As a longtime veteran of the architectural product industry, Featurecraft has noticed a troubling lack of attention to interior sound quality in constructed environments. This guide aims to draw attention to a pervasive modern issue and improve general awareness of acoustic design principles.

What is Interior Noise Pollution?

The phrase ‘noise pollution’ is intrinsically linked to outdoor environments: busy traffic intersections, crowded markets, airport runways. Yet noise pollution is not always a glaringly obvious public issue. It also includes subtler scenarios like the hum of noise in an office, the clanking of silverware and plates in a café, or the sound of footsteps on a linoleum floor.

Interior noise pollution is often neglected in architectural design, leading to undesirable – and sometimes outright harmful – consequences for the users of the space.

Fortunately, it only takes a few simple measures to address this insidious issue.

Impacts of Noise Pollution in Interior Spaces

We use ‘noise pollution’ here to refer to any unwanted noise that has a negative impact upon living things. This encompasses a broad spectrum of sources, such as verbal conversation, machinery, traffic, ambient music, and human movement. Even within a space where silence is enforced, such as a classroom or an office, noise can be created in a myriad of ways.

Noise pollution is often regarded as a mild annoyance, but it is actually a pervasive and costly problem. Excessive noise is linked to physiological outcomes such as hearing loss, tinnitus, and increased blood pressure, as well as psychological outcomes like distraction, irritation, and lowered concentration. Noisy environments are therefore associated with poorer work performance, lower productivity, and worse quality of life.

Strategies for Noise Management

In the heyday of timber and drywall construction, buildings were more acoustically optimised because these materials naturally dampened interior sounds. The modern penchant for glass and concrete, however, poses a problem: these materials reflect sound waves, so it takes longer for noise to die out.

There are many strategies to combat the effects of noise pollution in interior spaces, but not all of them are effective. For example, many modern commercial spaces have designated ‘quiet zones’ where the users of the environment are asked to work silently. Others encourage flexible modes of working, or ask people to use noise-cancelling headphones. These measures may occasionally mitigate noise pollution, but they are fundamentally flawed because they rely on people’s cooperation to succeed. These measures are also less likely to work in environments such as hospitals and schools where people find it harder to modulate their behaviour.

Instead, if we implement acoustic design into interior architecture, we can directly control the quality of the environment. For example, we can decorate interior spaces with wall and ceiling systems that are specially designed for noise management. These systems eliminate the need for user buy-in; they operate continuously in the background of the environment and improve noise quality by a measurable degree.

Using Acoustic Wall and Ceiling Systems

Sound waves echo and reverberate within contained spaces, and this effect is exacerbated by materials like glass and concrete. This means that in modern interiors, sound persists long after its source has died out – for example, a room sounds noisy and full of chatter even if the occupants aren’t speaking very loudly, and the noise seems to continue even after they’ve stopped speaking altogether.

Decorative wall and ceiling systems alter interior spaces so that sound is no longer reflected, but is instead absorbed or diffused. Each product achieves a specific noise reduction coefficient (NRC), depending on its size, material, perforations, and other customisations. This value measures the average sound absorption achieved by a product, with a value of 0.00 indicating absolute reflection, and a value of 1.00 reflecting absolute absorption. For best noise management performance, architects and designers should use products that achieve high NRCs.

Fortunately, in this day and age, we’re spoilt for choice when it comes to acoustic systems that are also aesthetically pleasing. For example, Featurecraft has developed a range of decorative engineered timber products that have been perforated for acoustic performance, including – but not limited to – plywood and veneer panels, ceiling tiles, and geometric boxes.

• Plywood and Veneer Panels
  • Plywood dates all the way back to Ancient Egypt, where it was used for furniture and coffins in burial tombs. In modern architecture, this material is often used to make wall and ceiling panels that provide a clean, elegant finish for interior spaces.
  • MDF, on the other hand, was invented by William Mason in 1925. This innovative technology offers a more cost-effective alternative to plywood, one that can be easily customised and engraved. MDF panels are typically finished with timber or HPL/melamine veneers for a refined appearance.
• Ceiling Tiles
  • Ceiling tiles are made of either plywood or MDF bases and can be finished with timber stains, timber veneers, or HPL and melamine veneers. These tiles are designed to integrate with suspending grid ceilings, and are offered in three variants: flat, which sits inside a ceiling grid, flush, which covers the grid to create a uniform ceiling, and stepped, which extends beyond the grid for a textured effect.
• Geometric Boxes
  • This unique ceiling box system is undeniable proof that acoustic performance and aesthetic beauty can coexist within the same design. Boxes are available in square and side taper designs as well as a variety of sizes, allowing architects to get visually creative and design a one-of-a-kind feature ceiling.

Perforations and Acoustic Backing

These wall and ceiling systems are perforated so that when sound waves hit them, the waves are scattered and absorbed, not reflected back into the environment as noise.

Perforation patterns can be simple – like holes, slots, and grooves – or more complex – like triangles, stars, and arrows – or even custom designs inspired by history, culture, and nature.

Felt backing sheets are then incorporated behind panels, tiles, and boxes to improve their acoustic performance and to hide services that may otherwise be visible through the perforations.

Code Compliance

Acoustics and aesthetics are only two of the variables that contribute to the success of a constructed space; all architectural projects are subject to the New Zealand Building Code.

For example, there are strict performance criteria that ensure the fire safety of constructed environments. Accordingly, architects and designers should seek out products with a Group 1-S fire safety rating, which is the one of the highest possible categories for internal surface finishes. These products will contribute less to the spread of fire than other lower-rated products, helping to keep people and property safe.

Sustainability

In this modern era, constructed environments are held to high sustainability standards. Architects should seek out suppliers that hold Chain of Custody certifications, as well as products that have FSC® and PEFC certifications. These accreditations act as proof that products are sourced and manufactured in responsible, environmentally friendly ways.

The Takeaway: Acoustic Design is a Must-Have

As architects and designers, you're not just creating an environment; you're shaping the lived experiences of everyone who uses your constructed space. It's a tremendous responsibility, one that requires you to make best use of the latest technologies – such as acoustic products – to keep people safe and comfortable.

Featurecraft's wall and ceiling systems represent the best of modern acoustic design, where both functionality and aesthetics are of equal importance. Let these plywood and veneer panels, ceiling tiles, and geometric boxes inspire you to create a truly exceptional interior space.

Need support with your design? Contact the Featurecraft team today, and let us guide you towards code compliance and acoustic excellence.

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