Sustainable Acoustic (ELECTIVE)

Course details

Course Outlines
Basics
- Human response to sound and noise
- Quantifying noise levels, with steady and unsteady sources
- Loudness and pitch

Criteria and Standards
- Acoustic criteria used in Singapore
- Other standards

Sound Outdoors
- Noise barriers, traffic noise control techniques and acoustic conditions in urban environments
- Effective planning to create sustainable acoustic environments
- Noise mapping and planning to reduce noise levels
- Soundscaping to deal with external noise

Sound Indoors
- Good acoustics in indoors
- Privacy, sound insulation and partitioning
- Impact noise and vibration

Sustainable Acoustic Materials
- Materials that absorb and reflect sound
- Low carbon and natural materials for acoustic treatments
- Quantifying the acoustic properties of material

Building Acoustics
- Planning the building layout to reduce expensive acoustic treatments
- Particular issues with building types (schools, hospitals, offices)
- Acoustic issues when re-using old buildings

Building Services
- Noise limits for internal and external areas
- System noise inside and outside the building
- Techniques to reduce ventilation noise and the impact on energy use

Loudspeakers and PA systems
- Basic concepts, loudness, intelligibility
- The interface between loudspeaker systems and the architectural design

Practical session
- Measuring acoustic conditions
- Testing of acoustic materials (a visit will be made to the TUV acoustic testing laboratory)

Case studies in Sustainable Acoustic design

Course Lecturer
Mr Nick Boulter is a Senior Associate in Arup (Acoustic Group) and Arup Singapore Pte Ltd. He has more than 30 years of experience as an acoustic designer, working with Arup in Asia and Europe. His project portfolio ranges from noise and vibration problems on oil production platforms in the North Sea to the design of concert halls and auditoria. Recent acoustic design projects have included law courts, hospitals, schools, offices, airport terminals, residential developments and public transport systems.
Nick has a particular interest in acoustics and sustainable design and how to balance the apparent conflicts between these two issues.

Target Audience
Engineers, building professionals, project managers, building developers and owners, facility managers and other stakeholders involved in green building projects.CPD Points
PEB: Pending
BOA-SIA: Pending