Making sense of the acoustic performance of flanking paths for curtain walling systems Nick Conlan Apex Acoustics
Introduction
Terminology Mullion Transom Spandrel Panel
Types of curtain walling Stick Systems Unitised Systems
Flanking routes - horizontal
Flanking routes vertical
Testing and performance data
CE Marking Revised European curtain wall product standard BS EN 13830:2015 The delay has in part been caused by a lack of resources within CEN (the European Committee for Standardisation), and in part due to the introduction of a number of new classes and thresholds for certain performance characteristics (such as allowable deflections of framing members under imposed wind loads). Until the revised standard is cited in the Official Journal of the European Union, CE marking should be carried out in accordance with BS EN 13830:2003. Added on 25.04.2016
Predicting on site performance D nt = L 1 L 2 + 10 log ൭ T ൱ T 0 D nt 10 log ൭ T ൱ = D T n,f + 10 log ൭ A ൱ 0 A 0 D n,f = L 1 L 2 10 log ൭ A ൱ A 0 D nt 10 log ൭ T ൱ = L T 1 L 2 0 D nt = D n,f + 10 log ൭ A ൱ + 10 log ൭ T ൱ A 0 T 0 A. T D nt = D n,f + 10 log ൭ ൱ A 0. T 0 D n,f + 10 log ൭ A ൱ = L A 1 L 2 0 T = 0.16 ቇ ቆ V A D nt D n,f + 10 logሺvሻ A. T = 0.16 V 0.16 V D nt = D n,f + 10 log ቆ ቇ 5 15
Relationship between R w and D n,f,w D n,f = L 1 L 2 10 log ൭ A ൱ A 0 R mullion = L 1 L 2 + 10 log ቆ S mullion ቇ A R mullion 10 log ቆ S mullion ቇ A = D n,f + 10 log ൭ A ൱ A 0 R mullion = D n,f + 10 log ൭ A ൱ + 10 log ቆ S mullion ቇ A 0 A R mullion = D n,f + 10 log ൭ S mullion. A ൱ A. A 0 R mullion = D n,f + 10 log ቇ ቆ S mullion 10
Performance of stick system mullions and transoms Section details Acoustic performance / db Frequency of sound insulation dip / Hz 125mm transom 38 D n,f,w 630 125mm mullion 44 D n,f,w 1000 200mm mullion 40 D n,f,w 315 110mm mullion 42 D n,f,w - 190mm mullion 40 D n,f,w - 110mm mullion 44 D n,f,w 1600
Performance of unitised systems Section details Acoustic performance / db 125 mullion 47 D n,f,w 110 mullion 44 D n,f,w Section details Acoustic performance / db 125 section 50 D n,f,w 160 mullion 54 D n,f,w Section details Acoustic performance / db 170 mullion 36 STC 170 split mullion with 25mm gap 47 STC
Performance of glazing Section details Glazing Acoustic performance db 125mm overclad single piece hollow section 1 8-16-4 52 D n,f,w 125mm overclad single piece hollow section1 4-16-8 54 D n,f,w 125mm overclad single piece hollow section 1 6-12-9GH 59 D n,f,w 190mm overclad single piece hollow section 2 6-16-9GH 59 D n,f,w
Performance of glazing effect on the overall performance Treatment to 170mm mullion STC without glazing / db Filled and overclad 52 Filled 38 No treatment 36 STC with glazing / db D n,f,w with glazing / db 42 58 37 53 32 48
Performance of the junction
Performance of vertical mullions Mullion details Continuous and unbroken Broken at floor level and joined with Schuco profile infill Broken, partially filled with foam and ends capped Acoustic performance / db 43 D n,f,w 54 D n,f,w 68 D n,f,w
Improving performance Internal treatments Treatment Untreated / db Treated / db Improvement 200mm hollow section filled with 2 layers of fermacell and compressible infill 170mm split hollow section with mineral wool and mass barrier material 125mm section filled with mineral wool and 4kg/m 2 damping material 40 D n,f,w 56 D n,f,w 16 db 36 STC 38 STC 2 db 44 D n,f,w 47 D n,f,w 3 db 200mm section with Siderise HB insert -MI6 33 R w 41 R w 8 db
Improving performance External treatments Treatment Untreated / db Treated / db Improvement 125mm mullion with 20mm timber and 15mm mineral wool to one side 125mm mullion 20mm timber and 15mm mineral wool to both sides 3mm aluminum plate and 5mm vinyl mass barrier 10kg/m 3 both sides 15mm plasterboard and 5mm vinyl mass barrier both sides 44 D n,f,w 50 D n,f,w 6 db 44 D n,f,w 52 D n,f,w 8 db 36 STC 48 STC 12 db 36 STC 50 STC 14 db 15mm plasterboard both sides fixed direct 36 STC 42 STC 6 db
Improving performance additional sections
Conclusions With good test D nfw data, on site performance can be calculated with some confidence Like to see more collaboration between suppliers and acousticians to test what we need To be wary of using R w values for mullions, when tested without the glazing Other unknown effects may be due to the size of glazing panels
Thank you for listening Nick Conlan Nick.Conlan@apexacoustics.co.uk @apex_acoustics