Acoustic Ceiling Systems

The science of sound and the importance of acoustics have been, and sadly still are, highly undervalued disciplines within many industries that should rely upon its expertise. If only the days were long past when property developers and architects alike placed a strong importance on the acoustic quality of buildings and living areas and fully appreciated the hugely significant effects acoustics can have. Many people still confine the control of acoustic environments and the discipline of audiology to areas of obvious application such as concert halls and live music venues for example. However, quite unknowingly we are all subject the effects of our acoustic environment throughout our daily lives, and are generally-speaking unaware of the way in which this can affect our levels of productivity, concentration, and even mood.

According to a study in 2004 on the effect of different acoustic environments on staff and patients within a healthcare setting, improving room acoustics was found to significantly improve the psychosocial work environment (Blomvist, Eriksen, Theorell, Ulrich, Rasmanis, 2004). The study also found that acoustic may have had additional implications for staff turnover, quality of patient care, as well as medical errors. Whilst this may be just one example of the way in which the acoustics of your environment can significantly affect you and those around you, there is much other evidence to suggest a strong relationship between acoustics and psychosocial wellbeing.

Employers are yet to fully embrace the difference that a professionally controlled acoustic environment can have on their workforce and indeed on their visitors and contractors. Whilst there are a number of ways to control the acoustics of an environment, one of the simplest and most effective is to use an acoustic ceiling system. Acoustic ceiling systems help to improve good speech intelligibility levels as well as protection against unwanted external or intrusive sounds. When it comes to the composition and construction of acoustic ceiling systems, two main factors indicate effectiveness: sound absorption levels, and sound insulation.

Sound absorption helps to reduce not only sound levels on the whole, but also particular sound frequencies that make it difficult to hear at times and that have also been shown to encourage irritableness and in some cases aggressive behaviour. Acoustic ceiling systems help to reduce sound levels by absorbing sound and controlling room reverberations. Sound insulation on the other hand focuses on protecting the internal users of a space against unwanted external noise.

 

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/acoustic-ceiling-systems-4405004.html

About the Author

AMF ceilings are one of the world’s leading manufacturers of acoustic ceiling systems and are experts in acoustic treatment and acoustic consultancy.