels of these stress hormones
in the body are harmful, and should the noise be sustained, or
repeated day after day, this exposure will be seriously affecting
health and wellbeing of building occupants.
Cities are becoming noisier with increasing traffic and in many
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building locations close to railway lines, noisy pubs,
clubs, noisy neighbours and/or flight paths. There
are street designs which include special street
furniture and planting to help reduce airborne noise
but eventually, the noise will try to penetrate the
building structure through the building facade.
Windows or areas of glazing are the most
susceptible parts of the facade as they are generally
the ‘lightest’ of materials used. Sound attenuation
is best achieved by utilising unbroken ‘mass’ of
material, such as a brick wall. The greater the mass,
the greater the sound attenuation.
Depending on the time of day, noise levels of road
traffic can vary between 45-70+ decibels and this is just over the
sound level that is seen to be ‘healthy’.
Old, draughty single glazed windows with poor or non-existent
weather seals are the poorest performing windows when it comes
to sound attenuation. Even the smallest of gaps which allows a flow
of air through the window will allow noise to penetrate the facade.