Daniel Urbán

Multi-Purpose Utilisation of Historic Building Glass Atrium — Case Study of the Slovak Philharmonic

This paper deals with an actual problem of covered historic building atriums in Slovakia and their adaptation to the new function concerning building physics parameters. The aim of this contribution is to quantify the parameters of the new covered atriums regarding the sound parameters. The executed measurements in selected atriums were compared with the standard values (reverberation time, flutter echo) considering their new function (cultural, social, health).

Acoustics of naturally ventilated double transparent facades

This publication presents results of research on naturally ventilated Double Transparent Facades (DTF). The influence of the structural design of DTFs on the airborne sound insulation was investigated. For this purpose, 9 DTFs were measured in situ and 9 Double Transparent Facade Elements (DTF) were measured in a laboratory environment. The influence of the cavity thickness, the parallelism of the constitution layers, the amount of absorbing surfaces in the cavity, and the effect of ventilation slots were investigated. Based on the performed measurements, a prediction model that allows a fast engineering calculation of the sound insulation of DTF’s was developed.

Measuring the sound insulation of an external thermal insulation composite system (ETICS) by means of vibrometry

The impact of External Thermal Insulation Composite System (ETICS) on acoustic properties of external walls has been already examined. Probably the most fundamental research was carried out in Germany (Weber). The effect of thickness and dynamic stiffness of ETICS, as well as mass of external plaster, on decreasing of wall sound insulation was demonstrated. In this paper, the mass spring mass resonances (m-s-m) were investigated, in case of a massive external wall with ETICS. Application of ETICS increases the sound insulation of walls in the mass-law dominated frequency range by about 12 dB/oct. However, in the low frequencies ETICS decrease sound insulation due to resonant effects, which become very prominent in traffic noise situations. This contribution presents how vibrometry measurements can be useful for ETICS sound insulation properties measurement.

Perception of acoustic comfort in large halls covered by transparent structural skins

Large halls, such as shopping malls, atria or big entrance halls often suffer from various acoustic discomfort issues, which are not necessarily caused by extremely high noise levels. Due to the large size of halls and consequently the long trajectories that sound waves travel between the source, interior surfaces and the receiver, sound reflections arriving from surrounding surfaces are not as strong as they would be in smaller rooms. Reports in literature and comments by users of large halls concerning acoustic discomfort in large halls, refer mainly to continuous reverberation related noise. Therefore, quantification of the acoustic comfort by the reverberation time, which is related to the average absorption of interior surfaces and by the equivalent sound pressure level, which in a large space is dominated by direct sound, is not adequate to describe the global acoustic comfort or soundscape. Based on statistical noise analysis on auralized soudscapes, this article proposes a set of measurable monaural and binaural acoustic parameters that adequately describes the acoustic comfort in large halls. The study is focusing on rooms covered by traditional materials, such as glass, plexiglass, etc. , and ETFE (ethylene tetrafluoroethylene) foil structures.

Acoustic Analysis of Double Transparent Facades in Bratislava

Implementation of double transparent facades (DTF) into architectural concept of modern intelligent buildings is a well established trend of modern administrative building design. The Positive influence on acoustic comfort of a working place caused by this type of envelope construction is evident. DTF allow building designing in high noise exposure urban areas. Comparison of eight DTF from structural and acoustic properties point of view is presented in this paper. Results from acoustic measurements of buildings situated in Bratislava were analyzed.

Influence of Double Transparent Facades on Acoustic Comfort at the Workplace

Comfort in the workplace is a priority for employers to achieve higher efficiency of their employees. The issue of an ideal environment in buildings and improving psycho factors are increasingly current topic. In areas with high noise level (LAeq) in exterior, it is difficult to achieve the acceptable noise level (LAEX,8h) defined in the Regulation of the Government 115/2006, while maintaining the possibility of opening windows in the office. Double transparent facade (DTF) is one of the alternatives to achieve the effect. This paper presents an initial analysis of acoustic measurements DTF focused on the insulation, conducted at the central building of the Ingsteel company in Tomášikova street in Bratislava. The paper is supported by the project VEGA č.1/0358/13.

Comparison Measuring Methods of Sound Insulation of Double Transparent Facade - NBS Bratislava

Acoustic of double transparent facades (DTF) is globally resolved only marginally. This paper presents the procedure and results of one of the acoustic measurements of DTF, which were carried out on the territory of Bratislava city. Measured was facade of the headquarters of the National Bank of Slovakia. This analysis is aimed at measuring of sound insulation of DTF, and the impact of using different sources of noise on the standardized level difference D2m,nT. The research is supported by grant project VEGA no.1/0358/13.