Blog - BAP Acoustics

Jul 04 2019

GREEN ACOUSTICS: Because Noise Pollution Stinks

I once had a kitten that used to sit in the bedroom windowsill and growl with all her 2-pound might whenever city sanitation trucks pulled up outside to empty our building’s dumpster. With much due appreciation and respect for the workers conducting that essential service, I empathized with the wee feline, convinced that her sounds of displeasure paralleled the expletives occurring in my own rudely-awoken brain at those times.

Noise: While it may not poison water, air, or wildlife, it is, in many places, considered an environmental pollutant.

When we hear the term Environmental Protection Act (EPA), we’re far likelier to think of contaminated land and water than noise. These Acts exist in numerous countries at federal as well as state or provincial levels, but unlike municipal bylaws, they seldom address noise as an environmental hazard. And maybe that needs to change.

Environmental Protection Acts

A perusal of Environmental Protection Acts across four countries reveals that the UK, Australia, and (to a lesser extent) the US all identify noise as a pollutant, while Canada only does so with reference to motor vehicles, aviation, and pipelines in Alberta and BC. In all four countries, noise pollution (and the regulation thereof) is addressed somewhat more at provincial/state levels than federal, but is deemed, for the most part, a municipal responsibility.

The UK addresses noise under Section (79) Statutory nuisances and inspections therefore, and defines related offences as:

noise emitted from premises so as to be prejudicial to health or a nuisance;
noise that is prejudicial to health or a nuisance and is emitted from or caused by a vehicle, machinery or equipment in a street.

Regulation enforcement in the UK and parts of the EU has given rise to delightfully memorable acronyms including BATNEEC (Best Available Technique Not Entailing Excessive Cost) and CATNIP (Cheapest Available Technique Not Inviting Prosecution) … the latter triggered my memory of a certain kitten who growled at garbage trucks.

Driven to drink by the stress of her activist role.
Misha, chair of KALE (Kittens Against Loud Emissions).

The US introduced a comprehensive Noise Control Act in 1972, but that Act, although never officially rescinded, lost its funding amidst “a shift in federal noise control policy to transfer the primary responsibility of regulating noise to state and local governments.” Noise pollution is currently addressed by the Clean Air Act.

Although the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) of Australia is broad in scope, many environmental issues are legislated regionally. Air pollution, for example, is dealt with “under numerous regulations including the Clean Air (Determination of air impurities in gases discharged into the atmosphere) Regulations 1983 (Western Australia) and, as noise pollution is considered air pollution for the purposes of the Western Australian EP Act, the Environmental Protection (Noise Regulations) 1997 (Western Australia).

Similarly, while Canada addresses noise only in terms of motor vehicles, aviation, and pipelines at the federal EPA level, provinces such as Ontario feature numerous laws pertaining to noise pollution. BC, on the other hand, has an Environmental Management Act, but it doesn’t address noise as a pollutant.

LEED by example?

As we’ve seen, environmental protection legislation can vary dramatically, even amongst regions of the same country, so other motivators for green construction do become pertinent.

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is, as defined by Boston University, “an internationally recognized green building certification system, providing third-party verification that a building or community was designed and built using strategies aimed at improving performance across all the metrics that matter most: energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts.”

Sounds great, right?

Of course it does! And it is. But like so many Great Things, LEED certification proves problematic in some respects, and its implementation vulnerable to throwing out that proverbial baby with the bathwater. In his illuminating article Acoustics: The Biggest Complaint in LEED-Certified Office Buildings, Buildings editor Chris Curtland writes:

Green initiatives and good acoustic design frequently find themselves at odds, but that doesn’t have to be the case. With a little creativity and consideration, you can integrate these two goals and have a facility that is both sustainable and functional.

Workplaces are doing a poor job of providing acoustical comfort in green facilities, according to the January 2012 white paper Sound Matters by the General Services Administration (GSA). Compared to building conditions such as lighting, air quality, and even thermal comfort—which is notoriously dissatisfying—problems with acoustics are the leading source of complaints, the report reads.

Going back to 2005, poor acoustics have caused the greatest dissatisfaction in renovated LEED-certified offices, according to an occupant indoor environmental quality (IEQ) survey of 23,450 respondents from 142 buildings. Conducted by the Center for the Built Environment (CBE) at the University of California, Berkeley, results appear in the report Acoustic Quality in Office Workstations, as Assessed by Occupant Surveys.

