BSEE


Quiet Mark is the independent internaonally approved award programme associated with the UK Noise Abatement Society charitable foundaon. Poppy Szkiler Quiet Mark’s CEO explains why being aware of one of the biggest invisible pollutants is so important


ociety is becoming acutely aware about the environmental damage being done to the whole of our planet. Human habits will have to change if any real improvement is to be achieved, and this change can only take place if we understand these issues as a whole. One of the most important environmental pollutions is


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monumentally underestimated and has escaped prominence during the current debate.


I’m talking about noise pollution, which the World Health Organisation has defined as the biggest threat to public health after air pollution. It has also calculated that at least one million healthy life-years are lost every year in western European countries because of environmental noise, with


cardiovascular disease contributing to the vast majority of these deaths, especially high blood pressure, heart attacks and coronary heart disease. Noise in our built environment causes many short and long-term health problems, including extreme stress, sleep disturbance, increased risk of hypertension, cardiovascular disease, as well as hearing impairment. In fact, the European Environment Agency confirms that noise related issues cause 10,000 premature deaths, 43,000 hospital admissions, and 900,000 cases of hypertension each year in Europe alone.


Noise pollution is a universally disruptive problem that needs addressing with greater understanding


ENVIRONMENT AWARENESS


The Building Sector could lead the fight against the world’s forgotten pollutant


and the building services sector could play a crucial part in the fix because we spend 90% of our time indoors. Research has shown that noise disturbance can detrimentally effect productivity, children’s learning, health recovery and general well-being, so noise insulation and absorption is something we need to address seriously within our built environment. The effects of sound are complex. It’s almost impossible to know how a building or interior design will sound if acoustics are not expertly considered, including every facet of the structure. Building professionals need to know which acoustic products are best to meet the bespoke needs that each building project requires and the availability of the latest and best acoustic solutions.


Acoustics Academy


To address this, Quiet Mark, the global awards programme associated with the Noise Abatement Society, has introduced its Acoustics Academy section within its new website to further equip and empower architects, designers, house builders, contractors, consultants, developers and trade-buyers with third-party, expertly verified acoustics solutions for every type of building application area including residential, commercial, industrial, schools, healthcare, hospitals, restaurants and public spaces.


Acoustics Academy includes products such as Acoustic Glazing, Sound Barriers, Panels, Pumps, Acoustic


Doors, Insulation, Commercial Ventilation, Acoustic Plasters and Surfaces as well as interior sound sources like appliances.


The online platform is also positioned to further educate industry on the complex technical details of acoustic design solutions, making them more easily accessible, better understood, whilst encouraging design responsibility for health and wellbeing.


By simplifying the complex world of sound design, Acoustics Academy helps the understanding and comparison of the most reliable and best-performing noise mitigating products on the market. This is achieved through like-for-like comparisons and validation of products, which are organised into a master directory for their performance, design, sustainability, suitability and cost-effectiveness.


Acoustics Academy is the one-stop- shop for accredited acoustic products to support quality aural design within our built environment whilst encouraging manufacturers to innovate with sound in mind. The quality of our aural experience within a building should match the robustness and beauty of the physical structure, a thoughtful well-being legacy for the generations to come.


Sources: u World Health Organisation: http://www.euro.who.int/en/health- topics/environment-and-health/noise/ data-and-statistics u European Environment Agency: https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/ noise-in-europe-2014


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Research has shown that noise disturbance can detrimentally eect producvity, children’s learning, health recovery and general well being, so noise insulaon and absorpon is something we need to address seriously within our built environment


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14 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER APRIL 2020


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