ACOUSTIC CONSULTANTS IN LONDON FOR SCHOOLS, UNIVERSITIES AND NURSERIES

Gillieron Scott Acoustic Design offers a full range of acoustic services for schools, music schools, colleges, universities, nurseries, research departments including classrooms, seminar rooms, lecture theatres, multi-purpose halls, music rooms, dining rooms, ancillary spaces (offices, meeting rooms) and etc. Whether work is to be completed on new, refurbished, or extensions to current premises, the Building Bulletin 93 (BB93) compliance is required. BB93 may not be the only standard that schools build projects need to comply with, planning conditions need to be satisfied along with BREEAM acoustic credits achieved if relevant to the project.

School projects typically require a large scope of acoustic considerations, which all contribute towards good learning and teaching conditions inside the school, including low background noise from external sources, mechanical ventilation, and adjacent spaces, and good room acoustics/speech intelligibility (reverberation time).

Schools are also a producer of noise through activities and mechanical services. Sufficient planning and design is required to minimise disturbance from these noise sources into the surrounding environment, such as residential areas and hospitals. This is completed via a noise impact assessment and may be required as part of planning approval.

BB93

BB93 was designed by educators, architects, and acousticians to overcome problems of reverberation, communication, intelligibility, background noise from external sources, and ventilation systems, and privacy in new, refurbished, and extension buildings. Its recommendations, if followed, will guarantee high acoustic standards for all teaching and learning activities, in classrooms and resource areas. Although BB93 does not cover sixth-form colleges, universities, and colleges of further education, we use BB93 as guidance where deemed appropriate.

BREEAM

BREEAM is an assessment of the environmental, social, and sustainability performance of assets such as a school, college, or nursery. The aim of BREEAM is to create a more sustainable environment that enhances the well-being of people who come into contact with said buildings. BREEAM is a credited system, which is verified by site sound testing.

Our Services

Initially, a site visit is required to determine the environment around the building location, this will cover both environmental and vocational assessments. Feedback will be integrated into design team meetings and acoustic workshops, ensuring that customers’ needs and expectations are aligned with legislation.

Planning application support

We offer acoustic advice for planning reports in support of the planning application.

Acoustic report

We can complete acoustic reports for building control BB93, for clients and BREEAM.

Noise Survey Data

Using the noise survey data, we carry out a noise impact assessment report for planning conditions. This includes plant noise and noise breakout, BB93 assessment

Design target criteria and specifications

We create design target criteria and specifications to meet BB93 and associated acoustic reports, satisfying both legislation and customers’ needs.

External envelope design

Developing an external envelope design to achieve BB93 internal noise limits and noise breakout to satisfy planning conditions. The design generates the external envelope including glazing, roof,, and external doors. This is driven by the noise survey data. We also comment on architects’ drawings to ensure the design is correctly implemented.

Sound separation between internal rooms to meet BB93

The design of internal partitions for airborne sound insulation and impact sound transmission between rooms, covering walls, floors, ceilings, door and internal glazing. Within BB93 there are targets for internal sound insulation that are required to provide a constructive learning environment.

Acoustic calculations

Room acoustic calculations of all critical areas with specifications for absorption finishes. We complete both spreadsheet calculations and 3D CATT room acoustic modelling. This provides coverage area, type of absorption material requirements, and location of acoustic treatment.

Noise level advice

We can advise on noise levels for the plant, equipment, and mechanical specification: including plant room design, reduce noise from mechanical services externally to ensure planning conditions are satisfied, ductwork sizing for appropriate air velocities, attenuator design, attenuator schedules, and acoustic specification for control of noise from mechanical systems to meet BB93 requirements and planning conditions to external. Additionally, we can comment on architects’ and mechanical engineers’ drawings and specifications to ensure the design is correctly implemented.

Inspections during construction

We can conduct site visits during construction to maintain acoustic quality and associated site reports with comments on quality and progress amongst other applicable criteria.

Commissioning

Upon completion, we can coordinate commissioning testing and associated reports demonstrating compliance with design targets.

We have extensive experience with schools, colleges, and universities, working closely with architects or contractors to design the best possible acoustics for each project within the site constraints and budget available.