The article goes on to explain that while LEED initiatives such as passive cooling systems (including radiant flooring and chilled beams) can degrade acoustical performance by interfering with sound-absorbing finishes and removing the masking qualities of traditional HVAC systems, educational and healthcare sectors were the first to award points for acoustical design, paving the way for other building types to follow suit.

Quoting The Sextant Group acoustical consultant Gregory A. Coudriet, the article addresses mistakes and misconceptions around LEED practices and their effect on acoustics, concluding that perhaps the greatest myth is that green initiatives and acoustical design are opposed at all. “It’s easy to say green building and acoustics are at odds or incompatible, but I don’t think that’s the case,” Coudriet says. ‘They’re intertwined. Look for opportunities to develop solutions that satisfy both. If the building doesn’t work for its occupants—if it isn’t functional—then is it really sustainable? Green building is all about compromise across systems. Don’t pursue one goal in spite of another.”

So, what does green acoustical design look like?

Perhaps this question renders itself easily answerable when we swap out “green” for the more precise “sustainable”, and sustainable design arises from consideration of environmental impact, as well as health, safety, and profitability. Acoustical treatment can be applied to almost any design project to optimize the comfort level of a space. According to Acoustics.com, an alliance of educators, experts and design professionals dedicated to promoting the importance of acoustics in architecture, design, and construction, sustainable design encompasses far more than use of recycled materials. A design professional must consider:

Efficiency. Both energy and human efficiency factor into sustainable design. As a company’s most valuable resource, employees necessitate creating a space in which they can thrive. Many studies convincingly document that noise is by far the greatest impediment to workplace productivity.
Health & Safety. Hearing loss (from noise exposure) is one of the leading occupational hazards—and it’s 100% preventable. Employees that suffer from hearing loss are 55% more likely to have a workplace accident. Other noise-related health issues include headaches, tinnitus, high blood pressure, heart problems, respiratory ailments, and even negative fetal development.
Comfort. “Few people have ever experienced real comfort—thermal, visual, or acoustic—but once they do, they tend to want more of it.” (Hawken, Lovin & Lovins. Natural Capitalism) Occupants in a noisy space can feel irritable, distracted, anxious, hostile and annoyed, sometimes without consciously making the connection to noise.
Functionality/Building Longevity. For a space to be successful, it must function, and if it doesn’t, how can one hope for longevity? An acoustically correct environment is paramount to the functionality of most spaces. You must consider acoustics in any space where:
- speech intelligibility is critical (classroom, courtroom, boardroom, etc.).
- there is a PA system (airport, gymnasium, public building, etc.).
- speech privacy is necessary (open office, call centers, etc.).
- confidentiality is imperative (doctor’s/counselor’s office, HR, attorney’s office, police facility, etc.).
- music is (no pun intended) key (performance space, concert hall, recording studio, etc.).
- both speech and music are important (worship center, ballroom, theater, multi-purpose room, etc.).
- a quiet atmosphere is essential (library, museum, healthcare facility, etc.).
- noise build-up can be problematic (restaurant, lobby, mall, etc.).
How the Building Impacts the Environment. Facility operation shouldn’t harm (pollute) the environment. Although LEED certification takes into account water, air, land and light pollution, it surprisingly doesn’t include noise pollution. While controlling/limiting light pollution is very important, noise pollution can prove far more annoying, harmful, and difficult to limit.
Recycled (Sustainable) Materials. Many recycled/sustainable acoustic products work as well as (or better than) non-recycled alternatives. Acoustic products can account for a significant percentage of the materials in a space. Often, most (or all) ceiling, flooring, and wall surfaces serve an acoustical purpose.

At the end of the noisy day, we know that certain levels and frequencies of sound negatively affect human as well as animal health and well-being. In addition to obvious problems such as hearing loss or tinnitus, prolonged exposure to excessive noise can cause stress, high blood pressure, sleep loss, and diminished productivity.

Consider too that, regardless of legislation, the air we breathe—and hear—is really a “commons”, a public good. When we (as individuals and organizations) ignore our obligation to maintain that commons in a way that ensures public comfort, we’re behaving a bit like schoolyard bullies. And who wants to be a bully? No one likes them, and people eventually rat them out.

