Project Overview: Optimum Acoustics was commissioned to enhance the acoustics of the school hall at Castle East School in Bungay. This special project was of particular significance as Castle East School caters to pupils with Communication and Interaction (C&I) Needs from year 5 to year 11. The aim was to create a more conducive environment for learning and communication while also providing a versatile space for events and venue hire to augment the school’s revenue streams.

The main hall is also a multi use space used for school dinners and at break time. The noise levels when the hall is occupied increases significantly due to the reflective nature of the building finish. Hard wooden floors a bare flat ceiling and reflective walls all contributed to a very echoey space.

Challenge: Castle East School’s hall presented significant acoustic challenges, with a reverberation time peaking at 4 seconds. This posed difficulties for students with special needs, impacting speech intelligibility and overall usability of the space for various activities.

A number of children have resorted to wearing ear defenders whilst using the main hall to reduce the irritation that the poor acoustics causes them.

Solution: Optimum Acoustics proposed a comprehensive solution to address the acoustical issues while ensuring cost-effectiveness for the school. The plan involved the installation of acoustic panels on the ceiling and impact protection panels on the walls.

We proposed our Melaflex Evo acoustic foam panels for the ceiling. Due to the heigh of the ceiling and the light sports use these didn’t have to be wrapped in fabric reducing the cost of covering the required area.

For the walls we recommended our Signature acoustic panels made from a class 0 foam core wrapped in a fabric that would protect the panels from any sports impact.

These panels were strategically placed to reduce the reverberation time to just over 1.1 seconds, significantly improving speech intelligibility and enhancing the overall usability of the hall.

Implementation: The installation was carried out over the school holidays  to ensure minimal disruption to the school’s activities. Optimum Acoustics worked closely with the school administration to schedule installations and work around existing work taking place in and around the school hall. The team adhered to strict safety protocols and completed the project within the agreed timeline.

Results: The results of the project were remarkable. The installation of acoustic panels led to a substantial reduction in reverberation time, greatly enhancing speech intelligibility in the hall. This improvement has created a more inclusive learning environment for students with special needs, which will allow them to engage more effectively whilst using the main hall. Additionally, the enhanced acoustics made the space more attractive for venue hire, providing a much needed additional revenue stream for the school.

Conclusion: The successful completion of the project demonstrated Optimum Acoustics’ expertise in addressing complex acoustical challenges in educational settings. By enhancing the acoustics of Castle East School’s hall, the project not only improved the learning environment for students with special needs but also provided a valuable asset for the school’s community.

Optimum Acoustics is proud to have been a part of this transformative journey and looks forward to continuing to support educational institutions in creating optimal learning environments.

Challenge: The 1st Hedgerley Scouts Hut posed a distinctive acoustic challenge with its wooden floors and reflective ceiling, resulting in a high reverberation time. This acoustic issue significantly affected the teaching and learning environment, especially for scouts, cubs and beavers with special needs. The organisation sought an effective solution that could not only address the reverberation problem but also adhere to specific design constraints inherent in the hut’s structure.

Design Constraints:

1. Weak Ceiling Structure: The hut’s ceiling was constructed from fiberboard, limiting the load-bearing capacity for the installation of acoustic panels.
2. Warped Roof Nature: The design of the roof featured a noticeable warp, necessitating the selection of panels flexible enough to adapt to the irregular ceiling shape.
3. Impact Resistance Requirement: Given the multi use nature of the space, the selected acoustic panels needed to withstand impacts, such as those caused by balls thrown during activities.

Solution: Signature Acoustic Panels

The chosen solution to this intricate acoustic challenge was the implementation of Signature Acoustic Panels. These panels boast a Melaflex core, known for its exceptional acoustic absorption properties, encased in a Class O fabric renowned for high abrasion resistance, ensuring durability and impact resistance.

Key Features of Signature Acoustic Panels:

1. Melaflex Core: The panels’ core material, Melaflex, was specifically chosen for its superior acoustic absorption properties, effectively mitigating the reverberation issues plaguing the Scouts Hut.
2. Class O Fabric: The use of Class O fabric not only enhances the aesthetic appeal of the panels but also ensures they meet stringent fire safety standards.
3. High Abrasion Resistance: The fabric’s exceptional abrasion resistance is a critical feature, making the panels resilient to impacts and suitable for spaces with active and dynamic use.
4. Exteme light weight : Melaflex panels are extremely light allowing the project team the flexibility to mount the required number of panels using suitable cartridge adhesive. 

