As the popularity of mixed-use commercial and residential buildings surges, so do amenities inside, like exercise rooms, studios, conference and party rooms. But with this comes an increase in noise complaints as impact noise transfers into the building structure through concrete and wood floor assemblies.

Data privacy is a pressing concern for the overwhelming majority of Canadians.

A 2018-19 study indicates (92%) of Canadians are concerned about the protection of their privacy - but many do not believe that businesses respect it.

 

In our modern world, many consider privacy an online issue - but a lack of speech privacy means confidential information can just as easily be revealed in a physical space, like a medical or legal office, or a corporate workplace where sensitive data is shared.

Acoustics Week In Canada, hosted by the Canadian Acoustical Association, takes place this year in Guelph, ON from Wednesday, October 11 – Friday, October 13. Every year it brings together exciting developments in acoustics and vibration – as well as a chance for those of us in the industry to network, educate one another, and share innovative products.

We’re very excited to be a part of this year’s exhibitioners, where we’ll be displaying our new line of Architectural Acoustics Products, including our innovative DeAmp Transparent Sound Absorber Panels, that, when placed in front of glass and other hard surfaces, improve the room’s acoustics while practically disappearing.

Stop by to see our table at the show to learn more!

It’s always exciting to launch a new product. The announcement of our Architectural Acoustics line, including our DeAmp Transparent Sound Absorber Panels, has brought us some unique business opportunities and exciting new partnerships.

We’ve also had the pleasure of working with some very talented people along the way – including Chris Paulis, a Maryland-based Master Photographer who captured shots of DeAmp at Bowie State University’s new Center for Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Nursing. 

 

 

Common Q: Do Decorative Absorption Panels (DAPs) block room-to-room noise transfer?

A: In short, no.

 Here, at AcoustiGuard-Wilrep Ltd., we are always hunting down new information about acoustics and soundproofing, both for our own research, and to share with you. Along the way we’ve come across some pretty interesting stuff. See our favourites and let us know if there are any sound facts we’ve missed.

Q: I have a question about soundproofing. Noise from the main levels seems to echo throughout my basement. Is there anything I can do to the ceiling in my basement to help soundproof the rooms down there? I thought maybe I should take off all of my drywall, install something in my ceiling to dampen noise, and afterwards reinstall my drywall. Is this correct?

What’s Behind How Weird Our Recorded Voices Sound?

It’s happened to all of us. We’re okay with how our voices sound when we speak but the moment we hear a recording of our voice, many of us can’t help but exclaim, “Is that really how I sound?!” Sometimes people reel in disgust from their voices. Others are surprised by how high or low it sounds.

We may only become aware of this fact when we hear ourselves in a recording after an interview or, if you have the best of friends, when they do comical impressions of how your voice sounds.

The question is, why?

Sports Venue Architects have monumental tasks, building big, beautiful stadiums that hold thousands of people. But it’s not only the view of the game they have to worry about; it’s the sound in the stadium too. Many leagues and sports teams have realized the cheering can have – especially in the NFL, where chants have been known to disrupt games.

Architecturally, this issue comes from using reflective materials in ceiling construction or placing the seats in close proximity to the court or field. Another problem is aluminum or plastic seats that fans bang and stomp upon.

 

Toronto is a big city, and with its size comes a whole lot of noise. The sounds of daily life are practically unavoidable in public, but your home should be your haven, no matter where you live. The only problem is, many of the units in Toronto’s most popular living accommodation – apartment buildings and condos – aren’t soundproof.

The importance of a good night’s sleep cannot be overstated. Getting the sleep we need leaves us energetic and rejuvenated. When you sleep well you’re more productive and your memory improves. Incidentally as we age, both sleep and memory start to worsen.

Scientists are currently coaxing sound-sensing cells within the human ear. These cells are known as hair cells. Growing them from stem cells, the long-term plan is to reverse the most common type of hearing loss, or perhaps even stop it completely.

Scientists from The Universities of Sussex and Bristol have invented a new material that shapes sound by bending and focusing the sound waves travelling through it.

It is a metamaterial, which is defined as “[…] a material engineered to have a property that is not found in nature.” It has the potential for exciting applications in personal acoustics, as well as ground-breaking ones in the medical field.

Location is everything for hotels and motels. Many are faced with different types of noise pollution, because they’re situated in the busiest areas. Highways, nearby trains, airports, and urban streets are all examples of noise pollution that present a challenge for a hotel or motel.


There are many ways hotels can tackle these issues and the best place to start is with major problem areas like windows and patio doors.

Every high-rise building and large commercial property has a transformer - and almost every transformer has a distinct humming noise.

Atriums and offices are finished in glass, drywall and hard floors. Aesthetically, they’re eye-catching. But once people are in the space an issue becomes obvious – the acoustics are awful due to the highly reflective surfaces.

 

Glass, drywall and concrete are the most common materials in modern architecture. They present a clean line and lends a feeling of openness. But these materials are poor sound absorbers – the reflecting sound in the room makes conversations unintelligible and produces reverberation and echo.

 

Sound is an integral part of the human experience and it no doubt adds life to our daily routine. In simplest terms, Psychoacoustics is the study of how sound is perceived and how it affects the body and mind. Psychoacoustics picks apart the listening experience to reveal how we interpret sound.

When you think of sound within a scientific framework, you probably picture sound waves being emitted. While this is an accurate picture from a mechanical perspective, we must also remember that sound truly happens when we sense or perceive it. For instance, when you hear a sound, it reaches your ear as a mechanical sound wave that has travelled through the air, but once it's in your ear it is transformed into neural stimuli.

 

Water rushes down the pipes and it sounds like Niagara Falls flowing in the rooms or unit below.

 

Whooshing followed by trickling and then settling, it’s agitating, not to mention off-putting.

 

Pipes frequently pose soundproofing problems for business owners, homeowners and tenants alike.

 

But there are solutions. Here’s how to soundproof a pipe.