Acoustics 101 - Chapter 5: Application Examples
Practical Guidelines For Constructing Accurate Acoustical Spaces
Application Examples
General Resources
Auralex already has a wealth of case–specific product application information available through the following resources:
- The Auralexian – Monthly installments of specific problems we have helped our customers address using Auralex products.
- Featured Industry Profiles – Some unique applications of products and some high–profile customers with whom we have worked.
Night Club Isolation
The Situation
A blues club with a residential apartment upstairs.
The Structure
Concrete walls, concrete floor, concrete ceiling with suspended ceiling tiles 18" down. While the client noticed less–than–ideal sound in the club, the main problem he wished to combat was the structureborne transmission of sound to the apartment upstairs.
Our responses were as follows:
Ceiling
Roll out 6" unfaced insulation over the top of the suspended ceiling grid, then roll out a layer of SheetBlok over the top of the insulation (or at least back each ceiling tile with SheetBlok). Alternately, roll out 12" of insulation over the top of the suspended ceiling if it is determined that the ceiling cannot support the additional weight of SheetBlok even with reinforcement. Seal the juncture where the rolled out SheetBlok meets the structure by using the aforementioned tape.
Stage
Pull back the carpet and pad on the stage. Pull up the layer of plywood over the framing members (joists). Insulate between the joists with 6" of insulation to cut down the reflected sound under the stage. Line the bottoms of the joists with SheetBlok to isolate the stage from the structural concrete floor. Install a layer of SheetBlok on the floor of the stage itself, or at least a layer of ¾" MDF and then a layer of ¾" particle board, cross–seamed. Then lay the padding and carpet back down. If the pad is not 6# rebond, replace it with this type or ComfortWear–200, which will offer 5–7dB of additional sound isolation. The stage should be kept as physically separate from the structure as possible. For maximum control, build new walls adjacent to the existing walls as outlined earlier or at least add additional layers of gypsum board to the existing walls with a layer of SheetBlok then a layer of ⅝" gypsum board. The club owner was unwilling to do either of these, so we recommended he apply 4" Studiofoam, realizing that it would alleviate at least some of the low frequency sound that is offending the apartment upstairs.
Garage Isolation and Treatment
The Situation
A one–car 13'x19' garage; carpeted floor; ⅝" gypsum board walls; no windows; 1 36" solid–core door; acoustical tile ceiling at 8' height. The room is used to teach guitar and rehearse with guitar, bass, drums and drum machine.
The Problem
Excessive slap echo and reverb along with excessive low–end buildup due to drum kit being located in one corner. Owner not overly worried about sound transmission to/from the outside, but would like some additional transmission control.
Our responses were as follows:
- Roll out unfaced insulation over the top of the suspended ceiling tiles, thus increasing transmission loss through the ceiling while adding low frequency control to the room.
- Treat all four vertical corners with LENRD Bass Traps.
- Treat the walls with 2" Studiofoam, preferably cut into 2'x2' panels and applied in a staggered checkerboard pattern with space between panels, easily adapted so no two parallel walls are mirror–images of each other. This method yields improved absorption and diffusion without costing any more money. Coverage minimum for a room of this size and with this intended usage is 45%; 60–75% is more appropriate.
The customer originally thought he wanted to purchase Venus Bass Traps and 12" CornerFills for all four (4) wall/ceiling junctures, but we recommended LENRDs instead because of his room’s size. We advised 2" Studiofoam for the walls instead of 4" because the slap echo and excessive reverb dictate more coverage, not thicker foam. If the budget allowed, 4" Studiofoam would be a welcome substitution.
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