Architecture and Acoustic

Design in Green Buildings

Kenneth P. Roy, Ph.D., fellow ASA

Sr. Principal Research Scientist

Armstrong World Industries

ABP Technology, R&D

Lancaster, PA USA

kproy@armstrong.com

Indian GBC

Green Building Congress 2011

New Delhi, India

20 October 2011

– 2 –

Acoustic Standards DevelopmentCurrent Affiliations

ASA: Acoustical Society of America, elected Fellow 1999member TCAA Technical Committee on Architectural Acoustics

member TCN Technical Committee on Noise

member ASA/ANSI WG 52 Classroom Acoustics

member ASA/ANSI WG 44 Speech Privacy in Healthcare

ASTM: ASTM InternationalChairman Subcommittee E33.06 on International Standards

Member Sub Committee E33.02, E33.03, E33.04, E33.05, E33.07, E33.09

ASHRAE: American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineersmember TC2.6 Technical Committee on Sound and Vibration

member TC2.1 Technical Committee on Physiology and Human Environment

AES: Audio Engineering Societymember TC Acoustics and Sound Reinforcement

ANSI: American National Standards InstituteHead of US Technical Advisory Group & delegation to ISO TC43/SC2 on Building Acoustics

ISO: International Organization for StandardizationChairman/Convener TC205/WG6 Building Environment Design – Indoor Acoustic Environment

USGBC: US Green Building CouncilMember, Subject Matter Expert - Acoustics

Publications & Presentations (since 1990)

• over 90 publications in 30 journals, trade magazines and conference proceedings

• over 150 Seminars on Architectural Acoustic Design in 18 countries

• invited lecturer at 15 Universities in 6 countries.

– 3 –

1. Architecture & Acoustics - GlobalBuilding Use and Acoustic Needs

� Office, Education

2. Design Practice for Acoustics - USASpace Design to meet Acoustic Needs

� Closed and Open Spaces

� Classrooms

3. Building IEQ-Acoustics - GlobalPOE Surveys of Occupant Satisfaction

� CBE Survey Results

4. Green Building Rating SystemsGBC and Acoustic Requirements

� USA Green Rating Systems

� India Green Rating System

Outline

– 4 –

Objective:

Understand why IEQ – “Acoustic Comfort” is important in

buildings, and should be included in codes, standards, and

design guidelines

Observations:

1.Buildings are designed, constructed, and operated

primarily for the purpose of providing healthy and

productive spaces for “People” to work and live.

2.‘Acoustic Comfort’ means providing an acoustic

environment that is conducive to speech intelligibility,

speech privacy, low distractions and annoyance, and

concentration where appropriate.

3.Current approaches to building design and construction

are not meeting the occupants IEQ – Acoustic needs

(CBE).

1. Architecture & Acoustics - Global

– 5 –

Building Use and Acoustic Needs

Office Buildings

Intelligibility

within

Privacy

between

Sound

Quality

Concentration

Private Office high high medium high

Conference high high medium medium

Open Plan medium medium low high to low

Call Center low low low medium

1. Architecture & Acoustics - Global

– 6 –

Education Buildings

Intelligibility

within

Privacy

between

Sound

Quality

Concentration

Classroom high low medium high

Lecture Hall high low medium medium

Cafeteria medium low low low

Assembly Rm medium low medium low

Building Use and Acoustic Needs

1. Architecture & Acoustics - Global

– 7 –

Office

Confidential Privacy

Closed Plan Design

• Management Office

• HR Office

• Legal Office

• Conference Room

2. Design Practice for Acoustics - USA

– 8 –

Office

A: Absorb reflected sound w/med NRC ceiling

* .70 to .55 NRC

B: Block direct sound w/partition & ceiling

* min. 35 STC wall & 35 CAC ceiling

* pref. 45 STC wall & 40 CAC ceiling

C: Cover speech intrusion w/ masking sound

* Masking @ 43 dBA

Balanced Design

- High Intelligibility within

- High Privacy between

For walls to ceiling, confidential privacy

ASTM standards C423, E90, E1414, E1573 (measurement standards)

2. Design Practice for Acoustics - USA

Closed Plan Design

– 9 –

Office

Productivity

Open Plan Design

• Knowledge Worker

• Administrative

• Clerical

• Call Center

• Teaming

2. Design Practice for Acoustics - USA

– 10 –

Office

Open Plan Design

ProfessionalAdministrative

Clerical

No PrivacyLow Privacy

Normal Privacy

2. Design Practice for Acoustics - USA

– 11 –

Office – Knowledge Worker

- Medium Intelligibility within

- Normal (non Intrusive) Privacy between

For knowledge workers, non-intrusive privacy Balanced Design

A: Absorb reflected sound w/ high AC ceiling

210 AC - 170 AC

B: Block direct sound w/ divider

72 in. - 60 in. high, landscape layout

C: Cover speech intrusion w/ masking sound

Masking @ 48 dBA

ASTM standards E1110, E1111, E1573 (measurement standards)

