School Acoustics

School Acoustics

 Noise Reverberation problem in hall solved with application of SonaSpray

		Sevenoaks Prep. School   Sevenoaks Preparatory School is an Independent, Primary School in Godden Green, Sevenoaks. In 2005, work was completed on a new school hall.  This was intended to be used for sports lessons, assemblies, school, drama productions etc.  It soon became apparent that due to poor school acoustics, the new hall was unfit for purpose. With poor school acoustics, a teacher’s job can be made even more difficult.  Having to shout above a noisy class with acoustic reverberation levels this high, can lead to raised stress levels and in some cases, tinnitus. Fortunately there is a solution for poor school acoustics.  Sevenoaks School contacted acoustic consultancy company, Sound Foundation Limited.  After thorough acoustic calculations, SFL recommended a sound absorber product called SonaSpray from Oscar Acoustics.  SFL and Oscar Acoustics’ technical department worked together throughout the project. The main objectives were to not only control the schools acoustics problem, but to do this without compromising the halls feature ceiling. Being a spray applied acoustic finish, SonaSpray follows the original lines and shape of any soffit, blending in or even restoring tired surfaces. SFL and Oscar Acoustics agreed that 19mm of SonaSpray K-13 Special in white, applied to the corrugated steel soffit was ample to bring the schools acoustic problem well within regulations.  The work was carried out in the summer holidays. Oscar Acoustics expertly trained operatives completed the spray process in just one week, making the hall available to use for summer play scheme activities. The results - superb school building acoustics with minimum disruption.

King Ethelbert School in Kent Each project is individual; for King Ethelbert School in Kent, acoustic measurements were taken and with purpose designed software an acoustic computer model of the sports hall was created.  This enabled Oscar to calculate which areas required treatment to achieve the desired school acoustics.  The sheer size of the project, determined that acoustic treatment not only had to be applied to the ceiling in certain areas, but due to the height of the ceiling, the walls also needed treatment to prevent sound polarisation. Two very different products were used to control the schools’ acoustics.  SonaSpray K-13 acoustic decorative finish in white was applied to the centre area of the corrugated steel ceiling, SonaSpray K-13 in green was applied to the upper section of the steel clad walls, and SoundBlox were used at low level. SoundBlox building acoustic sound blocks are the perfect product for controlling school sports hall acoustics at low frequency.  They absorb both direct and reflected sound by using Helmholtz resonator principles.  The selection of Sound Blocks along with the use of absorptive cavity fillers for high frequency attenuation enabled Oscar to adjust absorption characteristics to suit the requirement.   They are also designed to be laid along with standard masonry blocks and can create complete walls or attractive contrasting panel effects.  Once installed, SoundBlox are resistant to impact damage and require virtually no maintenance.

		Oxford New College New College is one of the largest Oxford colleges, with some 400 undergraduates and nearly 200 graduates. It is, as all Oxford colleges, an autonomous, self-governing institution. The College occupies a very attractive site near the centre of Oxford. The front quadrangle, dining hall, chapel and cloisters were built within a few years of the College's foundation; this was the first time that an entire scheme had been built in this way, and it formed a model for later colleges. The main dining hall in the original wing of the building had always suffered from poor school acoustics, with escalating noise levels when fully occupied.  Meal times were unnecessarily stressful and potentially damaging to the hearing of all those in attendance, including the serving staff. The college committee decided that the schools acoustic issue had to be addressed, but finding a product that would be in keeping with the centuries old building would prove to be a little more difficult. Two points that were important: 1) It had to be a compatible material amongst the centuries old stone walls and aging oak beams. 2) Special care had to be taken not to damage the floor in the centre, which featured tiles dating back 500 years.   Oscar Elite was presented to Oxford New Colleges’ committee and well received because Oscar Elite appears as normal flat white acoustic plaster.  Pigments can be added to achieve pastel colours but on this occasion this was not necessary.

Oscar Elite is a composite of 20mm of high density acoustic board sprayed with 2 coats of white acoustic plaster like finish that allows noise penetration for absorption by the acoustic board.
 

Thick polythene sheeting was laid to protect the floor and a thinner polythene masking to protect overspray on the beams and walls.  The access tower was moved around on large sheets of hard board for extra floor protection.

The results - superb school acoustics with minimum disruption.

 
School Acoustics article by D.Mack of Oscar Acoustics.

Examples of School Installtions:

Kings Hill School – new building – FC Arctic White

Colfox School – Dining Hall – FC Arctic White

Colfox School – Gymnasium – K-13 Grey

Whitely Primary School – Gymnasium – FC Arctic White

Sevenoaks School – Office, Listed Grade 2* Building – FC Arctic White

High View Primary School – Classroom – FC Arctic White

Richmond University – Library 3 Floors – FC Arctic White

Newham College – Main Hall – FC Arctic White

Newham College – Celbar

Wyggeston & Queen Elizabeth I College – Reception – FC Arctic White

Newhall College, Cambridge –dining hall – FC Arctic White

Lady Ellenor Holles School – Sports Hall – K-13 Arctic White

The Mall School – Science Laboratories – FC Arctic White

The Mall School – dining hall – FC Arctic White

North Cumbria Technical College, Carlisle  – Sports Hall – K13 Lt. Grey

University of Portsmouth – workshops – K13 White

Moat School – Classrooms and main hall – FC Arctic White

Northampton School for Girls – Performing Arts Studio & Main hall – K-13 Lt.Grey/K13