**You don’t want to be** **this** guy. Contact us to learn more about
how environmental heroes apply acoustics.

Jun 04 2019

When noise is more than a nuisance: Protecting ears & the space between

As a parent, you can take straightforward and sensible precautions to protect your kids’ hearing: Keep music, television, and gaming volumes at safe levels. If your wee one loves music festivals, put some protective ear muffs on her; they work, and look just about too cute for words.

As a resident affected by the sounds of traffic, construction, or noisy neighbours, you can close your windows, wear earplugs, and call your municipal government office to lodge complaints if you’re hearing power tools during legislated quiet hours.

As a driver, you can play music in your vehicle at a comfortable volume; loud enough to keep you alert and entertained, quiet enough to ensure you hear other drivers when they honk or curse.

As a pedestrian, you can cover your ears when sirens blare past. You can also glower at drivers who lean on their horns too long and/or for no good reason. Although this won’t do much to protect your hearing, anecdotal evidence suggests it’s oddly gratifying.

But nowhere is it more critical to protect your hearing than the environment you spend 40 (give or take) weekly hours. Unless you’re retired or a minor, that environment is likely to be the workplace.

Protecting your hearing on the job

If you’re lucky, the place you work will have been properly constructed to ensure safe and comfortable acoustics. If not, you can still take measures to protect your hearing. And if you’re an employer, especially one that oversees an unavoidably loud work environment, be aware that in all likelihood you’re legally required to provide effective hearing protection options for your team.

Unsurprisingly, the most effective approaches to preventing noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) consist of removing the noise sources or engineering them to reduce their emissions. Where these measures aren’t possible, workers may need to wear hearing protection devices.

How do we determine if hearing protection is necessary? Well, not all noise is created equal; effects on hearing health depend on both intensity and duration of a given sound. It’s not a stretch to suggest that if you have to shout frequently, either your environment is too loud or you’re stressed and need to take a break from said environment. In its fact sheet on hearing protection at work, the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety (CCOHS) addresses this question and others.

People should wear a hearing protector if the noise or sound level at the workplace exceeds 85 decibels (A-weighted) or dBA. Hearing protectors reduce the noise exposure level and the risk of hearing loss.
—CCOHS

“If hearing protection is required, then a complete hearing conservation program should be implemented,” according to CCOHS. “A hearing conservation program includes noise assessment, hearing protector selection, employee training and education, audiometric testing, maintenance, inspection, record keeping, and program evaluation.”

CCOHS advises choosing hearing protection devices that are:

Correct for the job. Refer to the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) Standard Z94.2-14 “Hearing Protection Devices – Performance, Selection, Care and Use” or contact the agency responsible for occupational health and safety legislation in your jurisdiction for more information.
Adequately protective. Check the manufacturer’s literature.
Compatible with other required personal protective equipment, or communication devices.
Comfortable enough to be accepted and worn.
Appropriate for the temperature and humidity in the workplace.
Designed to provide adequate communication and audibility needs (e.g., the ability to hear alarms or warning sounds).

Ultimately, whether at home, play, or work, the best hearing protection device is one that’s worn. If you’d like to know more about how to prevent unsafe noise emission or mitigate its sometimes unavoidable effects, please don’t hesitate to give us a shout (euphemistically speaking) anytime.

May 14 2019

Choosing an acoustical consultant: It’s all about due diligence

In crafting this opening paragraph, the most salient observation I’m inclined to share is that—just as anyone can call themselves a writer—anyone can call themselves an acoustical consultant. That doesn’t mean highly qualified acoustical consultants aren’t out there, but it does suggest you’ll need to take some time and care to find the right one for you. Hint: While anyone can indeed call themselves an acoustical consultant, acoustical engineers earn their titles through rigorous academic study and credentials.

Acoustical engineers earn their titles through rigorous academic study and credentials.

So how do you find that formally trained and accredited consultant? A fast peruse through Google or the Yellow Pages will yield dozens of listed “acoustical consultants”, but be aware that many of them are contractors or material suppliers as opposed to qualified and experienced engineers. The former may build or sell products; the latter will provide expert, unbiased advice, and that’s indispensable. To secure the best possible acoustic conditions for your project—no matter its scope—you’ll want to do a little digging. Beyond visiting and reading company websites, we suggest the following measures.

