Noise control in sports halls and leisure centres is often overlooked, yet poor acoustics can impact users’ health, wellbeing and enjoyment. Ben Hancock, Oscar Acoustics managing director, explains.
It's well documented that sound is a crucial component of indoor environmental quality. The comfort and wellness of users of indoor spaces can be highly dependent on the acoustics, and this is particularly true in busy environments. Many enlightened asset owners and building managers are now investing in acoustic solutions in spaces such as open-plan offices and restaurants to protect the wellbeing of occupants. However, leisure spaces such as sports halls and gyms are often left behind.
harmful noise levels
Indoor sports and leisure facilities can quickly become stressful places to spend time in without effective acoustic treatment. Due to a combination of large open spaces, fast-paced activities and sound generated by users and machines, an ‘echo chamber’ of noise is created due to sound reflecting off hard surfaces, leading to longer reverberation times. Poor acoustics can also make a teacher or instructor’s job nigh on impossible. Having to shout above a noisy class with uncomfortably high reverberation levels can lead to raised stress and, in some severe cases, tinnitus, resulting in unproductive lesson times for teachers and students. Persistent exposure to high levels of noise can even result in a variety of ailments down the line. Booming or intrusive noise levels can lead to hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, heart attacks and even strokes.
sound-absorbing sprays
Acoustic sprays offer an ideal solution for indoor sports facilities. By absorbing sound energy rather than reflecting it, reverberation times can be considerably reduced. This type of acoustic solution can be applied to almost any surface, which makes it ideal for a wide range of interiors and layouts. For sports halls, it’s important to look for acoustic sprays that are BB93 (acoustic design of schools - performance standards) compliant1 , which outlines minimum performance standards for the acoustics of school buildings. Premium acoustic sprays can deliver more than just acoustic benefits too. With building regulations around sustainability tightening, they can also contribute towards many sustainable design and health certification systems including BREEAM, SKA, Living Building Challenge and add up to 17 points towards the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating of a project. Building managers should always look for sprays that hold third-party testing and safety credentials. Acoustic sprays that go above and beyond Approved Document B fire requirement (Class 0 to BS476 & B-s1, d0 fire rating) are perfect to achieve just that. In the event of a potential fire outbreak, the acoustic spray would provide little to no smoke and absolutely no droplets, assisting in the safe escape of anyone in the facility. The impact of acoustic health has long been overlooked. But with changing perceptions around health and wellbeing, it’s now becoming hard to ignore. Improving acoustic quality within sports halls can foster a calmer, healthier and more relaxed environment for both attendees and staff. For leisure centres and gyms coping with high maintenance and operating costs, having happy, loyal and healthy customers must be a priority.
