Background
Staticus UAB commissioned Anderson Acoustics to review the proposed aluminium façade specification for The Life and Mind Building in Oxford. The review focused on the acoustic performance of the façade, specifically the office block and ground floor area. The façade comprised lightweight opaque panels and glazed units supported by both stick and unitised aluminium façade systems.
What we did
The primary objective of the review was to ensure compliance with the client’s and design team’s acoustic requirements. The review aimed to identify any necessary measures to rectify non-compliance risks based on a desktop study of available laboratory test reports, comparable systems, and calculation techniques.
The Challenge
The project included facilities for experimental psychology, which were considered highly sensitive to noise. This necessitated exceptionally stringent acoustic requirements, including flanking performance up to 72 dB Dn,fw and internal noise limits of 45 dB LAFmax, unusually strict for a non-residential buildings.
Methodology
The review methodology included:
- Analysing laboratory test reports and performance data for comparable systems.
- Conducting calculations to estimate expected sound insulation and flanking performance.
- Providing recommendations for enhancements where necessary to meet the required standards.
Key Findings
Assessment of Performance
- Vertical Flanking: Our Detailed analysis confirmed that the proposed design would meet flanking performance requirements across all floors, including the interface between the ground and first floor, where the most sensitive experimental psychology rooms are located.
- Horizontal Flanking: Detailed assessments were conducted for both stick and unitised façade systems at various floors. The proposed junctions between some of the ground floor psychology rooms were found to provide insufficient flanking performance.
Internal Noise Levels
- The facade’s sound reduction performance was assessed using available test data and predictions made with Insul software.
- Detailed calculations were carried out for frames, opaque panels, and glazing systems.
- Noise break-in calculations showed that some rooms in the experimental pyschology areas would not meet the required LAFmax limits.
Recommendations
- Enhancements to Mullions: Additional measures were recommended for mullions to achieve the required horizontal flanking performance.
- Introduction of Opaque Panels: Where only a single mullion separated critical spaces, opaque panels were introduced along the wall line to improve sound insulation.
- Secondary Glazing: Secondary glazing systems were proposed in selected areas to meet both horizontal flanking and internal LAFmax limits.
- Enhanced glazing: Higher-specification glass was proposed for the psychology spaces, with an emphasis on low-frequency performance to help achieve the required LAFMax levels.
- Laboratory Testing: It was recommended that the bespoke design solutions be laboratory tested to validate their acoustic performance, particularly flanking sound insulation.
Conclusion
The review concluded that, provided all the recommendations were implemented, the proposed façade systems would meet the acoustic requirements for The Life and Mind Building. Specific areas requiring enhancements were identified, and detailed recommendations were provided to ensure compliance.
Project Progress
The building was completed in April so is on track to open to staff and students by the end of 2025.
