Grace Academy, Darlaston, recently completed by main contractor Kier, was recognised recently for achieving excellent acoustic standards, by a group of high profile architects from across England. The architects visited the Academy to celebrate the successful use of sustainable acoustics within a thermally activated concrete design, which complies with, and in some areas exceeds, BB93, the acoustic […]
Education
UK government has open consultation about new school acoustic design standard
Acoustic design of schools: performance standards 2014 “The long awaited replacement to BB93, Acoustic Design of Schools, is most welcome; if you wish to respond, scroll to the end of the draft document for the 10 questions. You may consider a particular focus on the new open window natural ventilation calculation, guidance for sports halls, […]
Room acoustics and inclusion in schools – at DAGA 2014
Acoustics and inclusion: Knowledge from a British study on school acoustics and inclusion was what Holger Brokmann (Concept Developer – Education, with Ecophon in Germany) presented at DAGA 2014 in Oldenburg, Germany. The issue of “equal educational opportunities for all” is linked to the concept of inclusion, underpinned by legal requirements such as the Basic […]
Education Construction Network organise a topical school design seminar
On Thursday evening Marcel Hendricks Director of the Education Construction Network organised an evening seminar hosted at the Saint-Gobain Innovation Centre in London. The event titled, “Have we fallen out of love with Sweden & Denmark?” was provoked by recent references and discussions in the media around the influence and transfer of educational and school […]
Acoustic inspiration from a South African classroom
Andries van Renssen, Principal at Abbots College in Pretoria East, South Africa. Interesting to listen to how different the Vuvuzela sounds in a classroom with poor acoustics vs a classroom with very good acoustics. In fact the school described the transformation from an “acoustically hopeless” room into an effective learning environment in Abbotts College.Ancy Atticula, […]
Acoustics in TABS classrooms seminar films
Adrian James – Director AJA You can now watch the three filmed presentations on our Acoustic Bulletin YouTube, from the seminar held earlier this summer at the Saint-Gobain Innovation Centre in London. Increasingly Green Buildings” utilising Thermally Active Building Systems (or TABS) have specific acoustic challenges with potential increased low frequency reverberance and overall sound […]
Seminar about acoustics in TABS classrooms
This Acoustics in TABS Classrooms Seminar on Thursday 27th June, will be held at the Saint-Gobain Innovation Centre in London. Thermally Active Building Systems (or TABS) which utilise exposed thermal mass for temperature stabilisation are increasing as an educational building type due to energy efficiency and potential reduced running costs. However TABS buildings have specific […]
IOA Spring conference – Teachers voice strain and going beyond Reverberation Time
From last months IOA Spring Conference, Jack Harvie-Clark (photo above) of Apex Acoustics discussed his recent investigations into the potential advantages of sound strength “G” and speech clarity “C50” measurements when compared to reverberation time as measurements of classroom acoustics. Also interviewed is Nick Durup of Sharps Redmore and London South Bank University, who discusses […]
School kids show the way to mediating noise disputes
An entertaining short film has been made to coincide with Noise Awareness Week 20- 25th May 2013 in the UK. Watch the film which highlights noise issues and behavoiur in the home here. Here is more info about Noise Action Week.
Better acoustics required for non-native language speakers
An interesting article featured on Swedish radio website recently saying poor acoustics in school premises can lead to poor results. It highlights that students with non native language backgrounds do worse in school which may be partly due to poor acoustics in classrooms. Research shows that it is more difficult to perceive all sounds in […]
