ACOUSTICS:

In comparison, for educational typologies there are different functioning rooms within a project that require different levels of sound insulation. Often what separates residential and educational acoustic requirements is the use of drop ceilings in educational spaces. These drop ceilings provide a quiet environment to work and present within, mitigating the reverberation within the space. There is then more of a focus placed on the ceiling design of an educational space along with adding further sound insulation to the walls. Along with the typical use of beams to create larger open spaces to work within, the acoustic design of the ceiling has a major impact on the dimensionality of assemblies required to produce a well-functioning space.

The floor assemblies of 2D systems utilize the same rules of thumb as residential 2D systems, however in an educational typology context. The amount of acoustical sound insulation is considerably less in both floor and wall assemblies. Ranging from 7mm to 30mm of impact sound insulation in floor assemblies (Kaufmann, et. al, 2018). For example, in the Wood Innovation and Design Centre, there is only 7mm specified impact sound insulation. Yet the floor assembly also enables an integrated drop ceiling and raised floor that helps to contribute to overall acoustical performance. As a result, it appears that educational typologies try to minimize the assembly as much as possible and instead use off-set acoustic interventions such as drop ceilings.

For educational 3D systems, the rules of thumb are like residential 3D systems. Using the European Frankfurt School case study, there is 25mm of impact sound insulation in the floor assembly, and 60mm of thermal insulation with the floor assembly of the module and another 60mm of insulation in the ceiling, contributing to the overall acoustic performance of the classrooms (Kaufmann, et. al, 2018). As a result, looking at just the stacking of floor plates, the educational building is 87.5mm thinner than that of the Puukuokka Housing Block. It is also noticed that like the Puukuokka Housing Block, the Frankfurt School utilizes acoustical breaks where the modules connect in order to mitigate vibrations throughout the modules.

• Mitigating impact sound as much as possible with assembly
• Use of acoustic breaks
• Accommodating for Airborne sound is achieved through the infill of insulation between members
• Utilizing acoustic tiles or drop ceiling in a beam system

• For 2D systems, in both residential and educational typologies it is imperative that the detailing of CLT panels takes flanking into consideration during the design. To mitigate this, there must be an acoustical break bet ween CLT panel members. Typically 5mm-10mm thick.
• On average, 2D floor assemblies utilize 7mm30mm of impact sound insulation in addition to thermal insulation
• Providing an airspace bet ween the wall finish and the CLT member helps to mitigate impact and airborne sound reverberations

• 3D module provides the opportunity to develop airtight details
• Use of insulation to separate modules
• Acoustic breaks/ seals where modules connect to mitigate impact sound
• Double stacking of CLT walls helps to improve the acoustical rating