Feature
Continued from page 15 flooring
The
Similarly, raised access
achieves excellent sound absorption. Sound insulation can be increased by compartmentalising the underfloor using either low- level plasterboard drywalls or high- density wool bats or acoustic pads under the partitioning. During installation, be careful when introducing grilles, air
and open cable apertures.
• When replacing a ceiling, ensure that
acoustic
performance is not compromised by the installation of speakers, lighting fixtures, ventilation, ducting grilles, etc. It may be necessary to add ducting dampers, and acoustic hoods to maintain the quality of insulation.
• Create additional absorptive surfaces such as wall panels, wall hangings, screens, ceiling baffles, airtight partitions, carpeting, synthetic ‘acoustic plasters’ created through spraying or trowelling for a smooth finish.
• When determining internal finishes, consider the orientation of absorption, the location, and whether the finish is reflective or deflective.
• Green or living walls can provide great acoustic absorption, especially if plants are spread evenly and large plant containers that can accommodate substantial amounts of compost are also effective.
• Finally, consider adding noise. Ventilation such as chilled beams can be so silent that the space requires an independent sound- masking system to create background noise. Adding sound to make a space quieter may sound counter-intuitive, but can help reduce distractions.
The impact of lighting design and outlook
According to the BRE6 , up to 60% of staff in
UK offices lack sufficient access to daylight. With over 130 million days lost to sickness
every year, at a cost of £100 billion to the national economy, it is worth considering the impact that lighting has on wellbeing. Daylight changes dramatically in colour and
intensity. Light is absorbed through non-visual cells in the eye to control circadian rhythms – the body’s mechanism of controlling energy levels and sleep – and a lack of bright light
16 fmuk new ventilation,
European standard EN17037( re c ent l y adopted as a British Standard BS EN 17037- 2018) introduced in May 2019 is encouraging. This requires new buildings to be assessed using BRE methodology and takes into account the outlook in addition to levels of daylight / sunlight and is a more accurate measurement of the benefits. It is currently unclear whether the UK will adhere to this new standard post-Brexit but it is hoped that the BRE will continue to promote these guidelines. Buildings
should
utilise daylight as the primary source of lighting wherever
increases tiredness. So for those who spend the majority of
the day at a desk without access to natural light, the levels of tiredness are significantly increased. Technologies now exist to both measure
exact exposure to natural light and its impact on individuals, their wellbeing and their productivity. Consequently, working environments can be adapted to suit circadian patterns. Lighting design can also be used to reduce
electric light glare and where necessary, solar glare (both indirectly and in relation to surface design). Lighting can introduce varying colours in different areas of a building, provide automatic shading and dimming, and can model daylight patterns. Guidance which aspires to higher
standards does exist (the BRE guide BR209; the BSi’s BS8206) but is not a component of planning consent, which can result in some office buildings having poor standards. The BREEAM code is helpful, but in reality the credits awarded in relation to daylight / sunlight can be difficult to achieve in urban areas and are often neglected in favour of other goals. Without creating an onerous requirement
which stifles development and creates problems for developers at the planning stages, more should be done by local authorities to prevent very poor standards in new commercial buildings – for example, by requiring current criteria are met.
possible – optimising vision, visual comfort and maintaining circadian rhythms. Lighting intelligence can be used in sensing, refining, interacting and impacting of data collected from lighting intelligence systems. With the benefit of new technologies, including AI, lighting and lighting control can play an increasingly central role in building management, creating brighter spaces.
Conclusion
In the past decade, there has been considerable focus on what a building can do to benefit physical health – or at the very least, reduce ‘sick building syndrome’ whereby a building contributes to its occupants’ ill health. Research carried out by the Centre
for Urban Design & Mental Health and co-authored by a former Treasury economist7 finds that putting health and wellbeing at the heart of development would lead to a £15.3bn boost to the economy by 2050: • £3.6bn of savings from less reliance on the NHS and welfare bills
• £5.4bn productivity increase due to less people taking time off work for stress related issues
• £6.3bn boost in economic output from more people being in employment.
As Winston Churchill once observed, “We
shape our buildings and afterwards, our buildings shape us”. An investment in our buildings from a wellbeing perspective is an investment in our individual futures and that
1.
https://www.openaccessgovernment.org/the-benefits-of-ergonomic-furniture/53340/ 2.
https://www.openaccessgovernment.org/working-ever-losing-workplace-productivity/40406/ 3.
http://www.ted.com/speakers/
julian_treasure.html 4.
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00140137908924681 5.
http://www.thesoundagency.com/what/case-studies 6.
https://www.bregroup.com/services/research/the-biophilic-office 7.
https://www.britishland.com/~/media/Files/B/British-Land-V4/downloads/2018/a-design-for-life.pdf
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