Soundproofing

Sometimes noise can fall into both airborne and impact sound categories when sound vibrates from a surfaces.

How To Keep The Peace In An Open Plan Office

Open plan offices can be far nicer to work in than being cooped up in smaller rooms. They can also help boost creativity and interaction between employees but there are some disadvantages, one of them being noise!

Offices can be noisy places and if you happen to have several employees all working in the same open plan environment, then things can get too noisy. Not everyone in the office will appreciate the creative noise, the buzzing of phones, the clanging of photocopiers or the sound of knives and forks as people increasingly choose to eat at their desks.

Fortunately there are things that you can do to minimise the disturbance for people who really want a bit of peace and quiet, without moving their desk into the broom cupboard. Acoustic insulation is one of them.

The key is to cut down the level of ambient noise to the point where everyone is happy. Simple things like adding carpets and reducing hard surfaces that don’t absorb noise can help. It is also worth introducing some plants and perhaps curtains and other soft furnishings.

One of the most effective things you can do alongside this is to reconstruct office walls so that theyhave larger air gaps between them. These can be constructed from various materials including mineral wool, cork and rockwool. You can even get sound proofing paint!

If you want to find out more about office sound insulation please contact us and we will be happy to advise on ways you can reduce noise.

Posted by admin in Soundproofing

Metropolitan Sound Proofing

If you are thinking about soundproofing a home, office or industrial space, consider exactly what kind of noise you want to stop, where it’s going coming from.

Usually, the majority of sound volume comes through your windows especially old single glazed, untreated windows. Another source may be through walls and ceilings. Varied frequencies are transmitted more effectively through certain types of materials. If you’re unsure where the sound is coming from, an assessment by a professional soundproofed will help you to find out.

Flanking noise involves sound waves being transmitted through gaps in walls, vents, plumbing, power switches and outlets.

Structural noise is generated by banging on one side of a wall/floor to the other side (example: people walking above particularly on a bare floor).

Windows
Double or triple glazed windows will block sound effectively. The layers of air provide a barrier for any sound passing through. It’s difficult for sound vibrations to travel through dense material-air-dense material than to pass a vibration through a single-paned window. The majority of the sound’s energy is lost in the passing between the different mediums with double glazing.

Walls
Soundproofing your walls may be easy or very difficult, depending on what stage of construction you are in. It’s considerably easier to install soundproofing while the framing is exposed. Retrofitting soundproofing is possible, but you run the risk of other issues hidden behind the wall that may have a negative impact on the effectiveness of the soundproofing.

Ceilings
Ceiling spaces are fairly simple to soundproof because they are easy to access regardless of what stage of construction your home is in. But ceilings can present a few issues like ductwork and ventilation, which may still allow a certain amount of flanking noise through.

Floor coverings
There are many ways inside your home that sound energy can bounce off. Think of a room where there are soft furnishings, curtains and carpet. There is considerably less echo than a very stark room with bare floors, hard furnishing and exposed windows.

Once you know where you need soundproofing, the next step is to get in touch with professionals who can advise you on the best materials to use. Metropolitan Insulation can help.

Posted by admin in Soundproofing

Noise Pollution Near Airports

New research suggests that living next to an airport can be bad for your health. The noise pollution created by the constant air traffic exposes vulnerable people such as the elderly to excess stress and worry.

The report by the Harvard School of Public Health has found that those elderly people affected are at a higher risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.

The report was published in the British Medical Journal and is the first to expose a link between noise pollution and hospitalisation. Another report by the Imperial College of London found than 3.6 million residents in close proximity to Heathrow Airport were at a higher risk of stoke, and developing coronary heart disease.

Residents had a 3.5% higher chance of hospital admission due to heart problems, when aircraft noise rose to 10 decibels higher than the average.

Co-author of the study Jonathan Levy states;

Our study was not meant to evaluate interventions, but I think there are clearly things that can be done to reduce exposures to aircraft noise, such as soundproofing of homes that are close to airports, measure that can be taken by (the) FAA or others to reduce noise of their aircrafts,” Levy said. “This certainly could be a beneficial health measure.

Posted by admin in Soundproofing

Noise Pollution Resolutions

A recent Metropolitan Insulation project was carried out in Catford on a shop with residential flats above. The residents of the flat were having issues with the levels of noise pollution coming through the ceiling from the shop below. And likewise, the shop was getting noise pollution from the residents of the flat.

A solution was required that caused minimal impact on the business and on the lives of the people living in the flats.

The work was undertaken to lift all of the floors of the flats and install 60kb acoustic bloc insulation between the floor joists.

At the same time, an acoustic ceiling from the shop ceiling was installed, with an aluminium framework, isolated by acoustic hangars and a double sound barrier board.