Installation Process: Due to the ceiling’s weak structure, the installation of Signature Acoustic Panels was meticulously planned to avoid overloading. The flexibility of the panels allowed for a seamless integration, conforming to the warped nature of the ceiling and ensuring an aesthetically pleasing and effective installation.

Results:

1. Reverberation Time Reduction: The implementation of Signature Acoustic Panels successfully reduced the reverberation time from 2.42 to 0.96, creating a significantly improved acoustic environment within the Scouts Hut.
2. Enhanced Learning Environment: The improved acoustics had a positive impact on teachers and students, particularly those with special needs, by providing a more conducive and focused learning environment.
3. Durability and Impact Resistance: The high abrasion resistance of the panels proved essential in maintaining the effectiveness of the acoustic treatment, even in a space with high levels of activity and potential impact.

Conclusion: The acoustic treatment of the 1st Hedgerley Scouts Hut with Signature Acoustic Panels exemplifies a successful integration of innovative solutions to address specific design constraints. The organization can now enjoy a more acoustically balanced space that caters to the diverse needs of its users while maintaining the structural integrity of the building. This case study underscores the importance of tailored solutions in overcoming complex challenges related to acoustics in educational and community spaces.

Client Background:

Our client, The Dispute Service, approached us with a unique challenge: to enhance the acoustics in their bustling office environment without compromising the Japanese-inspired decor and open-plan warehouse-style ambiance. The office space faced issues such as excessive noise and reverberation, hindering effective communication among staff members especially on days when members of staff were working from the office.

Client Challenge:

The primary challenge was to address the high reverberation times, exceeding 3.6 seconds in the vocal frequency range, leading to elevated noise levels during conversations and phone calls. The goal was to find a solution that significantly improved acoustics while seamlessly blending with the existing decor, adorned with chain screens, and maintaining the warehouse-style, open-plan office atmosphere. Traditional solutions, such as hanging acoustic screens, baffles, ceiling-suspended acoustic rafts, and reintroducing a dropped ceiling, were not feasible options.

Solution Approach:

Our innovation team embraced the challenge, utilizing advanced acoustic modeling techniques to identify the optimal acoustic treatment solution. The objective was to strategically place treatments that would be virtually invisible to staff members while achieving a significant reduction in reverberation time and overall noise levels.

Implementation:

• Acoustic Analysis: Conducted a thorough analysis to identify key frequencies and areas with the highest reverberation times.
• Innovative Modelling Techniques: Employed advanced modelling techniques to design a solution that seamlessly blended with the office
• Advanced Acoustic Materials: Installed our Melaflex Acoustic panels in the ceiling space between the concrete beams where there were they set about absorbing excess echoes and reverberations whilst remaining out of sight.
• Strategic Placement: Placed acoustic treatments strategically to achieve optimal results without compromising the aesthetic of the office space.

Results:

Our team successfully reduced the Reverberation Time across vocal frequencies from 2.24 seconds to an impressive 0.68 seconds. This transformation significantly improved the overall acoustics in the workspace, creating a more conducive environment with markedly reduced noise levels.

Client Feedback:

Adrian Delaporte, the client representative, was highly impressed with the acoustic transformation achieved. He provided the following feedback:

“We were amazed at how the team managed to enhance our office acoustics without compromising our unique decor. The reduction in noise levels has had a tangible impact on communication and productivity. The installation team worked efficiently and were able to carry out the transformation without affecting our work schedule. Yet again, the project was completed on time and to a high standard.  I would highly recommend their services for anyone facing similar challenges.”

Conclusion:

This case study highlights our ability to innovate and overcome unique challenges in acoustic design. By combining advanced modelling techniques with strategic placement of treatments, we successfully transformed the office environment, providing a quiet and aesthetically pleasing workspace that aligns with our client’s vision.

This project stands as a testament to our commitment to excellence in acoustic solutions and our ability to achieve remarkable results in even the most challenging environments.

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 BACK TO CASE STUDIES

Background: Shiloh Rotherham Hall, a vital community space, faced a significant challenge. Echoes and reverberations within the hall created an uncomfortable environment, affecting the privacy of conversations and diminishing the overall ambiance. The situation was particularly critical as the hall also served as a refuge for homeless individuals, making it essential to provide a comfortable and respectful atmosphere for those seeking solace and support.

The Challenge: The echoes and reverberations in Shiloh Rotherham Hall were not only disruptive but also impacted the quality of interactions and experiences within the space. The challenge was to find a solution that not only effectively addressed the acoustic issues but also aligned with the hall’s purpose of providing a safe and welcoming environment for everyone, especially for those facing homelessness.

