The Use of Sound Absorbing Shading Systems for the Attenuation of Noise on Building Façades. An Experimental Investigation

Abstract

The problem of solar irradiation in building façades with large windows is often solved with the use of external shading devices, such as brise-soleil systems, but their potential acoustic effects on building façades are usually neglected. The purpose of this work is a preliminary consideration of the acoustic behaviour of brise-soleil systems and, furthermore, the evaluation of the possibility to improve their performances, in terms of Sound Pressure Level (SPL) abatement over glass surfaces. The paper reports the results of a study on two portions of the same office building, with shading devices installed in front of large windows. Both airborne sound insulation measurements and SPL measurements over the glass surfaces of the windows were carried out to compare different situations, with or without louvers, and with sound absorbing experimental louvers as well. Results show that the louvers' presence can produce an increase in the SPL over the glass surface as a consequence of the reflection of the sound. Results further show that sound absorbing louvers improve the noise protection of the system, in terms of the SPL reduction, over glass surfaces, cancelling out the negative effect of the standard shading devices.

A Review on Natural Ventilation-enabling Façade Noise Control Devices for Congested High-Rise Cities

“…However, the sound incidence angle has to be as large as 80 • for the insertion loss to be higher than 4 dB. Martello et al [29] showed that the installation of sound absorption (7 mm thick polyurethane conglomerate of density 70 kg/m 3 ) onto the solar shading louvers, could help reduce the noise level by~5 to 6 dB in the high frequency range (1.6 kHz to 5 kHz), when compared to those without absorption, for the case of a commercial building.…”

Uncertainty of facade sound insulation by a Round Robin Test. Evaluations of low-frequency procedure and single numbers

“…It is useful to underline that the directivity of the loudspeakers may have an important role in the case of irregular facade surfaces. In the case of facades shielded by external devices, such as external louvers, the sound pressure level (SPL) distribution over the facade is very influenced by the direction of the incoming sound waves as shown in the study by Zuccherini Martello et al [32].…”

Perceived Acoustic Quality and Effect on Occupants’ Satisfaction in Green and Conventional Residential Buildings

“…The challenge in studying acoustic quality in the built environment is that it can be affected by different factors, from building location [8] and city design [9] to building design [10][11][12], vegetation included on the building facade [13], construction type [14], balcony types [15], and choice of material and construction elements [16].…”