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Acoustics in PracticeA Local authority perspective
Paul Maccabee BSF & Academies Programme Director Melanie Jackson Sensory Support Service
Alistair Burns Design Manager MCC
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Melanie Jackson -Sensory Support Service
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The Manchester Context Population: 439,025 White British 77% Other ethnic groups 23% Student population: 60,000 Unemployment: 5.1% (nat. av. 3.8%) Low birth weight: 8.2% (nat. av. 7.5%) Ranks 4 th multiple deprivation index, with 9
areas in excess of 80% regarding child povertymeasures
A large, vibrant, metropolitan city, with a diverseethnic population, a large student population andsignificant levels of mobility, unemployment andvulnerability.
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Educational Profile 171 schools with 62,500 children 20% with SEN INA 1500 p.a. from Far and middle east, Africa,
Central and Eastern Europe
EAL 20,000; 80 languages LAC 1380: 55% SEN of which 27% havestatements
500 children with hearing needs: rangingfrom mild to profound losses, some with EAL andadditional needs
41% mild, 33% moderate, 8% severe, 14% profound
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Challenges Diverse population with a complex educational
profile Environment
old buildings: high ceilings and brick walls new buildings: large, open spaces
SNR - Listening capabilities and limitations of children
Technology INSET, support, advice, persuade
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Creating a good learning environment Classrooms are auditory verbal environments
and 70% of the school day is spent listening. How well children hear a teacher affects how
well they learn.
Listening is a process: -Detection, discrimination, recognition, identification, comprehension
Carol Flexer (2005-2008)
SFS -responses from schools: benefits for EAL,
SEN, HI, curriculum access, calm classes,opportunities for communication.
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Removing barriers to listening and
learning
Creating access to a good quality signal
Achieving potential for all pupils
Language developmentand curricular access
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Paul Maccabee -MCC BSF & Academies
Programme Director
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Then.& NowThen:
BSF schools funding approvals dependanton contractual commitment to meet
acoustic standards (PfS Oct 09)Now:
Building Regs to be watered down as partof Government drive to scale backridiculous bureacracy (TES Feb 11)
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Challenges & Contradictions BB93 compliance Air quality in the learning environment Head space in the learning environment
Transformation & personalisation Temporary accomodation Dining room / social spaces (part E) Cost Building Regs - interpretations
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Transformation & Personalisation
The critical relationship between pedagogyand the design / specification of buildings
Theory and practice Clarity and consistency from concept
through to operational use Good examples and bad ones
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Lessons Learnt - Solutions
Generally positive feedback BB93 Alternative Standards Pilots Large Learning Areas
Change management Leadership! Practical testing subjective judgement Flexibility of the structure to allow simple re-
configuration of learning space Limited use of flexible partitions Limited use of soundfield systems
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Alistair Burns -Design Manager MCC
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Lesson delivery a variety of formats
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Critical Design Factor - acoustics
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Standard teaching rooms acoustic performance
BB93 compliance in atraditional classroom
Area of acoustictreatment designed byan acoustician usingcomputerised acousticmodel to ensurespeech intelligibilitybetween
Teacher speaking tostudent
One studentresponding to teacher
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Flexible Learning Zones acoustic performance many talking
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Design Challenges 1 Fundamental space planning (loud & quiet
activities) Open plan spaces where to put treatments
Maintaining flexibility Adjacent noise breakthrough (external & internal) Integrating solution with services & structure Noise from plant Dealing with impact noise Robustness & aesthetics of any solution
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Design Challenges 2 Connecting door & screen detail Flanking sound detailing (partitions & floors) Building Control sign off protocol
Educating users
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General teaching space acoustic principles
Thick carpet for improvedresistance to impact noise
Use of shelving or other equipment todiffuse sound at back and sides of room
Acoustic panel at high level toachieve RT rating e.g. GyprocLine 6 or Pregybel board
Reflective deck at mid point assistscarry
Exposed 200mm precast r. conc unit with 75mm screed
Reflectiveteachers wall
Absorptivestudent wall
Use of lightfittings toprovide
absorbers
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General teaching space acoustic principles
Majority hardsurfaces onteachers wallwith interactivewhite board, drywipe anddisplay boards
Majority thermal mass exposed paintedconcrete soffit with textured finish to diffusesound, some acoustic treatments mayinsulate against thermal mass aggravatingoverheating issues
Exposed services offer potential for appliedacoustic treatment for reduced reflection
Acoustic treatment to beapplied above 2100mmto avoid tampering byusers
Pin boardsand display
assume asreflectivematerial
Treatment on wallsbelow 900mm isgenerally ineffectivedue to beingpartially obscured byFF&E
Conflict between desire for natural lighting to deep plan
floor plates & impact of glazingon room acoustics
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Design Challenge dealing with noise
Ceiling panels
Tracked panels or curtains
Folding screens
Management
modellingFurniture
Wall panels
noise!!
Compliance with BB93 will only be possible in open plan areasunder certain conditions that have been modelled and tested.
Outside of these configurations results cannot be predicted.
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Installation / construction challenges Robustness of material - users
Material not affected by humidity, temperature etc
Sequencing - when to install
Easily handled on site? Easily cut or drilled (surface patterning)
Surface treatments - stop at 85% requirement andtest!!
Electronic reinforcement may rely on panels astransducers not helpful if you have no ceilings
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Installation / construction challenges - sequencing
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Acoustic panels do not have to be intrusive
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Acoustic panels do not have to be intrusive
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Acoustic panels can also be a feature if hung
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Dont forget general circulation spaces
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Problems with suspended ceiling systems in our experience:-
Tiles can be lifted & voids used to hide things
Tiles can be easily damaged
Tiles can be damaged through maintenance
Our solution to use perforated board, however this required careful service coordination to fit theperforation pattern and numerous access hatches
External noise sources from traffic and adjacentproperties can also be an issue (windows open inwarm weather).
We have used earth mounding and living screenswoven into Willow wattles from renewable sourcesto deflect noise. These also provide excellenthabitats for wildlife. Limitations performancedetermined by height and distance from building,generally only works for ground floor accommodation