Our Solution: Melaflex Evo Profiles Acoustic Panels

Recognizing the urgency of the situation, we introduced our Melaflex Evo Profiles Acoustic Panels, specially designed to combat reverberations and echoes while providing an aesthetically pleasing environment. Made from our innovative Melaflex foam, these panels offered the ideal solution for Shiloh Rotherham Hall’s acoustic challenges.

Key Benefits of Melaflex Evo Profiles Acoustic Panels:

1. Excellent Acoustic Performance: Melaflex Evo Panels effectively absorb echoes and reverberations, creating a quiet and comfortable environment where conversations can be held with privacy and clarity.
2. Lightweight and Easy to Shape: Melaflex foam, known for its lightweight properties, allowed the creation of attractive and versatile panel shapes. This flexibility ensured seamless integration with the hall’s existing architecture.
3. Inherent Fire Retardancy: Safety was a top priority. Melaflex foam, being inherently fire retardant, provided peace of mind, ensuring compliance with safety standards and regulations.
4. Easy Installation with Cartridge Adhesive: The panels were easy to install using cartridge adhesive, streamlining the implementation process and minimizing disruption to the hall’s activities.

Results:

Upon the installation of Melaflex Evo Profiles Acoustic Panels, the transformation within Shiloh Rotherham Hall was remarkable. The echoes and reverberations were significantly reduced, fostering an atmosphere where conversations could happen comfortably and privately. The improved acoustic environment also contributed to a more positive and respectful atmosphere for the homeless individuals seeking refuge in the hall.

Client Overview: Ashurst School, a thriving educational institution, had a brand new main hall built. However the acoustics in the hall rendered the space unuseable, mainly because of the laminate floor and metal clad roof. The hall suffered from excessive echoes and reverberations, affecting various school activities, from assemblies and presentations to concerts and special events.

The Challenge: The primary culprits behind the acoustic woes in the school’s main hall were the metallic roof and laminate floors. These hard surfaces amplified sound reflections, creating a disruptive environment that hindered communication and the overall experience in the hall. The echoes were so pronounced that they often made it difficult to understand speakers and performers.

The Impact:

1. Disrupted Learning: The echoes and excessive reverberations disrupted teaching and learning during assemblies and presentations, making it challenging for students to focus and engage.
2. Impaired Performances: Musical performances and events were marred by poor acoustics, affecting the quality of sound and audience enjoyment.
3. Safety Concerns: The conventional use of fiberglass acoustic panels posed health and safety concerns, as they released fibers into the atmosphere.

The Solution: Optimum Acoustics stepped in with a customized acoustic treatment solution to address the challenges faced by Ashurst School. Our approach involved the use of our signature acoustic panels, which are not only effective but also safe and eco-friendly.

Our Recommendations:

1. Pro-coustix Signature Acoustic Panels: We recommended the installation of our cutting-edge acoustic panels, which are crafted with a melamine core. Unlike traditional fiberglass panels, these panels are lightweight, easy to install, and, most importantly, do not release harmful fibers into the atmosphere.

The Transformation: The installation of our melamine-core acoustic panels ushered in a remarkable transformation in Ashurst School’s main hall. The panels effectively absorbed sound reflections and minimized reverberations, creating an acoustic environment conducive to clear communication and enhanced sound quality.

Results and Benefits:

1. Optimized Learning Environment: With the elimination of echoes, the main hall became a more conducive space for assemblies and presentations, fostering a better learning environment.
2. Enhanced Performances: Musical performances and special events saw a significant improvement in sound quality, delighting both performers and audiences.
3. Health and Safety: The use of our melamine-core panels ensured a safer environment for students and staff, free from the health risks associated with traditional fiberglass panels.

Optimum Acoustics not only resolved Ashurst School’s acoustic challenges but also provided a safe, efficient, and environmentally conscious solution. Our signature melamine-core acoustic panels transformed the main hall into a space where sound was tamed and controlled, enhancing the overall experience for students, teachers, and visitors alike. The school was thrilled with the results, and the hall now serves as a testament to the power of effective acoustic treatment in educational environments.

Client Overview: Our client, a succesful mediation company, was facing persistent challenges with their boardroom’s video conferencing facilities. The repeated equipment replacements were taking a toll on their meetings’ efficiency,  the company’s professional image and cost for carrying out client enagements.

The Challenge: The boardroom’s video conferencing equipment had been replaced four times due to consistent issues with performance. The manufacturer eventually identified that the acoustics within the room were adversely affecting the video conferencing equipment. Excessive reverberation and feedback were causing poor call quality, dropped conversations, and an overall unsatisfactory user experience. These issues were particularly troubling for the CEO, who relied heavily on seamless communication for important meetings and presentations.

