Mechanical or electrical building service systems

Usually taking the form of air conditioning units, power supply, ventilation, heating/cooling units or other equipment with the potential to generate high noise levels, service system noise can take many forms and affect the acoustic integrity of a project in many ways.

Building service noise can range in scale from the installation of a heat pump into a domestic dwelling to the installation of many different individual building service systems into complex commercial buildings.

Projects like Westimnster Quarter are a great example of how we take an innovative, creative, and effective approach to finding building services noise solutions.

Our process usually involves:

• Conducting a background noise survey
• Calculating the noise and vibration emitted from the building services equipment
• Making recommendations to either:

• Reduce the noise from the equipment itself or,
• Develop the design of noise control measures such as barriers, screens or enclosures.

The assessment of vibration in particular can be very much dependent on the situation at hand. There are many sources and types of vibration, which can be felt in any type of building and environment and can cause a host of issues, including:

• Building damage
• Uncomfortable and/or unpleasant experience within the workplace
• Circulatory health problems in circumstances with high level of vibration
• Unchecked levels of vibration can, for example, cause:

•  Malfunctions in delicate healthcare machinery, medical equipment and sensitive procedures
• Problems in very fine manufacturing environments.

Identifying and assessing vibration levels requires:

• Ascertaining the likely vibration source and assess potential effect
• Using specialist vibration measurement equipment to quantity the vibration levels present
• Carrying out risk assessment analysis using the quantified measurements
• Recommending ways to address areas of concern and mitigate problematic vibration levels  

There are some variations in the requirements for building services noise depending on the type of project, for example;

Internal building services noise: Buildings such as theatres and performance-based buildings are likely to require very low building service noise levels when compared with school and offices, where moderate noise levels are more acceptable.

 External building services noise: The level to which external building services noise needs controlling depends on the pre-existing background noise level in the area. Buildings in noisy city centre environments will not have to control building services noise as much as the same building in a quiet rural location.

The type of system(s) chosen at the outset of the design process greatly affects the feasibility of controlling noise and vibration. Projects like Piovan Dumfries are a great example of how we approach vibration projects with a methodical investigative process and provide effective solutions.

The earlier Adnitt Acoustics is involved in the design process, the more we can help reduce any abortive time spent on ineffective designs.