Besides athletic events, the facility is used as a venue for graduation, concerts and as a hall for keynote speeches by visiting global academics and dignitaries. However, having not been designed for these purposes, the acoustics of the facility were not very good.The audible echoes reduced the quality of the sound in the facility, distracted attendees and even confused speakers as they were delivering their speeches. Walls in the facility are made of concrete, the cathedral ceiling is made of suspended mineral tile and the floor is Astroturf; all surfaces that reflect sound and thereby create reverberant noise.

“We had noticed the echo for many years, and finally decided to look into solving the problem,” according to Joseph M. Inman, Project Manager, Planning, Design and Construction at Colgate.The Colgate Engineering Club was then tasked with analyzing the acoustics of the space and coming up with a solution.

The Club’s analysis revealed a reverberation time of 3.3 sec., clearly demonstrating that there was indeed an acoustic problem in the facility. Reverberation time in a space is the key parameter in determining the ability of people within the space to clearly hear speech and music.

Typically, a reverberation time of about 1.9 sec. provides that clarity. The Club then recommended contacting an acoustic consultant to formulate a solution. In late Spring 2017, Inman contacted Glen LaVallee, of Oshex Associates, Inc. (Baldwinsville, NY; www.oshex.com), who had done acoustic remediation for some of Colgate’s other facilities.After reviewing the facility and the test results, Lavalee recommended the use of Eckel Eckoustic Functional Panels (EFPs) to solve the problem. Eckel’s engineering team created an acoustic model of the facility and came up with a predicted reverberation time that was very close to the Engineering Club’s measured reverberation time.

To achieve the 1.9 sec. reverberation time goal, the Eckel team recommended the installation of 540 EFPs in the following layout: 366 30 in. x 10 ft. panels on the ceiling, and 174 panels on the side and back walls in a variety of sizes ranging from 30 in. x 10 ft. down to 24 in. x 9 ft. to accommodate structural aspects of the building. Colgate wanted to complete the project so that it could hold graduation exercises in the facility on May 20, 2018.The order was placed, and the panels shipped in February 2018. Installation of EFPs is very simple.They install with four brackets that are attached to an existing surface with four bolts.The installation was completed well in time for graduation.

The results were excellent. According to Inman, “The acoustic panels have really improved our ability to utilize the Fieldhouse as more than just an athletic facility.The acoustics during Commencement as well during our Spring Concert improved drastically, allowing the speaker and attendees to hear and understand the presentations and the music more clearly.We should have done this sooner!”

Alex Eckel, President of Eckel Noise Control Technologies adds, “The Colgate Fieldhouse project demonstrates how schools and universities can turn an existing athletic facility into a more productive multi-use environment for conferences, concerts and other events by simply improving the acoustics within the space.”

Eckel Acoustic Panels can be fabricated to custom sizes up to 10 ft. in length and painted to match any room décor.They are available in steel, galvanized steel and aluminum, and install quickly and easily.

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Challenge: WWTPs are known for being acoustically harsh environments. High ceilings and reflective surfaces create reverberations and amplify heavy machinery noise. Such inhospitable conditions decrease productivity and create safety hazards, presenting a unique challenge for WWTP manag.ers. The Coney Island WWTP needed to address noisy conditions after an eval.uation of acoustic levels by the Occupational Safety and Health Adminis.tration (OSHA) which concluded noise levels in the Pump Room and Blower Room exceeded safe levels. Average noise levels registered 92 decibels (dBA) in the Pump Room and 87 dBA in the blower room. At these levels, communication among plant staff becomes difficult, if not impossible, and prolonged exposure could damage workers’ health.

Conditions: The pump room area is 87’ x 153’ x 41’. Four sets of 2,500-HP diesel engine generators drive 600-HP motors, which operate the pumps. Prior to the installation of the EFPs, sound level measurements were taken at 8 locations within the room at various distances from the engine genera.tors. The reflective materials used to construct the WWTP contribute to the problem. The walls and floors are concrete, and the ceiling is a metal deck. In addition, WWTP equipment typically generates excessive noise. Howev. er, their construction and configuration are integral to their functions and could not be changed, so the WWTP’s operators needed a solution that would work within the existing conditions.

Analysis: Eckel Noise Control Technologies was invited to assess the facil.ity and devise a treatment to reduce noise and reverberation in the pump and blower rooms. Following its own acoustic analysis and evaluation, the company recommended installing Eckel Functional Panels (EFPs) on specific wall and ceiling surfaces to achieve a reverberation goal of 85 dBA or less. Solution: Eckel Functional Panels (EFPs) absorb sound and reduce rever.beration, decreasing the risk of harm from exposure to excessive noise and increasing the clarity and intelligibility of speech. EFP panels are versatile and durable for WWTPs and other industrial applications. They can be used for new or existing facilities and installed around existing sprinkler heads, lighting fixtures, heating and ventilation ducts. The Eckel EFP solution covered about 50% of the WWTP Pump Room ceiling and 10% of its walls. Three quarters of the ceiling treatment entailed 30” x 10’ panels and the remainder 30” x 8’ panels. The walls featured a mix of standard size (48” x 8’ and 14” x 6’) panels. The WWTP Blower Room also received a mix of panel sizes (30” x 10’, 30” x 8’, 30” x 4’ and 42” x 5’).

Conclusion: With two sets of generators and four pumps running, Eckel EFPs effectively reduced the Coney Island WWTP Pump Room’s average noise level, by 9.85 dBA, or below the 85 dBA OSHA safety threshold. Following the Eckel EFP treatment and with two blowers running in the Blower Room, the average noise level fell more than 5 dBA, from 86.6 to 81.3 dBA. The economical and durable EFPs treated the WWTP’s hazardous acoustic conditions and met or exceeded OSHA requirements. Eckel Representatives are available worldwide: Call +1-800-563-3574 | +1-613-543-2967 | sales@eckelacoustics.com

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