Background
Softcat, a leading provider of IT infrastructure and services, embarked on a comprehensive office fit-out project for their new Birmingham location.
The project aimed to create a modern, acoustically optimized workspace that enhances employee productivity and well-being. Anderson Acoustics was commissioned to provide acoustic design and commissioning services to ensure the office met stringent acoustic performance standards.
What we did
The project included various sensitive spaces such as meeting rooms, a boardroom, a wellness room, and open-plan office areas. The primary objectives were to achieve appropriate internal ambient noise levels, good speech comfort, and acoustic privacy for confidential conversations.
Acoustic Design and Performance Requirements
The acoustic design for the Softcat Birmingham office was guided by relevant British Standards and best-practice guidelines from the British Council for Offices (BCO). Key acoustic areas considered included:
- Internal Ambient Noise Levels: Ensuring appropriate noise levels for different work activity types.
- Speech Comfort and Room Acoustics: Providing good speech intelligibility for conversations, group meetings, and video conferencing.
- Acoustic Privacy: Achieving varying levels of privacy between different spaces, with a focus on confidential privacy for the boardroom and adjacent areas.
Site Inspection and Construction Review
During the construction phase, we conducted site inspections to review the construction details that could impact acoustic performance. Key observations included:
- Partition Details: Inspections of partition head and base details in the wellness room, boardroom, and meeting rooms to ensure proper sealing and acoustic performance.
- Reverberation Control: Recommendations for acoustic treatment in the boardroom to control reverberation time and ensure a suitable acoustic environment.
Acoustic Commissioning and Testing
We conducted a series of acoustic commissioning tests to verify the performance of the office fit-out. The tests included measurements of acoustic privacy, reverberation time, and internal ambient noise levels.
- Acoustic Privacy: The tests measured the sound insulation between sensitive spaces, such as meeting rooms and the boardroom. The results showed that the design targets for acoustic privacy were achieved, with privacy factors ranging from moderate to confidential.
- Reverberation Time: Reverberation time measurements were carried out in various rooms to ensure compliance with design targets. The results indicated that the reverberation times were within acceptable limits for their intended use.
- Internal Ambient Noise Levels: Measurements were made to ensure that the internal ambient noise levels met the specified criteria for different spaces.
Conclusion
The Softcat Birmingham office fit-out project successfully achieved its acoustic performance targets, providing a well-designed and acoustically optimized workspace.
Project Progress
Read more about the project here
