Ryton Comprehensive School sports hall remedial project
The Challenge
Gateshead Council faced an unexpected acoustic challenge when a sound absorbing board failed in the new sports hall at Ryton Comprehensive School, Tyne & Wear.
To prevent the potential for damage from the impact of balls used in sports activity, a rendering system was installed on top of the absorbing layer. However, this inadvertently compromised acoustic performance as it covered the slots in the board, which were designed to allow noise to travel out of the hall and into the plasterboard cavity.
To minimise reverberation levels whilst protecting the wall surfaces within the sports hall, Gateshead Council needed to source a durable, high performing remedial treatment that did not appear to be a corrective measure.
The Solution
Following consultation with CMS Acoustic Solutions, Gateshead Council selected Vertiface Composition, a retrospectively applied acoustic wall covering system designed to reduce high levels of reverberation. Adhering directly onto finished wall surfaces to deliver an aesthetically appealing acoustic treatment, 350m2 of Vertiface Composition material was installed onto the upper half of the sports hall walls to control excessive reverberation levels.
With a choice of 12, 16 and 22mm thicknesses, Gateshead Council selected the 12mm specification in order to achieve the necessary reverberation reduction.
Offered in a collection of 30 colours, Gateshead Council chose ‘butter’ to reflect the colour scheme of the sports hall.
Results
Since installing Vertiface Composition, teachers and pupils at Ryton Comprehensive have been able to continue sports activity without suffering intolerable levels of reverberation.
Furthermore, the material’s high recovery properties mean it can control excessive reverberation and withstand the impact of balls, giving Ryton Comprehensive a long term solution.
The straightforward installation of Vertiface Composition ensured Gateshead Council stayed within the specified one week project timescale, and kept the sports hall on track for full usage once pupils returned to school after half term.
Product Case Study
