Acoustics and Lighting
Acoustics and Lighting
These two disciplines govern the sensory environment of a building: how it sounds and how it looks.
Acoustics vs. Lighting
- Acoustics: Controlling sound transmission and behavior. Key Physics: Wave propagation, reflection, absorption.
- Lighting: Controlling illumination. Key Physics: Optics, color rendering, luminous efficacy.
Architectural Acoustics
Room Acoustics
Dealing with sound within a room.
- Reverberation Time (RT60): Time for sound to decay by 60 dB.
- High RT60 (Echoey): Good for music (Cathedrals).
- Low RT60 (Dead): Good for speech (Classrooms).
- Absorption: Soft materials (carpets, acoustic tiles) absorb sound energy.
- Diffusion: Irregular surfaces scatter sound to prevent hot spots.
Sound Isolation
Dealing with sound transmission between rooms.
- STC (Sound Transmission Class): Rating of a barrier's ability to block sound.
- Mass Law: Heavier walls block more sound.
- Decoupling: Separating wall layers to break vibration paths.
Lighting Design Strategies
Daylighting
Using natural light to reduce energy and improve well-being.
- Clerestories: High windows.
- Light Shelves: Reflect light deeper into the room.
- Solar Tubes: Pipe sunlight into interior spaces.
Artificial Lighting Design
- CRI (Color Rendering Index): How accurate colors look under the light (0-100). Sunlight = 100.
- CCT (Correlated Color Temperature):
- Warm White (2700K): Relaxing, residential.
- Cool White (4000K): Productive, offices.
- Daylight (6500K): Clinical, industrial.
Application: Calculating Reverberation Time
Sabine's Formula is used to estimate RT60.
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Summary
Good acoustic and lighting design requires a balance of physics and perception. Controlling noise improves productivity, while quality lighting enhances mood and visibility.