AcousticSimulator

Using the drop down boxes, select either a partition, door or combination of products. Start by selecting the product line, then the variant from the available options. If you have selected a combination of partitions and doors, you can specify either a single or double width door. Then, select an audio file. Play the audio without the effect on and set the level to one that is realistic for the sound that is selected (you can use a sound level meter or SPL app if you have one), then turn the effect on to hear the reduction that is applied by the simulated partition. The graph shows the measured sound reduction (R) by frequency band of single products and the estimated R for product combinations. The single value Rw for product combinations is recalculated based on the method defined in BS EN 717-1.

The acoustic simulator demonstrates the effect of sound transmission of partitions based on lab measurements of sample partitions and doors. The measurements taken capture how much sound is blocked from passing through in a range of frequency bands, specifically third-octave bands. The simulator works by filtering sound and scaling it at these frequencies by the amount that was measured in the lab. Where there is a combination door/partition, transmission is averaged by frequency weighted by the proportion of area that is door and partition.

Laboratory measurements of the doors and partitions follow the methodology in BS EN ISO 10140-2 Acoustics – Laboratory measurement of sound insulation of building elements, Part 2: Measurements of airborne sound insulation. These measurements were performed at the University of Salford’s Acoustics Laboratory, under UKAS accreditation No. 1262.

The simulator is based on the laboratory measurements of sound reduction R. These reflect the intrinsic airborne sound reduction properties of the partition or door alone, without any flanking transmission (sound that bypasses the partition or door by another route). The construction design and build-up of a completed room, or other factors that might influence sound transmission in a completed room are not included in this simulation. As such, the simulated result represents the individual contribution of the selected components when blocking airborne sound only.

No. The simulator is based on lab measurements to obtain the Rw for the individual products in question. This tests the product in isolation and the results only reflect the sound reduction/transmission for airborne sound.

The methodology for obtaining the results used for this simulator is set as a British and international standard (BS EN ISO 10140-2). The tests were carried out at the University of Salford’s Acoustics Laboratory, under the UKAS accreditation (No. 1262).

No, this simulation is illustrative only. The results of this simulator are indicative of the laboratory performance of test samples of products in controlled conditions. As such, they are illustrative of the effect measured in those conditions and may not reflect the performance in real-world or on-site conditions. They may be used to inform decisions for specifying products for a product. However, we cannot guarantee on-site performance, or compliance with the standards set for a given construction or fit-out project. Further, the simulation does not take into account the effect of the rooms on either side of the simulated partition or door.

Yes. The tool demonstrates the difference between products in isolation from measurements made in controlled and standardised conditions. It is a fair way to compare between sound reduction ratings (Rw) and between products which have the same Rw but which may perform differently in the way they sound. The tool is designed to give the user an illustrative idea of what to expect from a product beyond the standard single figure value that is ordinarily quoted and to allow them to make more informed decisions on the fit out for their projects.