CMS Danskin Acoustics’ SuperPhon panels are contributing to reverberation control at a newly built school in East Hertfordshire, helping to ensure standards for acoustics in new school buildings are met.
Buntingford First School is a school for around 330 children between the ages of three and nine, which opened for the 2023 autumn term. Built to Passivhaus standards by Morgan Sindall Construction for Hertfordshire County Council, the 1,643 sqm school includes a nursery and ten classrooms.
During construction 175 SuperPhon panels of varying sizes and colours were installed by SCL Interiors, mainly on classroom walls, to absorb sound and provide reverberation control.
SuperPhon provides up to Class ‘A’ acoustic performance and has a Noise Reduction Coefficient from 0.80 to 1.15 – an NRC of 0 indicating perfect reflection and an NRC of 1 indicating perfect absorption. The sound absorption coefficient is tested to BS EN ISO 354:2003.
New school buildings must satisfy the requirements of Section 1 of Building Bulletin 93 (BB93) – setting out the constructional standard for acoustics in new school buildings.
SuperPhon is available in standard sizes, thicknesses and finishes, including wipe clean and art panels, but also as bespoke panels in terms of size, thickness, shape or fabric facing. Designed for use in applications, including recording/rehearsal studios, audiology rooms, cinemas and theatres, schools, call centres and conference rooms, SuperPhon has been installed at the Liverpool Academy, Edinburgh Observatory, Jodrell Bank and the Hydro Arena in Glasgow.
CMS Danskin Acoustics, part of SIG plc, provides a free reverberation calculation service as well as full technical and on-site support. The panels are manufactured at their Warrington site.
SCL Interiors are a suspended ceiling and partitioning contractor, providing services including SFS, drylining, suspended ceilings, glazed screens and acoustic rafts/wall panels throughout the East Anglia region.