AG highlights the importance of controlling building acoustics with its range of sound-absorbing masonry blocks: Alphacrete® Acoustic.
It may be invisible to the eye, but controlling acoustic reverberation is a key element to successful architecture; whether a school, gallery, church or office.
In fact, research has shown that poor room acoustics can affect concentration levels of school children, exacerbate the hearing ability of those with special needs and can even contribute to severe long-term health issues with continual exposure. Here, Rodney Davidson, Head of Specifications at AG (one of the UK and Ireland??s most innovative suppliers of hard landscaping, building and structural precast products) highlights how AG??s Alphacrete® Acoustic masonry range has been designed to exacting standards to meet architectural masonry specifications effortlessly.
AG??s Alphacrete® Acoustic is a cutting edge sound-absorbing masonry block with outstanding room and building acoustic performance. One of the first products of its kind, Alphacrete® Acoustic was expertly developed to offer higher levels of sound absorption than standard masonry blocks. As a result, it effectively reduces airborne noises and excess sound reverberation. Additionally, the flutter echoes and standing waves produced by reflective parallel wall surfaces will be significantly reduced.
Alphacrete® Acoustic offers a solution to those who are tasked with dramatically improving speech intelligibility and acoustic performance in unfurnished spaces where reverberation causes problems. It provides a very clever solution and is independently tested by Sound Research Laboratories (SRL) to prove that it meets the acoustic performance standards for a Class D sound absorber according to BB93:2015. It is also extremely strong and durable compared to competing acoustic panels on the market. Overall, it an excellent choice for controlling reverberation time in sports halls, church halls and leisure centres to name but a few.
As well as being incredibly durable, Alphacrete® Acoustic is non-combustible making it an ideal choice for maintaining fire and safety standards.
In addition to excellent performance, Alphacrete® Acoustic is good value for money. The blocks do not require plastering, painting or the addition of expensive sound absorbing wall panels typically required to achieve Part ??E?? compliance with standard block or brick constructions, resulting in significant cost savings.
The block is available in two distinct finishes, Athena and Corinthian. Athena is smooth and stronger in colour and Corinthian has added texture and natural colour variances to give it more of a natural stone appearance. Both finishes come in a market leading array of colours including a ??Sporting Green?? colour which has a LRV (Light Reflectance Value) specifically designed to comply with Sport England legislation (design guide notes section 5) as well as this special detailing shapes are available to allow the flexibility required to create projects with impressive visual impact.
