Appendix 1 - Acoustic Fact Sheet

FACT SHEET




             Acoustic Properties of Precast
             Concrete
             Acoustic Properties of Precast                  precast concrete is not the problem, but
             Concrete                                        rather, the solution when one is trying to
             In today’s cities people are living closer      limit noise intrusion.
             and closer together primarily due to
             urban consolidation. The need to utilise        Noise Levels & Measures
             services and infrastructure, to be close to     Noise values quoted in reports and
             work, and to be close to entertainment is       technical datasheets most times will be
             of high priority.                               a number approximately in the range
                                                             of 40 to 100 with the letters dB after
             Medium density living in modern                 the number eg 70 dB. The dB stands
             architect-designed glass and concrete           for decibel (one tenth of a Bel) and is a
             structures is very much in demand, and          logarithmic scale (similar to the Richter
             thus it becomes the task of the designer        scale for earthquakes). Whilst noise
             to ensure the building inhabitants have         levels can be outside this range, those
             a comfortable living standard. Precast          values would tend to be in the extreme
             concrete structural walling and flooring        (eg values over 100 dB are extremely
             systems are becoming an integral part           loud and often short in duration).
             of this construction process of multi-unit
             buildings. Knowledge of the acoustic            If however one sees values quoted
             properties of such forms of construction        in dB(A) then this scale relates to the
             is crucial to ensure quality lifestyle living   sound measured in particular with its
             in these buildings.                             reference to the human ear. This scale
                                                             has been “weighted” to correspond to
             Part of this process it to ensure that          the way the human ear hears sounds at
             noise from people working and living            corresponding loudness levels in each
             above, below and outside of a dwelling,
             does not hinder one’s lifestyle. Building
             designers need to understand the basic
             science of acoustics and noise control.
             The following information shows how
                                                                             making precast easy