Open Plan Design

2. Design Practice for Acoustics - USA

– 12 –

Office

Call Center DesignProductivity

2. Design Practice for Acoustics - USA

– 13 –

Office – Call Center

For call center workers, low distractions

from a distance

- Low Intelligibility/Privacy, within/adjacent

- Reduced distant distractions

A: Absorb distant sound w/ high NRC ceiling

0.95 NRC - 0.60 NRC

B: Not Blocking direct sound w/ low divider,

but use 0.70 NRC landscape furniture

C: Cover speech intrusion w/ masking sound

Masking @ 48 – 46 dBA

Balanced Design

2. Design Practice for Acoustics - USA

Call Center Design

– 14 –

Education - Classroom

For Speech to be Intelligible we must:

1.Design for Sound Clarity w/ Architecture and Acoustics

2.Protect Sound Clarity w/ Mechanical System Design

Hearing speech is not sufficient …. It must be understood!

2. Design Practice for Acoustics - USA

– 15 –

Sound Clarity Factors:

1. Direct sound has clarity

2. Want ‘early’ reflections

3. Don’t want ‘late’ reflections

4. Don’t want echoes

Architecture & Acoustics:

1. Size of room

2. Shape of room

3. Surface treatment

Controlling Sound Reflections:

1. Acoustical ceiling tile

2. Sound absorbing wall elements

3. Sound absorbing ‘space’

elements

4. Carpet

Sound Clarity – RT

ANSI S12.60 Pt 1, RT = 0.6 sec. (design standard)

2. Design Practice for Acoustics - USA

Education - Classroom

– 16 –

Education

Protecting Clarity w/ low Background Noise

Controlling Noise:

1. Environmental – Walls, exterior and

interior

2. Heating/Ventilation – Mechanical Design

3. Room noise (activity) – Sound Absorption

ANSI S12.60 Pt 1, BGN = 35 dBA max. (design standard)

2. Design Practice for Acoustics - USA

– 17 –

Australia (N=3891)

USA (N=53635)

- Occupant Satisfaction 2011

POE all USA and Australia Bldgs

3. Building IEQ and Acoustics - Global

– 18 –

LEED USA (N=9492)

USA (N=53635)

- Occupant Satisfaction 2011

POE all USA and all LEED USA Bldgs

3. Building IEQ and Acoustics - Global

– 19 –

- Occupant Satisfaction 2011

POE all LEED USA Buildings

Silver LEED USA

(N=973)

Platinum LEED USA

(N=1232)

3. Building IEQ and Acoustics - Global

– 20 –

GBC and Acoustic Requirements

4. Green Building Rating Systems

Rating Systems

LEED – NC

LEED for

New

Construction

LEED – EB

LEED for

Existing

Buildings

LEED – CI

LEED for

Commercial

Interiors

LEED – CS

LEED for

Core & Shell

LEED – H

LEED for

Homes

LEED – NC

LEED for

Multiple Blgs.

& On-Campus

Projects

LEED – S

LEED for

Schools

LEED – R

LEED for

Retail

LEED – ND

LEED for

Neighborhood

Development

LEED – Market Sector Rating Systems

LEED - NC

LEED for

Healthcare

– 21 –

GBC and Acoustic Requirements

4. Green Building Rating Systems

Materials and IEQ - Acoustical LEED Credit Areas

Sustainable

Sites

18%

Water

Efficiency

6%

Energy &

Atmosphere

28%

Indoor

Environmental

Quality

28%

Materials &

Resources

20%

– 22 –

Global: IEQ – Acoustics, Schools

Total

Points

Acoustic

Points

Acoustic

Value

ANSI/GBI 1000 22 2.2%

LEED2009 100 1 1.0%

CHPS 85 3 3.5%

BREEAM 85 3* 2.5%

CASBEE 20 5* 8.3%

Green Star 146 2 1.4%

Table. Acoustic credits as a percent of the overall credits

available for sustainable design.

4. Green Building Rating Systems

– 23 –

GBC and Acoustic Requirements

4. Green Building Rating Systems

• Recycled content

• Product is recyclable

• Low VOC emissions

• Made from renewable feedstock

• Design for safety

• Design for disassembly

• Increases energy efficiency

• Positive carbon footprint

Acoustical products:

Materials & Resources

– 24 –

4. Green Building Rating Systems

OFFICE: Innovation Credits - Acoustics

– 25 –

4. Green Building Rating Systems

OFFICE: Innovation Credits - Acoustics

Open Plan Offices

>

– 26 –

4. Green Building Rating Systems

LEED 2011 For India