Acoustics

The evolution of the regulatory framework leads to an increase of the acoustic requirements in building applications (especially for HEQ constructions), compelling all the market actors to respect demanding sound levels.

An expert for acoustic solutions, F2A provides you its acoustic skills dedicated to dynamic acoustic studies in order to support climate engineers and installers in their project. Relying on the engineers’ expectations and specifications, our acoustic studies department aims at advising and bringing you its know-how to overcome the new acoustic challenges of the building application. Our team’s expertise allows you to optimize the sizing of the equipments and guarantees you the performance of our acoustic solutions.

Our commitments:

• Guaranteed results based on a dynamic acoustic study.
  • Consideration of the regeneration and acoustic attenuation of the equipments composing the aeraulic networks and their influences on sound levels.
  • Study of the acoustic characteristics and geometry of the room
• Assistance to installers towards engineering consultants:
  • Analysis of the problems linked to the acoustics of the networks
  • Selection of the solution validated by our calculation notes
• Direct contact with our acoustic experts, individualized and personalized follow-up
• Solutions that comply with the project owner’s requirements
• Products tested and validated by independent laboratories

The aim of an acoustic study is to look for the optimal acoustic comfort for the users of the concerned premises.

Despite the noise directly made by the ventilation equipments, the airflow velocity has an important impact on the sound level. An improperly controlled speed or an inappropriate sizing of the aeraulic components can lead to an important noise regeneration, thus creating a nuisance. For instance, an important air velocity in a final air vent can generate an undesired whistle.

The mastery of acoustic phenomena implies the study of the aeraulic network by taking into account the airflow that goes through it.

F2A makes dynamic acoustic studies by taking into account all the elements of the ventilation network as well as their location, and the airflow velocity when the air goes through the elements.

Method:

For more than 10 years, acousticians have been relying on an internal software developed by F2A for acoustic studies. It enables to take into account all the specifications of the networks:

• Airflow and pressure of the fans
• Type of ventilation : simple or double flow
• Shape and length of the ducts
• Number and type of dampers, backdraught dampers and louvres
• Geometry and materials of the premises
• Reverberation time of the rooms
• Position of the air vents

Integrating these parameters on each part of the ventilation network, our acoustic experts determine the optimal acoustic solutions that guarantee the noise level to respect in your project without degrading the acoustic performances of the network.

Elements to supply  for an acoustic study:

Sound levels to respect outside the building:

• Decree n°2006-1099 from August 31st 2006 relating to the struggle against neighborhood noises and modifying the Code for Public Health: the decree shows the regulated emergence (difference between the ambient and residual noise level) to respect at property boundaries according to the cumulative duration of the appearance of specific noise.

Sound levels to respect inside the building:

• Order of April 25th 2003 relative to noise limitation in hotels
• Order of April 25th 2003 relative to noise limitation in teaching buildings 
• Order of April 25th 2003 relative to noise limitation in health care facilities
• NF S 31-080 Offices and associated spaces: defines the acoustic requirements to respect in offices.
• NF S 90-351: Standard which defines the health safety requirements for the design, construction, exploitation, maintenance and use of air quality handling and control installations in health care facilities.
• Frame of reference for the environmental quality of « commercial buildings » HQE buildings, Target 9 « acoustic comfort »: mentions the acoustic requirements to respect in HQE commercial buildings according to three different criteria: standard, efficient or very efficient.

Measurements standards:

• NF EN ISO 7235: Measurement procedures for silencers in duct and final units.
• NF EN ISO 5135: Standard which defines the method to measure the regenerations of the different components in an aeraulic network.