Bromley Youth Music Centre – Practice Rooms – K-13 Lt. Grey

Tany’s Dell School, Harlow            – K-13 beige

North Herts College, Stevenage – FC Arctic White

Lighthorne Heath School, Warwick – Sonacel

Rickling School, Essex – FC Arctic White

Rosemary Murray Library, Cambridge – FC Arctic White

Meadowside Primary School – Main Hall – FC Arctic White

Meadowside Primary School  -  Classrooms – K-13 White

Milestone School, Kent – Classroom, drama hall – FC Arctic White

Milestone School, Kent – Classroom, drama hall – K-13 Special White

Peartree Spring Junior School, Herts – Main hall – K-13 White

BRIT School of Performing Arts, Croydon – FC Arctic White

St Josephs RC School, Port Talbot – New hall – K-13 Beige

Queenswell Infants School – Main hall – FC Arctic White

Maple Tree School –main hall – K-13 White

Maple Tree School – Gymnasium – FC Arctic

Cambridge University, Lecture Theatre, Dept of Chemistry – K-13 Light Grey

Saltash School – New Laboratories            – K-13 Special White

Woodlands Primary School, Gillingham – Arts & Drama Hall – K-13 White & Sonacel

Reading University – FC Arctic White

Fulston Manor School, Millennium Hall – K-13 Special White

Highgate & Blanche Neville School, Sumner Centre, Classrooms – FC Arctic White

Highgate & Blanche Neville School, Sumner Centre, Gymnasium – K13 Special White

Tiverton School, Coventry –Main Hall – K-13 Special White

Bournemouth University, Student Union – Sonacel & Celbar

Chiddingly School – K-13 Beige

Catherine Wayte Primary School – K-13 Special White

Vale of Ancholme Technology School – Sonacel & Celbar

Clore Tikva School – K-13 Special White

Ecclesfield School – K-13 Special White

King Edward VII Lower School – K-13 Special White

Bourton on the Water Primary School – K-13 Special White

Shevington High School – FC Arctic White

Stirling University, Psychology Dept – K-13 Special Dark blue

Tower Hamlets College – FC Arctic White

Dagenham Infants & William Ford School – FC Arctic White

Fawkham Primary School – K-13 Special White

Hernhill School – K-13 special White

Stoke Newington School – FC Arctic White

The Brit School, Croydon – K-13 White

Frith Manor Primary School, London – FC Arctic White        

Wells Blue School, Wells, Somerset           – K-13 Special White

Eastbury Comprehensive School – K-13 Special white

Stoke on Trent College, Burslam – K-13 Special White

Lamberburst Primary School, Kent – FC Arctic White

Eltham Primary School, Kent – K-13 Special white

Elliott Secondary School, London – FC Arctic White

Ilfracombe College, Ilfracombe – K-13 Special White

Ecclesfield School, Sheffield – K-13 Special White

Portsmouth Grammar School, Portsmouth, Theatre Hall & dining – K-13 Black

Fulham Prep School, Fulham – FCX White

Millfield Community School – FC Arctic White

Star Lane Primary School, Canning Town, London – FC Arctic White

Stoke Newington School, London – FC Arctic White

Salisbury School, London – FC Arctic White

St Nicholas & Trinity Schools, Radstock – K13 Special White

Timbercroft Primary School, Plumstead, London – FC Arctic White

New College Oxford, Founders Library – Sonacoustic Elite, White

Ilford County High School for Boys – K-13 White

Westminster University, Harrow – Soundblox,

Westminster University, Harrow – K-13 Black and

Westminster University, Harrow – FC Arctic White

Downing College, Cambridge – Sonacoustic PL, White        

Charles Dickens School, Broadstairs – FC Arctic White

Low Hill Nursery, Wolverhampton – K-13 Special, White

UCLAN, Preston, Student Union bar & theatre – K-13 Black/Celbar

York College Workshops & Classrooms – K-13 Special, Light Grey

Paddington Green School, London, Classrooms & Hall – FCX, Arctic White

De Montfort University, Leicester City Centre, Performance space – K-13 Black

Avon Valley School, Rugby – FC Arctic White

Avon Valley School, Rugby – K-13 black

King Ethelbert School – Soundblox

Kingswood Primary School – K-13 Special, White

Sevenoaks Prep School – K-13 Special to hall & Stage

Temple Speech Room at Rugby School – FCX White

Leicester Performing  Arts Centre – K-13 Black

King Edmunds Community School – K-13 Special light grey

Rooks Heath High School, Harrow – K-13 Special, White

Furness School, Hextable, Swanley – Sonacel/Celbar

Churchers College Sports Hall – K-13 Blue

King Ethelberts School, Birchington – K-13 Green

Ellen Wilkinson School, London – K-13 Special, White

Click to see full installation list