Energy analysis of techniques and materials used in sound insulation of music rehearsal rooms

Abstract

In this project an acoustic and energy analysis of materials commonly used for sound insulation of music rehearsal rooms was performed. The main target was to identify the impact on heat gains due to room insulation, and therefore, the resulting increase of air conditioning energy requirements. The method consisted on fi rst building up a 3D model of the current College of Music (COM) building of the Universidad San Francisco, including construction characteristics like materials, electronic equipment, lighting, metabolic activity of occupants, etc. This model was performed in DesignBuilder, with which heat gains/losses through walls, fl oor, ceiling, doors, and windows were obtained, in addition to energy requirements of cooling systems. Once the base case was built up, we developed a new model with an effective sound insulation solution that we called “simple”. The solution consisted in common insulation materials, such that a new energy requirement for cooling was obtained, different from that of the base case. Later we made another model with a solution that we called “complex” in which, in addition to sound insulation materials, we implemented modern techniques and mechanical elements that eliminated impact noise and vibrations. A new air conditioning energy requirement, different from that of the base case, was also obtained. Once the different energy requirements were obtained, those were compared and fi nally demonstrated that although the complex solution for sound insulation involved a higher thermal mass this was compensated by a higher overall heat transfer coeffi cient; therefore, there is no considerable increase in air conditioning energy consumption. As a result, operative costs due to air conditioning energy consumption will be the same for both solutions.