Noise and vibration control. The everything strategy.

Kyriakos Papanagiotou, Founder and Director of KP Acoustics Group, and Adam Fox, Director at Mason UK, draw on a combined 40 years of experience in acoustics, noise and vibration control to unpack the vital role of the CIBSE Guide B4 in integrated building design – as featured in CIBSE Journal.

A staggering 450,000 noise complaints were made to councils across the UK in 2022 due to noise-related disturbances in residential settings and beyond – an increase of 155.5% from 2020. Unlike our vision which operates in a limited range, our hearing covers a broader spectrum of ten-octave bands, making us more vulnerable to unwanted noise.

With our brain’s auditory responses effectively never switching off, the hum of building services equipment, a noisy workplace or the rumble of a passing freight train can become almost impossible for us to adapt to. Yet despite the glaring impacts of neglecting acoustic considerations in building design, noise and vibration control within the built environment is still all-to-commonly an afterthought.

Working to counter this, The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) Guide B4 addresses best practice solutions for noise and vibration control, offering comprehensive information to help professionals make better decisions throughout the building process to provide acoustically sound developments that meet the needs of the end user.

With the widely adopted preceding Guides B0 to B3 offering insight on heating, ventilation and ductwork, air conditioning and refrigeration, the CIBSE Guide B4 acts as the final piece of the puzzle to create acoustically sound environments that counter noise and vibration generated within the first three stages, as well as external sources.

Adopting a holistic approach to building design with CIBSE Guide B4

With CIBSE Guides B0 to B4 emphasising the symbiotic relationship between different components of a building – from its physical structure to its HVAC systems and more – following such an approach ensures that every element works in harmony, leading to greater efficiencies and reduced long-term costs.

A lack of sufficient noise control of building services equipment itself, such as HVAC systems, can also lead to disturbance to building occupants, neighbouring properties, and a lack of compliance with planning requirements – even leading to enforcement action. In tandem with this, a lack of sufficient vibration control can result in excessive levels of vibration being transferred into a building structure. In extreme cases, this could be felt as tactile vibration, but more commonly the issue materialises as regenerated noise. Having to introduce both noise and vibration control after the fact is typically more difficult than incorporating it at initial design, and as a result, becomes much more expensive.

But, what are the multifold benefits of adopting a symbiotic approach to building design by following the B4 section’s robust guidelines? Through engagement with acoustic consultants from the outset, you can achieve:

• Reduced costs: By following recommendations set out in the CIBSE Guide B4, engineers, architects and designers alike can avoid common pitfalls and mistakes that often result in costly rectifications later on. Proper acoustic planning and design from the onset can help prevent unnecessary expenditures to reduce the need for retrospective fixes in the future.
• Longevity and sustainability: A well-designed building which aligns with best practices in noise and vibration control is likely to have a longer useful life, in tandem with reduced maintenance needs. The guide helps to ensure that designs are sustainable, reducing the need for frequent upgrades or repairs to combat noise and vibration problems for the end user.
• Reputation and future-proofing: Following this robust design guide will help not only improve an organisation’s reputation through providing a holistic approach to building design, but also work to future-proof their offering moving forward – positioning compliant organisations as the go-to experts in integrated, high-quality and harmonious building design.

Here, incorporating a comprehensive approach to building design by following the B4 section’s robust guidelines will not only ensure longevity and quality, eradicating the long-term costs of retrofitting, but will also work to safeguard your organisation for the future.

Looking to the future: the importance of considered acoustics

Yet, with such glaring benefits at play, we’ve merely scratched the surface of the importance of considered noise and vibration control. As the built environment becomes increasingly complex with the rapid emergence of multifunctional spaces, net zero goals and changing construction codes, needs are only ever going to increase in complexity. And, without an integrated approach to building, these needs will not be met successfully.

• Lightweight structures in sustainable building design: There is a growing trend for structures to become more lightweight to reduce carbon and limit the cost of materials. However, more lightweight structures carry noise and vibration more effectively, increasing the need for considered acoustics, noise and vibration control.
• The political fight for robust construction codes: Following catastrophic failures in the provision of adequate public housing standards across the UK and the ensuing Grenfell Inquiry, the Association of Noise Consultants and the Institute of Acoustics have become intrinsically involved with the political agenda to implement more robust construction codes. Here, such organisations are working to give acoustics more gravitas within regulation to ensure holistically considered wellbeing standards are consistently met for public housing residents.
• Mixed-use developments and multifunctional spaces: From the incorporation of office spaces and gym facilities to cinemas and restaurants multifunctional spaces in both residential and commercial developments are becoming ever more complex. Here, developing multifunctional spaces that cater to the various needs of the end user requires careful acoustic planning in the early stages to ensure both optimal sound quality and minimal disturbances between distinct functions and building services.

It’s impossible to ignore the extent of how rapidly the field of building services engineering is evolving, with new technologies and methods being developed to adapt to the ever-changing demands of the built environment. Here, the CIBSE Guide B4 helps professionals stay updated, ensuring they can incorporate the latest and most efficient solutions into complex developments with the considered experience of the end user front of mind.

What have we learnt?

Acoustic consultancy is a unique, yet vital part of construction excellence in its own right. Understanding how building materials and services equipment interact with each other and the surrounding environment is vital to the successful and sustainable functioning of the built environment.

Early engagement with acoustics consultancy and the CIBSE Guide B4 serves as a valuable resource for building professionals, promoting best practices that lead to cost-effective, efficient, and comprehensive building designs that ultimately work to meet the complex needs of the end user – over the long term. Using such guidelines not only ensures economic benefits but also enhances the overall performance and sustainability of buildings to better the lives of the communities they serve AND enhance the reputation of the organisations involved in their creation.

The time is now. Engage with noise and vibration strategies from the outset to help build a better future through holistic building design.

As experts in the field, KP Acoustic Group offers full-spectrum acoustics consultancy and environmental monitoring. To learn more, get in touch with our highly experienced consultants by calling 020 3820 5564 or visiting www.kpacoustics.com.

As the UK’s exclusive agent for Mason Industries, Mason UK are world-leading specialist providers of bespoke vibration isolation products for architectural noise control, M&E, HVAC and structural isolation. To discover more, you can contact our expert engineering team on 01252 716610 or visit www.mason-uk.co.uk.