This case study focuses on a complaint regarding the disturbance caused by railway announcements to people inside a conference room located in a building opposite a railway station. Despite having soundproof windows in the office, the noise from the railway station still managed to disrupt the activities and conversations taking place in the conference room. The challenge was to find a solution that would effectively mitigate the noise disturbance and restore a quiet and productive environment for the office occupants.
Background: The building in question is situated in close proximity to a busy railway station. The office’s conference room, located on one of the upper floors, faced the railway station directly and the railway announcements were clearly audible inside the conference room, causing disruptions and hindering productivity.
The Challenge: The challenge was to find a solution that could enhance the soundproofing capabilities of the existing windows without the need for expensive replacements or major structural alterations. The office management wanted to preserve the current aesthetic and functionality of the windows while effectively addressing the noise disturbance issues.
Solution: After careful evaluation, it was determined that treating the existing windows by enhancing the soundproofing capabilities, the aim was to significantly reduce the noise intrusion from the railway station announcements.
- Initial Assessment: We conducted a thorough assessment of the existing windows and the conference room to determine the exact sound transmission issues and devise an appropriate treatment plan.
- Acoustic Treatment: Based on the assessment, we recommended the application of an additional soundproofing layer to the existing windows. This layer, designed specifically for sound insulation purposes, would be applied directly onto the window surface without affecting the window’s appearance or functionality.
- Installation: Our technicians carefully installed the soundproofing layer onto the existing windows. The process involved precise measurement, cutting, and application of the material to ensure a proper fit and seal.
- Quality Assurance: After the installation, a thorough quality check was conducted to ensure that the treatment had been applied correctly and that the desired acoustic performance was achieved. Sound level measurements were taken both inside the conference room and outside near the railway station to compare the difference before and after the treatment.
The treatment successfully enhanced the soundproofing capabilities of the office windows, providing a significant reduction in noise intrusion from the railway station announcements. Sound level measurements indicated an increase of 9 dB in the Sound Transmission Class (STC) rating above the previous window performance. This improvement resulted in a more tranquil and productive environment within the conference room, enabling uninterrupted discussions and meetings.
By opting for an innovative solution that treated the existing windows without any breakages or changes in elevation, the Sound of Silence team successfully addressed the challenge of railway station announcements disturbing the people inside the conference room.