Both the shop owner and residents were delighted with the results and the work met with the Local Authority Compliance with Part E for noise reduction.

Posted by admin in Soundproofing

Commercial Noise Solutions

Do you have unwanted noise in your offices – are your confidential spaces NOT confidential?

We specialise in sound control ensuring that your designated confidential meeting and conference rooms remain areas where you can confidently hold private conversations and meetings. Call us now or send us your details for more information.

Do you have a shared office location but need your own private space?

We have delivered many solutions that have kept office noise through party walls to a minimum. Call us now or send us your details for more information.

Do you work from a showroom and need private ‘selling space’ without ruining the appeal of your open plan product displays?

You have no need to suffer any longer, we have solutions that will ensure your showroom areas are kept open and airy whilst providing the perfect private areas for confidential conversations.

Please do not hesitate to call us for all Commercial sound insulation needs.

Posted by admin in Soundproofing

St Edwards School, North London

St Edwards School in North London were having trouble with noise pollution from the school gymnasium. The room was split into two with foldable acoustic doors. This meant that when the room was being used for two different groups, neither side was able to conduct activities without being able to hear the other sides noise coming through the divide.

When we were asked to make an assessment we found that there was a weak spot in the breeze block above the acoustic door. The issue should really have been dealt with by the initial building company when installing the doors.

Metropolitan Insulation installed a MF acoustic 12cm wall with independent aluminium framework. This also comprised of 1 layer of fermacel, a sound shield layer and all edges were properly sealed.

This dramatically reduced the noise leakage and the school was able to conduct separate activities simultaneously in the gymnasium.

Posted by admin in Soundproofing

Expert Commercial Soundproofing Specialists

We are Specialist Commercial Sound Proofing Experts with over 20 years experience in: Soundproofing, Internal Injection Soundproofing, Sound insulation, Airborne sound insulation solutions.

We work with large institutions including Cemex, Interserve, United Utilities, Glasgow City Council, Midland Heart, GF Tomlinson and The Ministy of Defence and have a strong reputation Nationally for: Quality Service, Quick response times Value for Money.

We would be delighted to provide a no obligation quotation and will be happy to discuss your requirements for any location throughout the UK.

Are you a landlord with multiple property upgrades?

We work closely with property management companies across the UK integrating with their chosen sub contractors in ensuring a smooth turn-key operation. Call us now or send us your details for more information.

Posted by admin in Building Trade, Soundproofing

UK Legislation and Local Authorities

UK Legislation
U.K. noise legislation is mainly contained in the Control of Pollution Act 1974 (Part III) and the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (Part II). These acts give district councils (through their Environmental Health Officers) responsibility to determine whether noise nuisance exists and powers to protect citizens from noise by a variety of means, including the designation of Noise Abatement Zones and the serving of Noise Abatement orders.

Local Authorities
Planning and Highway Authorities are required to have regard to potential noise when considering planning applications or planning new development – for example, new roads. Before granting planning permission, they may require applicants to enter into agreements controlling hours of working or methods of operation in order to prevent noise nuisance. Mineral workings and waste disposal sites are particularly relevant in this respect.

Posted by admin in Soundproofing

Royal Academy of Music, London

Metropolitan insulation were commissioned to look into solutions for The Royal Academy of Music Recording Studios, where the recording studios were becoming unfit for purpose. The inadequate sound proofing was causing issues for production and they needed a solution that would vastly improve the quality of the facilities and therefore of their sound production work.

After initially surveying the problem and gathering all required information, Metropolitan decided that the best course of action would be to replace the wooden doors. They are now slow-shut doors with sealed plate footings and concrete plinths. We also increased the density of the recording studio single leaf walls with double soundbloc and isolated perimeter.

Posted by admin in Soundproofing

Metropolitan Insulation – Specialists in Soundproofing

Metropolitan Insulation are specialist in their field including the following specific areas;

Sound quelling:
For confidentiality and privacy in sensitive office areas. Work done for KPMG and JP Morgan. This hides conversations from adjoining offices and is unobtrusive and easy to install.
Soundproofing, for industrial, commercial and domestic. Both state of the art hard-core and injected systems for airborne and impact noise pollution.

Acoustic testing:
For certification and implementation of sound insulation steps towards successful cure of existing or retrospective noise pollution issues.

Suspended ceilings:

To enhance existing spaces for acoustic and thermal purposes. Acoustic flooring, prior to or including new surfaces being laid.

Full refurbishments:
Where recording studio type of proofing is important as carried out for BBC from old existing structures.

Sprayed/injected closed and open cell systems:
For high thermal u values and acoustic purposes. Implementation and advice on depths and recommended installations.

Posted by admin in Soundproofing