Acoustics for a Sound Education

Controlling reverberation inside classrooms is a key to creating great learning spaces. Most learning activities in classrooms involve speaking and listening as the primary communication modes.  Excessive noise may lead to students missing key words, phrases and concepts. Especially for younger children, who haven’t yet developed the skills that allow them to process conversations in the presence of background noise. Students learn by listening to the teacher and to each other. Communication is a major component of classroom learning and recognition of the spoken word is critical for the cognitive process

When excessive background noise is not addressed reverberation can directly reduce speech intelligibility and produce a build-up of noise. Sound bouncing off hard, reflective materials causes reverberation, while absorptive material on various surfaces reduces reverberation. Therefore, incorporating good acoustics is essential to enhance the teaching, learning experience and improve academic performance.

While classroom performance places great emphasis on teacher to student communication, there is often a failure to incorporate acoustical considerations to reduce distraction and make the environment more conducive to learning. Instead, emphasis is placed on space constraints, audio-visual equipment, and furniture specifications. Today’s educational trends towards collaboration and multi-functional spaces require sound acoustical designs.

To improve acoustics requires reducing secondary sound paths with sound absorbing materials. In the classroom, the opportunity for acoustical treatment relies mainly on the ceilings & walls. Products like Acoustic Panels, Tiles, Ceiling Clouds, & Ceiling Baffles are all sound absorption products that are designed to reduce the problem of sound echo and noise reverberation. Our Serenity range enhances the environment’s acoustics by absorbing the optimal amount of sound at different frequencies, reducing unwanted reverberation. The innovative technology eliminates echo for a more peaceful environment and dramatically improves audibility

  

Now more than ever an optimal acoustic experience is as important as the look, feel and function of a space. And it starts by choosing the right sound absorption products to achieve the best level of sound absorption for your space.

For further information on our Serenity Sound Absorption range please call Moving Designs Ltd on 0845 6432197 

Sound Absorption Panels / Reverberation Boards

The Serenity Wall and Ceiling Panels are designed to provide excellent sound absorption whilst enhancing the décor of any room. Our Serenity Wall Panels provide the simple yet important function of absorbing sound across the entire frequency range, whether it’s in a commercial, hospitality, or educational setting, in fact in any area where excess reverberation is a problem. The Serenity can reduce sound by cutting down on the harsh echoes and reverberated sound reflecting off hard surfaces making it more tolerable and comfortable for everyone.

So what is Sound Absorption?

Sound Absorption is the process by which sound waves are taken in or soaked up by soft surfaces. Sound absorption products are intended to absorb unwanted noise, like echo, within a space. Using our software it is possible to acoustically model a given space and calculate the area of absorption that is required to meet the required reverberation time.

Moving Designs are also able to offer bespoke Absorber sizes if required,

including panel thickness and size.

For advice on our Serenity Sound Absorption Panel range please contact one of our technical team on 0845 6432197. Colour swatches are available upon request.

Digitally Printed Movable Walls

Digitally Printed Movable Walls

Blank walls make for blank thoughts.

If walls could speak how would this “Art-Rock” partition define itself? I’m irreverent, rebellious, and quirky and have a strong opinion.

Art goes a long way toward conveying your vision, for people to see the world you are trying to paint. Digitally printed movable walls have their own personas and can tell a story, whether it creates a real source of inspiration in areas such a creativity, innovation, motivation, leadership or high performance.

From provocative advertising to your own unique design or logo, digitally printed movable walls can be as individual as you like, whether it be different designs or colours on either side the constraints are limited only by our imagination. Creating the right impression in your business premises is critical; it’s where the customer leaves behind the outside world and enters your space. A space that entices customers to find out more about you, so whatever they see needs to be impressive….

Digitally printed movable walls are a fantastic way of adding personality and character to your workplace and are becoming increasingly popular as companies are more conscious of their aesthetic representation. Workplace design has changed almost beyond recognition in the last two decades, and for good reason. Staff expectations as to what kind of space they want to work in has never been higher.

Improving the work surrounding with colour and art has a powerful influence on our mood. Digitally printed movable walls can be bold and eye-catching, interactive and dynamic, cutting edge and versatile, taking on many fascinating forms.

Not only does Digitally Printed Movable Walls create an amazing centre piece for any environment. It is also crafted to provide a high degree of sound isolation between rooms, with the added ability of enabling room sizes to be changed in a matter of minutes.

Remember ~your environment sells your business just as much as your people do.

To discuss your requirements further please call Moving Designs Ltd on 0845 643 2197

www.movablewall.co.uk

Acoustic Movable Walls ~ What is a dB rating?

What is a dB rating? 

Manufacturers of Movable Walls market their products based on data that is derived from test done in a controlled environment, normally in an Acoustic Testing Laboratory. The sound insulation values of lab tested walls are generally given as Rw Db ratings. These tests can be used as a comparison but the actual field rating acoustics of the Movable Wall will probably be worse, this is defined as the DnTw Db

The difference is because real-life buildings are not as well built as laboratories. The floors are not as level, the permanent walls are not as plumb, the joints are not as well sealed, and the structure is not as heavy. In a laboratory, test specimens tend to fit perfectly because the lab is built just for that purpose.

