{"id":210345,"date":"2024-11-05T08:35:00","date_gmt":"2024-11-05T13:35:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.constructionspecifier.com\/?p=210345"},"modified":"2024-11-25T13:14:21","modified_gmt":"2024-11-25T18:14:21","slug":"acoustic-optimized-building-envelopes-wellness-productivity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.constructionspecifier.com\/acoustic-optimized-building-envelopes-wellness-productivity\/","title":{"rendered":"Sound advice: Fenestration and acoustic solutions"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Lisa May<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"empty<\/a>
Photo by Fairchild Creative, Inc.\/courtesy EFCO<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Comfortable, quiet interiors benefit occupants\u2019 wellness and productivity. With a greater understanding of noise and its impact on people\u2019s health, there is a larger context for specifying the acoustic performance of curtain walls, windows, and other fenestration systems to promote quieter interiors.<\/p>\n

A well-designed building envelope will provide the necessary sound attenuation while maintaining daylight and outside views without compromising energy efficiency, safety, or functionality.<\/p>\n

Understanding noise and its impact<\/h2>\n

Some sounds are welcome; other sounds are not. Sounds perceived as noise are stressful and impact health and well-being. Noise can elevate heart rate and blood pressure, which causes hypertension. Even after five minutes of exposure to regular traffic noise, people exhibit these physical indicators and report fatigue and mental tension. In a continuously noisy environment, people can experience muscle cramps, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, increased levels of stress-related hormones, and mental changes, including impaired cognitive performance.<\/p>\n

At quieter sound levels, noise also affects awareness, concentration, and creativity. This can lead to more errors and reduced productivity, information retention, and the ability to problem-solve. Having quiet spaces and managing unwanted sound is essential to calming the circulatory, respiratory, and nervous systems and, ultimately, to health and wellness.<\/p>\n

Loud and sustained noise causes hearing loss by permanently damaging the nerve endings of the inner ear. This limits the ability to hear high-frequency sounds and understand speech, which significantly affects communication and engagement. It can also make it challenging to understand others and maintain relationships.<\/p>\n

Occupational hearing loss is one of the most common work-related illnesses and is permanent. About one in eight people in the U.S. working population has hearing difficulty. Workers with hearing loss are more likely to be injured on the job.<\/p>\n

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 700 million people\u2014or one in every 10 people\u2014are forecast to have disabling hearing loss by 2050. Unaddressed hearing loss poses an annual global cost of $980 billion. This includes health sector costs (excluding the cost of hearing devices), educational support costs, loss of productivity, and societal costs.<\/p>\n

\"wellness<\/a>
WHLC Architecture designed Louisiana\u2019s Thibodaux Regional Wellness Center to offer a warm, inviting atmosphere for patients and a community gathering space. The LEED Silver-certified building features thermally broken aluminum-framed curtain walls, storefronts, entrances, and sunshades that enhance energy efficiency. High-performance fenestration systems also ensure protection against the climate and provide acoustical comfort. Photo by Ted Miles Photography\/courtesy EFCO<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Meeting code and project-specific needs<\/h2>\n

The International Building Code<\/em> (IBC<\/em>), the U.S. Green Building Council\u2019s LEED Green Rating System, and the International Institute of Well Building\u2019s WELL Building Program note acoustic requirements to protect people\u2019s hearing, health, safety, and well-being.<\/p>\n

Along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA), other federal agencies also provide standards and guidance to assess the exterior noise environment properly:<\/p>\n