Acoustic Attenuation

Some projects require acoustic attenuation in order to successfully employ natural ventilation. This is often the case on particularly noisy sites where break-in noise becomes an issue, or when preventing cross-talk between spaces.

The lift at Barnfield

Breathing Buildings acoustic attenuation solutions are designed to meet BB93 regulations for schools, and BS8233 code of practice for other building types. Each acoustic solution can be adapted to be site and building specific.

Order in the court

Another example of acoustic attenuation provided by Breathing Buildings is at the University of Hertfordshire Law School. Here acoustic attenuation is needed to reduce external break-in noise to the full sized mock courtroom as well as the classrooms. Breathing Buildings designed a bespoke roof termination, incorporating an acoustic attenuator for the R-series units. The building also has attenuated low level dampers providing the air inlets, which Breathing Buildings incorporated into the system design.

On the flight path

At Barnfield South Academy in Luton, the new building is underneath the flight path of Luton Airport and immediately adjacent to the M1 motorway. BB was required to provide a high performance ventilating element of Rw25dB, to reduce noise break-in and meet the ambient University of Hertfordshire noise level (35dB LAeq). The challenge was to meet the acoustic attenuated roof terminal requirements while maintaining a low pressure drop across the attenuator for effective ventilation. The system was designed such that most of the ventilation was carried out through the roof mounted units, Roof T erminal although windows can be opened in particularly hot conditions. Assembly constructed from extruded aluminium sections. The attenuation solution included an 1000x1500x900mm attenuator within each of the roof terminations for the R-series units. The attenuator consists of a series of baffles, constructed from steel mesh Note: Vertical and filled with a mineral wool of varying densities designed to absorb solitter aligned different frequencies of sound. with splitter in shaft General assembly of roof terminal and attenuator as used at Acoustic attenuator Barnfield South Academy Constructed of 6 baffles @ 900mm high.
Roof T erminal Assembly constructed from Ring Beam extruded aluminium sections. Hot dip galvanised welded steel fabrication.

Roof T erminal (louvre removed for clarity)

Ring Beam Attenuator

Roof slab erminal Curb and T (louvre removed for clarity)

Acoustic attenuator Constructed of 6 baffles @ 900mm high.

Note: Vertical solitter aligned with splitter in shaft

Ring Beam Attenuator

For More Information Contact Breathing Buildings at:

Breathing Buildings The Courtyard, 15 Sturton Street, Cambridge CB1 2SN Tel: Fax: Email: Web:

Curb and slab

Ring Beam Hot dip galvanised welded steel fabrication.

+44 (0) 1223 450 060 +44 (0) 1223 450 061 info@breathingbuildings.com www.breathingbuildings.com

Issue 1.3 / Oct 10

Breathing Buildings Ltd. Registered in England and Wales. Registered Office: The Courtyard, 15 Sturton Street, Cambridge, CB1 2SN. Registered No. 05676785