Echo Acoustic improves acoustics in office villa

Robert Fris is an independent building consultant (Fris Bouwadvies), housing manager and building pathologist. He also owns, as well as leases and manages a detached office villa in Breukelen, where the acoustics have left much to be desired for years. On the first floor, in the roof, acoustic insulation between the rafters and the purlins was chosen several years ago. This was finished with a cloth stretched between the rafters and purlins. Echo Acoustic was chosen for the first floor units, partly because of the limited height. We asked him about Echo Acoustic's solution and the result.

Stone wool: possible asbestos of the future

"Although I am extremely satisfied with the quality provided by the contractors who built the office villa," Robert begins our conversation, "it became apparent after completion that acoustics is still a neglected issue in the construction industry. That was the case when the office villa was delivered in 2006, and it was still the case recently. But at the moment there is a growing awareness that acoustics are important.

This awareness is growing faster in the professional market than among private individuals. For financial reasons, this aspect is often not appreciated by them and they must first experience in practice that it really can no longer be done. When complaints then arise, people start looking for possible solutions.

So the acoustics in the first floor office units in particular had to be improved. The floor height of the units is only 2.6 meters. Therefore, I was looking for a solution that has maximum effect with minimum thickness. So I quickly came across a company that could install compressed rock wool 25 mm thick, with a sprayed plaster layer over it. With the thin layer thickness and good acoustic performance, that solution basically met the requirements. Still, I was not enamored with it.

In fact, stone wool consists of fibers just like asbestos, but larger. Therefore, I expect that in the future, when scientific research is further along, it will show that it can also cause health damage. Although put rather starkly, I fear that stone wool is the asbestos of the future. Therefore, I searched further and, after quite a search, came across Echo Acoustic. They do not work with stone wool, but with pressed textile. The complete product has a thickness of only 2.5 cm."

Very excited about improved acoustics

"Just the pressed textile tiles alone without further finishing gave a huge acoustic improvement. And when those stucco layers are then applied over that, you notice another improvement in acoustics even compared to the bare textile ceiling tiles. In addition, Echo Acoustic's product is also ecologically responsible: even the tile adhesive used to stick the ceiling tiles does not contain any harmful substances.

Echo Acoustic first took care of the one office space and it was completely finished. The acoustics really improved tremendously. But how much exactly? The moment you have the new acoustic situation, it's very easy to forget what it was like before and how much of a difference it really is. We can easily compare by simply walking from one office to the other and clapping or shouting in both rooms. Then you really experience how big the difference is. The tenant is also very enthusiastic and can't wait for the second unit to be done as well."

Patience is a virtue

He continues, "If you want to improve acoustics with Echo Acoustic's product, you have to be patient. Applying the boards is very fast and very precise. The fitters neatly cut around fixtures and other electrical equipment, such as power lines. In the end it's all about details and the people at Echo Acoustic really have that finishing touch.

Then two coats of stucco are sprayed."

More acoustic applications

When asked if Robert would recommend Echo Acoustic to colleagues, he cannot suppress a laugh: "Definitely! In fact, I am so enthusiastic about the product that I see more applications. For example, as a housing consultant I am involved in the construction of a school. At this school we opted for a green roof, which makes it impossible and undesirable to place the air treatment units on the roof. Therefore, we are forced to place these cabinets in the technical area. In other words: in the middle of the school.

Now I recently received word from the installer that the air handling units are so large that there is no more room for the planned suspended ceiling. I immediately saw the possibility of solving this problem by attaching sheep's wool sheets to the ceiling. We even went one step further: by attaching the textile sheets to the sand-lime brick walls as well, we could minimize noise pollution from these cabinets to the room behind.

Echo Acoustic supplies the panels for ceiling and walls, but was not in a position to install them on short notice. Because this is a technical space, the labor-intensive stucco finishing is not necessary. The gluing can easily be done by the main contractor himself," Robert concludes the conversation.