Length: 1 CEU
Topic: Sustainability / Climate
Delivery Mode: Online On-Demand
What's Included: Video, Quiz, & Certificate
Registration Fee: Members $50 | Intern $35 | Student $25 | Non-Member $75
This webinar is part of the RAIC 2025 Conference on Architecture!
Mass timber has gained in popularity in recent years as a sustainable and aesthetically pleasing alternative to traditional building materials. While these benefits are understood, there’s another aspect of mass timber construction that’s often overlooked. Mass timber structures can be prone to noise and vibration issues due to the exposed wood in their floors and ceilings, which can transmit sound more easily and their acoustic properties are different than those of traditional building materials like steel and concrete. Understanding these differences is critical when designing comfortable and functional indoor environments. This session will provide an overview of Sound and Vibration in Mass Timber Buildings. We’ll look at the sound absorptive properties of mass timber, which is particularly important in spaces such as schools, offices, event spaces, etc. We'll also examine some specific design strategies that can be taken to avoid late-stage acoustical concerns while still keeping more mass timber exposed and staying in compliance with code regulations.
Explain basic acoustic terminology and principals.
Describe how sound and vibration can transmit directly and indirectly through the mass timber structure.
Identify approaches to addressing sound and vibration transmission through continuous mass timber (CMT) panels.
Discuss various design considerations affecting the control of noise in mass timber buildings.
Subject Matter Expert:
Simon Edwards
BEng, MEng, PEng, Eng., ISO & ASTM member/contributing author, CAA and ASA member
Senior Acoustical Engineer, Associate, HGC Bruit Vibrations Acoustique
Simon is a member of HGC's built environment division, whose acoustical work has spanned the permitting, design, construction, and post-occupancy phases of residential and commercial buildings. In addition to his experience with poured concrete, hollow-core, wood-frame, and steel-deck structures, he has extensive experience with mass timber developments, including the first Ontario mass timber building (R-Town Vertical 6) as well as the acclaimed YW Supporting Housing project in Kitchener, Ontario. Growing design and testing experience of various CLT configurations have led to Simon becoming an industry leader in mass timber acoustics. Simon is also an expert on sound transmission, including both theoretical calculations and experimental sound transmission testing (“Kij Testing”) to specifically evaluate sound transmission flanking in accordance with ISO 12354 and ISO 10848. In this respect, Simon is a member of both the ISO and ASTM Technical Committees on Building Acoustics and a contributing member to the development of ongoing standards that govern industry-wide measurement and calculation methodologies.
This webinar is in English. Closed captions have been provided in both English and French.
Pricing
Member: $50 / Non-Member: $75
Intern Member: $35 / Intern Non-Member: $75
Student: $25 (must be an RAIC student associate member)