DESIGN THAT SUPPORTS THE UNSEEN ADVANTAGES

How they look and how they function are vital parameters to interior design. How materials protect the health and safety of the people who use them every day is also critical. Factors like sound privacy, sound control, and sustainability may not be visible, but products that integrate these attributes ensure that the buildings succeed.

Clearly Erasing the Impacts of Sound

Architects may be under the impression that specifying a single-glazed interior partition system is an adequate step for creating sound privacy, but that is not the case. Normal speech can still be heard. It is important to specify double-glazed systems with Sound Transmission Class (STC) ratings of at least 35 to get the sound privacy desired.

To help design professionals engineer better acoustical environments, ASTM E90, ASTM E413, and ASTM E2964 assign products an STC rating, which is an average of their acoustic performance across 18 different sound frequencies. The higher the rating, the more sound is blocked from going through the material. By understanding this rating of materials, the professional can gauge how much sound will be blocked as it passes through those materials. This is especially important in commercial construction. The sound transmission class was first introduced in 1961 and has since become the standard single-number metric to describe sound-blocking materials. In a product with an STC rating of 50 or above, even very loud noises such as operating machinery, musical instruments, and high-volume stereos are reduced to tolerable background sounds.

Industry performance standards and certifications do not normally apply to interior glazed office partitions. However, STC ratings do apply when specifying an acoustic system.

Innovations in glass partitions offer the perfect solution for creating modern privacy areas. With partitions, architects and designers can create office designs providing private work and meeting spaces for individuals or groups while maintaining a vibrant, open-office aesthetic.

An important component of privacy is the reduction of sound transmission throughout the office space. The industry’s Sound Transmission Class (STC) rating system is essential for comparing and contrasting the sound transmission qualities of various interior partition systems. There is a common misunderstanding that a very high STC rating of 40+ for a partition system is needed for effective sound privacy. In practice, for most applications, an STC rating of 37-40 is adequate to achieve the desired sound mitigation for speech.

“Economics and trends toward flexible and shared workspaces are driving personal office space smaller and smaller. Occupant comfort is maximized when we provide light open spaces; these also must provide the acoustic privacy needed to be productive,” said Matthews.

When it comes to improved sound mitigation, framed glass partition systems with dual glass lites are the most effective. Other partitions that feature 1” insulating glass perform to achieve privacy, and act as a buffer for incoming and outgoing speech. To make certain that acoustic requirements are met, glazing partitions and assemblies that need an STC rating of 35 or above should be noted on plans and classified as a special assembly. Glass partition walls allow light to flow throughout the space and promote transparency while at the same time maintaining the quiet environment an office needs to be most productive.

New Enhancements to Sustainability: Circular Materials

Choosing new trends, such as protective wall coverings and glass partitions to enhance the interior ambiance of a project, does not mean sacrificing sustainability and a lower carbon footprint. While designers may elect to install door and wall products to cut down on visible damage and to keep interior surfaces looking new, this product selection translates into extending and preserving the life of selected materials and the structure as a whole, mitigating the need to replace either. Yet beyond the performance of door and wall protection products, sustainability from the very materials chosen can also be captured. Responsible product manufacturers are constantly looking for ways to reduce environmental impact, whether through the manufacturing and recycling of products or through business practices. Manufacturer and product transparency has increased dramatically through documentation such as Health Product Declarations (HPD), Environmental Product Declarations (EPD), and Greenguard Gold Certificates. Gathering the information for these documents also sheds light on the environmental aspects of products at various stages.

Instead of simply sending scrap to landfills, manufacturers are increasingly able to reuse it in a way that creates usable products with greater performance. Manufacturers enrolled in the Zero Waste by 2025 program are repurposing internal scrap to contribute to that goal. Leading manufacturers are operating at almost an 80 percent overall diversion rate based on production efficiencies, and internal recycling of PVC, metals, and comingled materials.

Takeback programs are also evolving to engage the customer in product recycling. Manufacturer takeback programs allow customers to recycle scrap or removed product, preventing the materials from going to the landfill. These companies are not only committed to going above and beyond, but also are committed to bringing about change in their industry, region, or within their supply chain.

Depending on the material, the recycled product is then able to be reground and turned into new product elements. In addition to the environmental aspects of this program, some material producers incentivize customers who participate with a monetary credit back to their accounts. This system helps to build valuable relationships with customers based on mutual benefits.

Improving interior ambiance and function by embracing new trends and product innovations can benefit both the environment and the well-being of those who use the facility.

END NOTES

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Amanda Voss, MPP, is an author, editor, and policy analyst. Writing for multiple publications, she has also served as the managing editor for Energy Design Update.