Interiors-Carpets:Layout 1 06/07/2009 09:56 Page 79
interiors
waves of compressions and expansions,
which are commonly known as sound
waves. Take, for example, a school’s music
rehearsal in a classroom on the first
floor. This causes air molecules within the
room to vibrate and these move
longitudinally away from the instruments
as sound waves in the air. When these
sound waves reach the floor it sets off a
domino effect, transmitting the sound
waves from one atom to another within
the material used to construct the floor
until it reaches the classrooms below, where
it again creates movements in the air.
intrusive and
inappropriate noise
can disturb the
concentration
In this scenario, if the floorcovering on
the upstairs classroom is a solid surface,
such as a laminate, without a noise
barrier underlay, the noise will transmit
more easily through the floor and will
therefore be louder for the rooms
beneath. A method of reducing this
transmittance of noise, or attenuation, is
by fitting carpets and many
School in Rotherham. manufacturers have responded to this
need by offering products with enhanced
acoustic properties.
Carpet is able to reduce the level of
On the carpet
noise transmitted through a building,
because it has a damping effect on the
sound waves, such as those from the
musical instrument. It can also absorb
sound, such as footfall, which helps reduce
Educational buildings have very specific requirements when
transmission through the rooms in both
commercial and residential buildings.
it comes to floorcoverings, not simply in terms of
There are several factors affecting a
aesthetics but for vital acoustical reasons. ROBERT
carpet’s ability to absorb both airborne
and impact noise. These factors include
MORTIMER reports.
the nature of the pile – for example, the
height and type of pile, along with the
method of installation. The method of
W
HETHER the floorcovering is for a installing a carpet can also be vital in
classroom, a library or music room, reducing noise transmittance. A poorly
it is important that it delivers fitted carpet can give sound waves easier
acoustic performances within that location, access through the floors, for example, if
ensuring pupils and staff in neighbouring it is not fitted tightly up to the wall.
areas are not disturbed by noise. Within buildings, particular areas are
In the past, libraries were one of the more prone to sound transmittance than
few types of public buildings to have others, such as corridors, stairs and
carpets widely specified. The reasons are transition areas. For these locations, heavier
obvious in terms of the sound deadening weight products have been developed,
properties they offer, which provides an which give enhanced acoustic properties.
effective way for specifiers to manage
noise transmission in buildings. Ambience
There is little doubt that the needs of the
Domino effect modern building environment will continue
So what gives carpet such strong to evolve and choice of carpet has a key
King James’ School in Almondbury, fitted
with Momentum carpet, which has a two layer
acoustic properties? Sound, in simple role to play in this. Unlike hard
structure and reduces noise transmission.
terms, is a vibration that is transmitted floorcoverings, carpets can create an
through solid materials, liquid or air in aesthetic ambience, which encourages4
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