Acoustic test results are expressed as decibels (dB) of sound reduction, how much the product reduces the transmission of sound between rooms. The higher the dB rating the more sound reduction the partition will perform. Because of flanking, the onsite dB Dn Tw figure will always be lower than the dB Rw figure.

What is Flanking?

Sound, like water, follows the path of least resistance. If there are leaks in the surrounding construction, even the best movable partition will not provide a good sound barrier, this is known a 'flanking path'.

Flanking paths can be present even when the surrounding construction is of good quality. Direct HVAC ductwork between rooms, open plenums above suspended ceilings are all perfect escape routes for sound. The ceiling tiles themselves, whose porous properties help prevent reverberation, allow sound to pass through easily. Uneven floors and out-of-plumb walls also contribute to leaks as do recessed lighting, access panels and other design details. However, the best defence against flanking paths is careful planning in the early stages of the project .

Beating Flanking Paths

When specifying an acoustic partition it is essential to adhere to the best construction techniques that will afford the best noise isolation.  Acoustically designed, movable walls reach their full potential if the flanking elements are executed accordingly. For particularly high sound-insulation requirements, we recommend the help of an acoustician in collaboration with our sound insulation experts. Please don't hesitate to contact moving Designs Limited on 0845 6432168.

www.movablewall.co.uk

Acoustic Movable Walls ~ Where Sound is Sacred

Movable Walls are an ideal solution to utilise available space within any religious building including Churches, Synagogues, Mosques, Islamic Centres and other types of worship space. 

Modern worship spaces have increasingly seen a need for multi-functionality, often hosting multiple religious services with varying acoustical needs simultaneously. Movable Walls are acoustically rated partitions and are designed, engineered and installed to provide varying degrees of sound control, encompassing the mitigation of any unwanted sound from intrusive noise sources from one space to the next. 

A Banqueting Suite can be divided up into smaller prayer rooms, private meeting areas or converted into classrooms in a matter of moments, by sub dividing these spaces with Movable Walls. Then effortlessly stacked away and transformed back into a larger area. In the religious structures, the sense of individuality or unity & togetherness are created according to variable worship activities; these different uses have also different acoustical requirements, which Moving Designs will be able to assist you with and discuss your options.

Movable Walls are built to your exact dimensions and requirement and can be supplied in an endless choice of colours or finishes complimenting any surrounding and can be constructed with either manual or semi automatic retractable top and bottom seal. Panels are also available curved or with inset pass doors and glazed cut outs

Regardless of the environment the goal remains the same, to create a gathering space for worship where the sound is sacred.

For all your Movable Wall requirements please contact Moving Designs Ltd on 

0845 643 2168. 

http://www.movingdesignslimited.co.uk/prestige-movable-walls/

The Whiteboard Movable Wall

Sound Practices when Operating Your Movable Wall

Movable Walls are crafted to provide a high degree of sound isolation between adjacent rooms. Since even small leaks will undermine the acoustical performance of the partitions, it is important to use “sound practices” every time that each wall is “set up.”

Below is a summary of key practices.

• ·        Whilst the wall is stacked away, hold both vertical edges of the first panel and manoeuvre out of the stack area ensuring that the panels are upright as not to damage the floor or ceiling.

• ·         Move the panel along the head track to the furthest point and insert the male profile into the female profile of the jamb mounted on the wall surface (opposite to the stacking area). This is done by pushing with one hand against the side of the panel at head height. If necessary use your foot to keep panel in place at the bottom (ensure hands are away from all meeting panel edges). Now insert the operating handle into the operating slot and turn the handle clockwise until full pressure is obtained. Now the panel is in its fixed position and the next panel can be brought out from the stacking area once again leading with the male profile. Ensuring that the top seal engages the track soffit and the bottom seal engages the floor surface.

• ·        Repeat the process and install each panel as above carefully aligning the panels. Take care that the panels NEVER collide harshly as this can cause costly profile damage. If you have an inset pass door the door must be closed when moving the panel. Lock the pass door if necessary.  

• ·          The last panel is the so-called telescopic panel. One side of the panel comprises a telescopic sleeve which closes and seals the panel over the wall jamb. When the panel is in place insert the operating handle into the facia mounted slot) and wind out the mechanism to firstly force the telescopic seal outwards and then in turn the vertical pressure seals.

• ·         To re-stack the partition repeat the steps in reverse order rotating the winding handle in an anticlockwise direction

A good way to check for sound leaks is to check for light leaks. After an operable wall has been set up completely, turn on the lights in a room on one side of the operable wall, turn off the lights in the room on the other side of the operable wall and, standing in the darkened room, look for light leaks. If you see light leaks, then reset the affected panels for a tighter fit.

At the time that the operable walls were installed, the trolley suspension bolts on each panel were adjusted so that the panel was hanging vertically plumb. Over time, due to live loading and differential settling of the building, the operable wall tracks may move causing panels to hang slightly out of plumb and may possibly require readjustment of the panels.

If you experience any of these issues please contact Pro-Servicing Ltd on 0845 6432168 to discuss your options further.

http://www.movingdesignslimited.co.uk/service-and-repair/