The Impact:

1. Inefficient Meetings: The recurring problems with video conferencing equipment were causing disruptions during critical meetings, leading to wasted time and decreased productivity.
2. Increased costs: The CEO’s ability to conduct successful meetings and maintain effective communication was severely hindered, resulting in the abandoning of the VC facility in favour of physical meeting at an increased cost to the company.
3. Professional Image: The poor call quality and technical issues were tarnishing the company’s professional image, raising concerns among clients and partners.

Design constraints

Warehouse look: The company’s offices, like many modern offices were situated in a building with warehouse style offices. The exposed ceiling, ducting and HVAC facilities creating a modern “tech style” working space. The company was keen to keep the overall warehouse style appearance.

Interior Decor:  The company was keen to ensure that any solution introduced complemented the rooms existing decor.

The Solution

Optimum Acoustics was brought in to assess and address the acoustic challenges in the boardroom. We conducted a thorough survey of the room’s acoustics and identified the specific issues causing the audio problems during video conferences.

Our Recommendations: Based on our findings, we recommended a tailored acoustic treatment solution, including the following products:

1. Sound-Absorbing Panels: To reduce reverberation and echo in the room, we recommended strategically placing sound-absorbing panels on the walls.
2. Acoustic Ceiling Tiles: Installing acoustic ceiling tiles helped control sound reflections from above, further improving the room’s acoustics.

Meeting the design constraints

To meet the requirement of keeping the overall warehouse style look, we opted for sheets of melaflex foam installed on the ceiling in between the beams of the ceiling. These  quantity of  panels used was determined using acoustic modelling and installation would be carried out so that the panels were unobtrusive.

The decor constraint was achieved by allowing the client to choose from over 32 colours of fabric. This resulted in panels that matched the existing decor and enhance the room’s appearance.

The Transformation: The installation of our recommended acoustic treatments brought about a remarkable transformation in the boardroom. With the improved acoustics, the video conferencing equipment performed flawlessly, eliminating feedback and enhancing audio clarity. Meetings became more productive, and the user experience drastically improved.

Results and Benefits:

1. Efficient Meetings: Video conferences now ran smoothly without interruptions, allowing for more efficient and productive discussions.
2. Enhanced Professional Image: The company’s professional image was restored as clients and partners experienced seamless communication.
3. Satisfied CEO: The CEO regained confidence in the boardroom’s capabilities, leading to successful and impactful meetings.

Optimum Acoustics not only resolved the video conferencing equipment issues but also transformed the boardroom into an acoustically optimized space. The result was not only improved technology performance but also a significant enhancement in the overall user experience during meetings. Our tailored acoustic solutions ensured that the CEO and their team could conduct meetings with confidence and professionalism, reinforcing the company’s reputation for excellence in communication and collaboration.

We supplied our Melaflex Evo panels to the 1st Baldock Scouts group  as they had contacted us with issues in their scout hut which also doubles as an event hire venue.

The space is a rectangular room with a flat plasterboard ceiling. This combined with the concrete walls and vinyl floor meant that the acoustics were not conducive for speech transmission and intelligibility. Leading to a working environment that was unpleasant for scout instructors and not conducive for events.

We used the room dimensions, layout and building materials to simulate the quantity and placement of acoustic treatment panels that would give  the room an  RT60 value less than 1s. This target RT60 time being a figure which allowed improvement of the acoustics in the room whilst remaining affordable. Mounting and placement instructions were provided to ensure that the panels provided maximum absorption and delivered the results that were expected.

Delivery was arranged to meet the clients time and space availability.

Client feedback

“The fitting was completed by three teams using individual towers in approximately 4 hours in total, and I will comment the panels were very easy to attach, and there have been no problems with the adhesive, which worked very well.

I have attached some images of the hall, before and after. I hope these will be of some use to you.

The Scouts have now returned to the hall, and the comments from the leaders are very positive. The sound levels have been noticeably reduced, and the echo is well dampened. General conversation is much easier, and the hall is generally a much more pleasant environment to work in.”

Do you have a space the exhibits a lot of echo and reverberation? Our free virtual acoustic survey and advanced acoustic modelling service will help you improve your room’s ambience increasing productivity and making your space more attractive to potential hire customers.

Medway Green School – Multi Use Hall

Medway Green School contacted  us for help tackling the acoustic issues they were facing in their main school hall. Medway Green School is a special needs school for children and caters for students with a wide range of social, emotional and mental health needs, including autistic spectrum conditions, in an environment designed to ensure they always feel safe and supported.

