Controlling Noise Effectively in Edinburgh’s Busy City Centre

Project Overview

Edinburgh House in St Andrew Square is undergoing extensive refurbishment. On completion, the property looks to house up to 400 people, providing car parking, bike storage, lockers, showers and changing facilities.

Contractor ISG was appointed by owners Knight Property Group to undertake the refit, which included adding an additional floor on top of the existing building and the relocation of lift shafts to make better use of space. On completion – scheduled to be in September 2018 - it will house up to 400 people, and provide car parking, bike storage, lockers, showers and changing facilities.

Challenge

Situated in Edinburgh’s busy city centre, the site is near popular shopping streets, upmarket venues and the city’s railway, tram and bus stations. Internal Hydro Demolition was required to create openings in the building’s floors for new lift shafts. This activity can generate noise in excess of 90dB; a solution was needed to protect site operatives and nearby office workers and pedestrians.

Solution

Soundex™ acoustic curtains have been used to create a floor-to-ceiling barrier around the works over two floors, with one layer of the curtains used upright and then a second layer of curtains suspended on their side above them. Each floor requires 51 curtains to form this vertical barrier, with a further 13 laid over the opening on the floor above to entirely contain the operations.

The significant overall noise reduction delivered of around 20dB means work has been able to proceed with little disturbance to those in neighbouring buildings or to passers-by.

"With some of the thinner acoustic panels on the market we would not be able to carry out the works, or at least be limited in the times when we could operate.” - Alistair Lyon, Senior Project Manager, ISG