1. Outline your specific needs

To the greatest extent possible, know what you need at the outset. Certainly a consultant can guide you in clarifying your acoustic requirements. But the more you can define how you’d like the space to look, feel, sound, and function, the better they can help you achieve those desired results.

2. Determine the scope of your project

Your consultant’s involvement level can vary considerably. Are you looking for comprehensive service, from space analysis, design advice and material sourcing through to compliance testing? Or do you need more basic help and general recommendations? Establish this early to avoid confusion later.

3. Ask around

One day, I’d love to buy a camper van and travel around the continent in it. But seeing as I know very little about these vehicles, the first thing I’d do before shopping is ask my online community members to share their knowledge and recommendations. Before randomly choosing an acoustical consultant, seek out the experiences of others who have worked with these professionals. Approach civic planners, mechanical services engineers, architects and developers for their advice. Or ask your online colleagues and friends, who may well have more to offer than cat videos or Netflix series spoilers.

4. Establish a shortlist of candidates

Having done your homework, you’re now ready to narrow down options before picking up the phone or writing those emails.

5. Contact your initial choices.

Communicate your needs and scope as clearly as possible, making sure to request a proposal and capability statement from each firm.

Request a proposal and capability statement from each firm.

6. Review proposals and statements to further narrow your choices.

At this stage, you’ll want to look for:

Qualifications, experience and resources.
- Gather all relevant information about individuals who will potentially work on your project.
- Remember, even if someone works for a large, copiously staffed organization, they may not personally have a great deal of experience. You probably don’t want a project manager learning on your dime.
Recent, relevant project experience and references or testimonials.
- Of all considerations, experience stands out as perhaps the most important.
- The ideal choice will have worked on projects as similar to yours as possible. Acoustical requirements of a yoga studio, as an example, differ substantially from those of a house.
Insurance.
- BAP Acoustics carries $2M Professional Liability Insurance coverage and $5M General Liability Insurance coverage.
- A copy of BAP Acoustics’ Professional Liability certificate is available to potential clients upon request.

Key takeaway here? Compare apples with apples—i.e. fees with fees—only after you’ve compared exactly what it is you’ll receive for your money.

Of all considerations, experience stands out as perhaps the most important.

7. Talk to the firms you’ve selected as suitable candidates and hire the one best meeting your criteria.

In negotiating conditions of engagement, ensure your budget allows the consultant to properly undertake your project. Again, overall fees and hourly rates should comprise only one component of your decision. “You get what you pay for” may be a cliché, but like all the best clichés, it holds some water. (What? “Holds water” is an idiom, not a cliché.)

So why choose BAP?

TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE:
As a team of professional engineers, we conduct research and develop software tools to better understand and solve your acoustic problems.

CUSTOMER VALUE:
Through this better understanding, we recommend cost-effective solutions without over-engineering.

TEAMWORK:
We integrate with your team to deliver acoustic performance.

INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS:
Our technical knowledge and extensive experience allows us to offer innovative solutions.

INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE:
We support additional market sectors through our extended team including our UK partners.

FLEXIBILITY:
Our flexible and efficient team meets your unique requirements and delivers on time.

Still unclear as to whether you need an acoustical consultant and how choose one? We encourage you to contact us with any questions you may have.

Apr 03 2019

Now we’ve heard everything! Acoustical myths soundly debunked.

Some bloggers begin mapping out their posts by searching for images that align with or enhance the topics they’re writing about. So imagine this writer’s “surprise” when Google failed to deliver the perfect photo to share with you here. Could it be that no one has ever taken a picture of the DIY soundproofing project that entails nailing mattresses to walls? And while carpeting walls may or may not constitute an aesthetic felony, it definitely fails as a soundproofing measure. But hey, we do have visual representation of that particular myth.

*When failed soundproofing makes you see red*

Myths about sound control and acoustics in general abound, replete with a colourful history. In his book Architectural Acoustics, Christopher N. Brooks cites two major categories of acoustical myths: wishful thinking about noise control, and charming myths about concert halls. Examples of the latter include the popular belief that “Broken wine bottles under the stage are the secret to the great acoustics in old European halls.”

Whether you’re an audiophile or an architect, read on to learn more about what to unlearn when it comes to the following misguided approaches to manipulating sound.

