16th Sep 2024
Emerging technologies in construction are increasingly focused on enhancing the experience and wellbeing of building occupants.
Acoustic engineering is an emerging technology that uses advanced techniques and materials to improve sound quality, and reduce noise pollution, reverberations and vibrations in buildings.
Acoustic panels are made with materials that absorb noise and reduce vibrations. They are widely used in commercial spaces such as restaurants, offices, education facilities and recording studios to improve sound quality. Types of acoustic panels include soft, wooden and decorative art. Over recent years there has been an increasing demand for acoustic panels to be design features of a room as well as a solution for sound control.
The application of 50mm thick acoustic foam absorber panels at Walsall College was highly effective in controlling noise.
Advanced modelling software predicts factors such as sound quality and noise reduction performance. Acoustic engineers develop predictive 3D models of buildings from which acoustic design documents can be produced.
Meanwhile, research into computer modelling of sound for acoustic design is being carried out at University of Salford to tackle acoustic problems in homes and other challenging environments.
The choice of soundproofing material depends on the level of noise reduction that is needed.
UK applications of acoustic engineering innovations are widely found in residential, commercial and public buildings, especially in urban areas where there is a particular need to control noise levels, such as the floating floor panels installed in a development of 149 flats in West London.
Through the analysis of construction materials, the shape and size of rooms, surfaces, mechanical systems, lighting, the anticipated arrangement of furniture and more, UK acoustic engineers are implementing increasingly valued acoustic engineering innovations across a range of settings.
Balancing acoustic performance with the upfront cost of materials and their installation is a primary challenge for adoption. However, these costs are counterbalanced by the financial impact of poor quality acoustics in workplaces and commercial settings that result in poor health, lack of productivity and long term wellbeing.
There are also aesthetic challenges for acoustic engineering products. The previously mentioned introduction of art acoustic panels is a step towards resolving this problem.
Continued innovation is being driven by demand for quieter, more comfortable living and working environments. As urban areas become denser, advanced soundproofing and noise reduction technologies are increasingly being incorporated at the construction design phase.
The global acoustic insulation market was valued at just under £12 billion in 2023 and is predicted to reach over £16 billion by 2031. The Acoustics Research Centre at University of Salford continues to conduct research that is funded by councils, government bodies and industry.
The CCBP advocates the development of emerging technologies that improve construction project outcomes across all stages – design, delivery and operation.
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