14 business focus
Noise affects all industries and its control is critical
Solent Acoustics provides a range of consultancy and training services for the industrial and education sectors. Beginning a new series of Southampton Solent University profiles, its director Dr Christopher Barlow spoke to Sue Hughes
In an increasingly noisy world, organisations across various sectors are striving to reduce noise. Solent Acoustics, headed by Dr Christopher Barlow, adds a commercial element to the teaching activities of his department. Solent Acoustics is part of the Solent Centre for Innovation and Design at Southampton Solent University, and draws on staff with both academic research and industrial consultancy backgrounds. Active in research, with his main interest in musical acoustics, Dr Barlow originally obtained funding for a project looking at environmental noise where noise control is critical, but the group looks at all aspects of acoustics.
”Noise affects all industries – for instance the implementation of the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 is a concern for many businesses,” he says. ”Noise occurs in every manufacturing sector, from yacht building to the automotive industry. The military has an ongoing interest in acoustics when it comes to avoiding detection. If you think about noise at work in entertainment, the noise is the product that attracts the paying public – but it‘s still considered an occupational risk for employees. Music venues and festivals also have to comply with legislation on noise disturbance.”
Having been conducting research in acoustics for some years, Dr Barlow identified a market for professional training and consultancy a couple of years ago. There are now four full- time staff and three other academic and technical staff are involved to a high level.
”On the training side, accreditation with the Institute of Acoustics (IOA) has enabled us to provide highly-recognised qualifications at certificate and diploma level. The former is a one-week intensive course, concluding with written and practical examinations. Students can apply for technician membership of the IOA on
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heard. For residents living next to a multi-storey golf driving range, repetitive clicks of golf balls fired at a rate of three per minute may create a nuisance. For festivals, there may be an uncontrollable element due to changeable weather, as a 10 decibel shift in noise may be weather related. Similarly, a change in the stage placement by a few degrees can make a big difference to noise levels in a local village. Use of the landscape can help – putting events in natural ‘bowls‘ can help reduce levels of noise which would disturb local residents.
Testing underway at Solent Acoustics
successful completion. We deliver two of these courses – one for the construction industry and the other for environmental noise management, which is enforced by environmental health officers. The diploma is a year-long course at postgraduate level, looking at a far wider range of topics. Since we built new laboratories at Solent we teach the diploma fully in-house. The qualification is equivalent to half a masters degree and is delivered flexibly so that students can study and work.”
The diploma is a core entry qualification for becoming a full IOA member and is a route to chartered engineer status.
Solent also offers bespoke training and CPD through working with major companies in naval architecture, local authorities and companies in the heating, ventilation and air conditioning sector.
Due in part to pressure from the EU to make life quieter, sound power measurement is also acutely important for white goods, including home printers, washing machines and vacuum cleaners. The Quiet Mark, an international eco-award scheme for excellence in quiet product design, has been established too by the UK Noise Abatement Society.
”Correct measurements are vital, therefore testing and training are an important element of our courses at Solent. We are specialists in training, education and continuing professional development in areas related to noise and acoustics. Consultancy services range from sound insulation testing, through environmental and occupational noise measurements to contract research for product development.”
The development arm is growing through engagement with employers and in that area Dr Barlow‘s team conducts research with companies for noise control in products and test prototypes. The team is currently working with Strategic Audiology Services in Somerset to develop an improved product for audiometric screening.
Solent‘s recent Noise in Music and Entertainment Conference drew almost 100 delegates, proof of how Solent Acoustics‘ work has become better known. The conference featured a trade area and the programme of lectures was of particular interest to those who organise festivals and musical entertainment in fixed premises.
”Location and geography are paramount” delegates
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – SOLENT & SOUTH CENTRAL – APRIL 2013
”Noise emanates when people are enjoying a few drinks and go outside the venue to smoke, for example,” Dr Barlow says, ”and it‘s vital for those managing clubs and venues to abide by their licensing conditions. We see that pressure is increasing in city centres where high-street shop closures mean that premises are altered to bars and flats. The former generates noise, the latter may be occupied by a shift worker trying to sleep. Shops and cafes are also increasingly putting in air-conditioning equipment which causes noise. If noise occurs near residential development, good sound isolation is crucial and that requires good acoustic design and an understanding of the issues. We‘re here to provide the training and consultancy that local businesses need.”
For huge festivals such as Glastonbury, V Festival and the Isle of Wight, infrastructure is paramount. Dr Barlow sums it up as follows: ”You need to affect the minimum number of people but make the best possible noise for customers.”
Sounds like common sense. When it comes to acoustics, Solent is making waves.
Details: 023-8031-9288
acoustics@solent.ac.uk www.acoustics.solent.ac.uk
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