Carpet or mattresses applied to walls

While rugs do help absorb noise, they have no soundproofing value, and anyway, who wants to vacuum walls? As for mattresses, well, unless you want to bounce off them, be aware that you’d have to cover entire walls as well as caulk and seal every crevice between them before they’d have any soundproofing qualities at all. Other issues, such as smells and bedbugs, will remain—for the breadth of this article—unaddressed.

Could it be that no one has ever taken a picture of the DIY soundproofing project that entails nailing mattresses to walls?

Egg cartons as soundproofing material

This one might bring to the mind’s eye a music-loving, budget-constrained young adult in their first apartment. Similar to acoustic foam in shape, egg cartons could be used to break up flat wall surfaces, and thereby help absorb sound rather than bouncing it back to the listener. The cartons would somewhat reduce echo, but then, so would curtains, furniture, and anything else in the room. But their soundproofing efficacy is nil.

Soundproof foam

For starters, this myth is based on a common misnomer. When people talk about soundproof foam, what they’re really referring to is acoustic foam, which can be an effective product … but not a soundproofing one.

If you’ve ever shopped for a raincoat, you’ll have seen labels reading waterproof or water-resistant. But water-absorbent? Good quality in a kitchen sponge, not so much in rain gear. Similarly, soundproof ± sound absorbent. Sound absorbent materials, such as acoustic foam, prevent sound waves from bouncing and echoing within a space by obstructing their paths. Lightweight, porous materials make sense.

Actual soundproofing, however, is a matter of blocking sound, and that requires heavy, dense and thick materials best applied in multi-layered assemblies so that sound won’t penetrate or pass through. Soundproofing a wall necessitates modification of the wall itself.

Soundproof paint

At a thickness of 30 to 40 thousandths of an inch, this specialty paint may absorb some mid-range sound waves but fails to do so with lower or higher ends of the sound spectrum. Coupled with a very limited colour selection, this negligible result suggests your acoustic optimizing dollars would be better spent elsewhere.

Soundproof wallpaper

Essentially wallpaper backed with foam or similar sound deadening material, like soundproof paint, it’s too thin to do much of anything aside from reduce room-to-room residential noise transmission.

Dark paint

Quite honestly, I’ve only chosen to include this one because significant numbers of people out there actually believe it to be true. A dark room may look quieter, but tell that to your ears.

Cellulose Insulation

Its thermal value notwithstanding, cellulose insulation stuffed into your walls might as well be the dollars it cost. If you notice a theme emerging here, well, thanks for the attentive read. While fluffy, lightweight materials may absorb some sound, they can’t replace the dense, heavy materials that actually work such as, say, an extra sheet of drywall. At 2.31 pounds per square foot, a 5/8” thick sheet is effective both in terms of cost and function.

Foam Rubber

Great in the form of yoga mats, sure, but we give it a resounding “No!” for use as a soundproofing material. It degrades over time, and have we mentioned that it’s extremely flammable?

So what does work?

If you’re starting to think that the very concept of soundproofing is a myth unto itself, you’re not altogether wrong. No space is 100% soundproof. Professional recording studios come close, but most rooms don’t require that level of sound control.

Bearing this in mind, and armed with an understanding that many “simple tricks” really are myths, consider the following options that actually can help mitigate the impact of noise:

Earbuds. Affordable and close as your nearest hardware store or pharmacy, these little units prove remarkably effective in keeping noise out of the inner space between your ears. Almost all ear plugs come with a Noise Reduction Rating, or NRR, that indicates how much sound the plugs muffle.
White noise machines. These devices essentially drown out noise by distracting you with pleasant or innocuous sounds such as rushing waterfalls or wind blowing through trees, and many people swear by them as effective sleep aids.
Acoustic door and window seal kits. If replacing your doors or windows with heavier alternatives isn’t feasible, check out How to Soundproof Your Apartment to learn about how such products might help.

At BAP Acoustics, we feel that myths belong to the worlds of art and literature, not sneaking around under the guise of scientific fact. And we quite enjoy dispelling them! So if a supposed solution to your acoustical problems seems too good to be true, well, chances are … Please feel free to contact us with any sound-related questions you may have or issues to clarify.

Feb 28 2019

CrossFit vs Cross Neighbours: Building a fitness centre? Now’s the time to plan for noise mitigation.

Whether it’s elevating home organization to a zen-like practice or hurling truck tires around an echo chamber, some trends take root virtually over night and blossom at length despite their glaring (or, more fittingly blaring) issues.