The hall is a multi use space that is used for just about everything, from school dinners, PE, small group learning and assemblies. However the nature of internal composition of the building created a space that was acoustically very bright. The wooden floor and plasterboard walls and ceilings meant that the room would get extremely loud and noisy rendering the room practically unusable even for lunches.

“It really is so noisy that a lot of our students have resorted to using ear-defenders to deaden some of the sound, and staff wish they could use them too.”

 Facilities Manager

 The requirements  Medway Green School provided included;

• A competitively priced fire rated solution that met the required building standards
• An Acoustical solution that didn’t interfere with the use of the building for light sports and PE especially not keen on a suspended solution.
• An acoustical solution that was ideally not grey or black with preference for something that added colour to the space.

The requirements provided lent themselves well to our Melaflex foam panels which are not only high performing absorbers but are a cheaper option per square meter when compared to fibreglass alternatives.

Medway green school provided us images and measurements of their school . Armed with this, our technical team set about acoustically modelling the school hall, using EASE, an advanced acoustical modelling programme to determine the optimum configuration of melaflex panels that would meet the key requirements of the school, improving the acoustics whilst keeping costs to a minimum.

 Using the analysis we determined the number of our standard Melaflex flat panels that would deliver the improvement required in the hall reducing the reverberation time and improving speech intelligibility down to acceptable levels.

 The  proposed solution was forwarded on to Medway green school  who agreed to proceed with the solution.

Installing the solution

All our commercial, education and public solutions come with detailed placement instructions  to ensure customers make the most of the products we supply. Medway green school was supplied with placement diagrams detailing where each panel was to be fixed as well as the adhesive required to mount the panels. Instructions on handling the material were also supplied and delivery was arranged to ensure the panels could be safely received and stored.

Results

The results of the installation speak for themselves this is what the facilities manager had to say.

“The results have surpassed my expectations, the panels have worked fantastically well and have greatly improved the acoustics in the hall,  our students now enjoy using the space and one even commented that the hall doesn’t hurt his ears anymore”

Conclusion

We were pleased to be given the opportunity to help Medway green school with this project. Our extensive knowledge and expertise in tackling the most challenging acoustic problems proved invaluable in delivering a solution that  delivered the desired results whilst keeping costs to a minimum. We are pleased to see that the students can now enjoy this multi use space and make the most of their time at the school.

If you have any space or room that needs acoustic treatment why not contact us and we will only be too happy to help you on your journey today.

About Melaflex Evo Acoustic Panels

Melalfex Evo panels offer a great solution to the most challenging acoustical solutions because;

• They are extremely light and can be added retrospectively with non destructive methods to any surface including listed buildings.
• Mounting of melaflex panels is easily accomplished with impalers or as in the case of Medway green school using a purées designed heavy spray adhesive. This means that organisations and institutions looking to keep costs down can easily install the panels themselves reducing total acquisition costs by upto 50%.
• Melaflex foam is supplied in brilliant white or light grey meaning that for most educational institutions they will not appear intrusive, instead blending into the walls and ceiling, diligently carrying out their work of improving the acoustics in the room they are installed in.
• Unlike fibreglass panels, melaflex panels can be shaped into any 3 D shape with profiles being cut to match existing features or to introduce interesting aesthetics to the room they are installed in.
• Finally melaflex foam is a Class ‘0’ foam meeting the most stringent fire ratings out there lending themselves well to use in public sector, education and commercial spaces.

We were approached by The Music Practise to improve the acoustics in one of their piano rooms, as the sound was “bright”, “tinny” and reverberant. It was also affecting the quality of audio capture when, during lockdown, lessons were being held over zoom.

The client was keen to ensure that the solution we provided not only achieved the goal of improved acoustics but also was aesthetically pleasing. Whilst acoustic foam is a great acoustic absorber the grey colour can be a bit dull indoors especially in rooms where the intention is not to have an industrial audio feel.

We recommended our Diffuserflex acoustic diffuser panels and modelled the minimum quantity required for the room. The panels were delivered next day, along with our purpose built acoustic panel impalers, for secure removable mounting.

The results were amazing, the resulting acoustics in the room were greatly improved with improved absorption and broadening of the upper mids and high frequencies. This has resulted in a much more pleasant piano playing atmosphere reducing player fatigue and enhancing the overall learning experience. The real wood walnut veneered finish on the panels gives it a classy, high-end touch, resulting in a great music space. 

Are you struggling to get good sound out of your space? Talk to us today and let’s get you on your way to better sound!