This case study addresses the challenge of maintaining sound isolation in an edit room that shares a common wall with the Chairman’s cabin. Additionally, the edit room’s door is positioned opposite the reception area, posing a risk of confidential dialogues and music leaking to individuals sitting in the reception. The primary objective is to prevent sound leakage from the edit room while ensuring that the Chairman’s cabin remains undisturbed by loud edit room sounds and vibrations. The proposed solution involves implementing a “Room in Room” concept combined with a high Sound Transmission Class (STC) door rated at 51dB.
Background: The office environment in question comprises an edit room used for video and audio editing tasks. Unfortunately, the editing room is adjacent to the Chairman’s cabin, and the door of the editing room directly faces the reception area. This configuration creates challenges regarding maintaining confidentiality, preventing sound leakage, and minimizing disturbances to the Chairman.
The Challenge: The main challenge is to address the potential sound leakage from the editing room to the reception area, ensuring that confidential dialogues and music remain within the confines of the editing room. Additionally, it is crucial to prevent loud sounds or vibrations generated within the editing room from disturbing the Chairman’s concentration and workflow.
Solution:
- Assessment and Design: Acoustic consultants conducted an initial assessment of the editing room, Chairman’s cabin, and reception area. They designed a customized solution based on specific requirements, considering factors such as room dimensions, wall construction, and existing noise sources.
- Room in-Room Construction: A dedicated team of contractors constructed an additional internal structure within the editing room, creating a “Room in Room” design. This involved constructing new walls, floors, and ceilings that were decoupled from the existing structure, effectively reducing sound transmission.
- Soundproofing Materials: Specialized soundproofing materials, such as acoustic insulation, resilient channels, and double layers of drywall, were installed within the new internal structure. These materials absorb and block sound, further enhancing the sound isolation properties of the editing room.
- High STC Door Installation: A high STC-rated door, with a Sound Transmission Class of 51dB, was installed as the entrance to the edit room. This door features superior sound-blocking properties, preventing sound leakage and reducing the transfer of vibrations.
- Acoustic Sealing: To ensure maximum soundproofing, meticulous attention was given to sealing any potential air gaps or openings. This involved applying acoustic sealants and weatherstripping around the door frame, windows, and any other vulnerable areas.
- Quality Assurance: A comprehensive quality check was conducted to ensure that the constructed “Room in Room” and the installed door effectively met the desired soundproofing objectives. Sound level measurements were taken both inside the editing room and outside the reception area to assess the difference before and after the implementation of the solution.
The implementation of the “Room in Room” concept, combined with the installation of the high STC door, successfully addressed the sound isolation challenge in the editing room. Sound level measurements demonstrated a significant reduction in sound leakage.