Vancouver, recognized as one of the most expensive real estate markets in Canada, is almost as well-known for its fitness enthusiasts. Despite our relatively mild climate, however, we’re also known for copious rain that sends the health-conscious indoors to work out. As continually high property costs give rise to increased mixed-use development, gyms, fitness centres, and (in CrossFit parlance) boxes crop up in structures from empty nester spare rooms to office and apartment buildings.

We get the appeal of owning a fitness space, and if you’re building one, now’s the time to plan and implement effective noise mitigation strategies. And unless you’re designing a yoga studio, note that …

If you build it, they will sweat. Loudly.

Whether they’re commercial or residential, neighbours are a fact of city life, and it’s worth planning for a harmonious coexistence with them. Before introducing a fitness centre—particularly a weight-focused or high intensity one—into your building, consider the building’s foundation and structure. If possible, locate your facility on grade or below, away from residences and offices. Sound and vibration can travel in all directions, so bear that in mind before constructing walls, floors, and ceilings. Investing in suitable materials pre-construction will prove far more cost-effective than making inevitable, expensive, and sometimes inadequate upgrades soon after noise complaints give you no choice.

*Clang, clang, clang went the free weights …*

Essentially barebones gyms, boxes (as their communities call them) host CrossFit classes. Upwards of 10,000 affiliate boxes around the world attract fitness devotees looking for an intense and varied workout that incorporates all kinds of weights (including kettle bells and tire trucks) and yields fast results. Low start-up costs, meanwhile, appeal to potential business owners. A $1,000 weekend seminar, an essay and a $3,000 annual affiliate fee are all it takes to use the brand name.

Get outside the “box”

Success stories abound, sure, but so do cautionary tales. For her Observer article Persecuted CrossFit Gyms Forced to Flee After Noise Complaints, lifestyle reporter Jordyn Taylor interviewed several CrossFit owners who’d, without even violating noise ordinances, received so many vitriolic—even violent—complaints they were forced to relocate. At press time, Austin, Texas owner Valerie Hunt thought her facility BMV CrossFit would remain beyond reproach in a commercial zone. But she was woefully mistaken:

(R)esidents nearby are complaining they can hear people grunting and dropping weights. They’ve taken the matter to City Council, as well as launched a vicious attack against the gym.
“I had to get my phone number changed,” Ms. Hunt told the Observer. “The texting turned really ugly—a lot of cussing [and] ‘We hate you’.”
Though Ms. Hunt said Austin’s City Council confirmed BVM hadn’t violated any noise ordinances, the neighbours’ complaints led the city to re-classify CrossFit as an outdoor sports and recreation activity, as opposed to a personal improvement service. That means Ms. Hunt must find a new space and convince her landlord to let her end her lease early.

A good take-away from the story above? Compliance with codes, bylaws, and ordinances doesn’t necessarily equal adequate soundproofing.

Effective pre-construction acoustic strategies

Wall isolation

Locate your hotel gym, for example, as far away from guest rooms as you can. A full-sized commercial facility should be detached, if that’s an option.

Sound-reducing floor underlayment

Install a layer of cushioning and support between a floor and subfloor. Since most floors require underlayment in any case, it pays to plan ahead and invest in a sound-reducing product rather than the standard kind. Installing sound-reducing underlayment beneath existing floors involves considerably more work … and expense. Definitely consider this option if your gym is above an occupied space. Even without weights involved, exercise movement can be noisy.

*“Quiet enough for you now? Wish I’d talked to an acoustical engineer before signing that 5-year lease.”*

We realize that building from the ground up isn’t always possible, so if you’ve leased an existing space, a few noise control options are available. You can:

upgrade the separating wall (and potentially floor/ceiling) assemblies to reduce amplified music and instructor sound impact
install a high-quality resilient floor surface specifically chosen for area use (e.g. free weights, weight machines, treadmills, etc.)
enhance user experience and marginally benefit adjacent spaces by introducing acoustic treatment (e.g. panels, hanging baffles) in the fitness space itself to reduce reverberation and hence the build up of reverberant sound.

Whatever your interest in fitness spaces, we invite you to contact us if you’d like to learn more about making those spaces acoustically friendly. Until then, enjoy your workout and don’t forget to hydrate!