Acoustical Consulting

For more than 25 years SFMI has provided acoustical consulting for buildings and the environment.  SFMI offers acoustical consulting services both in the area of noise and vibration control and in design of spaces and systems to enhance the listening experience or to maximize speech intelligibility.  Broadly, these related areas of practice are Noise Control and Room Acoustics.

Our expertise in this field extends to:

• Noise and Vibration Control of HVAC, Plumbing and Mechanical Units such as addressing the noise of exhaust fans, chillers, pumps, ducts, cooling towers and industrial blowers. Our studies and recommendations result in a quiet and low vibration mechanical or plumbing system, reducing the ambient (background) noise in the affected areas. Common applications include commercial spaces, libraries, classrooms, hotels, hospitals, convention centers, studios, universities, theaters, worship spaces and cinemas.
• Noise Control/Sound Isolation Isolation of both indoor and outdoor facilities from noise originating from adjacent rooms, airplanes, road traffic, lighting ballasts, etc. It also includes noise penetrating from exterior walls, ceilings or floors. Our efforts seeks to develop a quiet environment. Applications include commercial spaces, libraries, classrooms, hotels, hospitals, industrial spaces, convention centers, studios, theaters, and cinemas.
• Room Acoustics, Speech Intelligibility, and Speech Privacy. Performed to optimize the path of desirable speech. We recommend proper absorptive, reflective or diffusive materials for side wall surfaces, floors, ceilings, and seating areas. We also configure room surfaces and recommend appropriate ceiling heights to obtain proper reflective angles. Applications include civic centers, cinemas, theaters, libraries, schools,studios and worship spaces.
• Environmental Acoustics, Noise Measurement, Noise Impact Assessment and Mitigation Interior or exterior. Using noise measurements and analyses, we determine whether emitted noise level exceeds/will exceed the allowable criteria. If required, we then introduce solutions to mitigate the noise impact and to bring it into compliance with the criteria. This can be done by many techniques depending on the nature of the noise source, location of the receiver and budget. Common applications are emergency generators, industrial uses and car washes.

SFMI maintains and utilizes extensive in-house computerized engineering analysis programs including proprietary and standards based community noise propagation models, multi-barrier effects simulators and automated noise contour generators. The firm also employs commercial loudspeaker "mapping" software, such as EASE, to analyze the impact of outdoor performance venues and room acoustic design.  These are supplemented by an an extensive resource of precision test equipment, including Type 1 microphones, ICP accelerometers, DSP based signal anlysers, portable weather stations and related support system to permit field measurement of a wide variety of conditions in accordance with ANSI and ASTM test procedures. We also maintain a significant professional library consisting of reference texts, professional journals and product files allowing our engineers to rapidly identify possible mitigation alternatives.

Services in Acoustics:  SFMI offers acoustical consulting to improve speech intelligibility as well as hearing in open or enclosed environments. Existing conditions of bad acoustics or noisy environments can sometimes be solved through engineered application of appropriate materials. Alternatively, there are times that acoustical problems can only be overcome by a carefully engineered sound distribution system.  Our office can help you in such objectives. Our expertise in this field extends to:

• Noise and Vibration Control of HVAC, Plumbing and Mechanical Units such as exhaust fans, chillers, pumps, ducts, cooling towers and industrial blowers. Our studies and recommendations result in a quiet and low vibration mechanical or plumbing system, reducing the ambient (background) noise in the affected areas.  Common applications include commercial spaces, libraries,classrooms,hotels, hospitals, convention centers, studios, universities, theaters, worship spaces and cinemas.
• Noise Control/Sound Isolation  Isolation of both indoor and outdoor facilities from noise originating from adjacent rooms, airplanes, road traffic, projector fans, lighting ballasts, etc. It also includes noise penetrating from exterior walls, ceilings or floors.  Our efforts seeks to develop a quiet environment.  Applications include commercial spaces, libraries,classrooms,hotels,hospitals,industrial spaces, convention centers, studios, theaters, and cinemas.
• Room Acoustics, Speech Intelligibility, and Speech Privacy.  Performed to optimize the path of desirable speech. We recommend proper absorptive, reflective or diffusive materials for side wall surfaces, floors, ceilings, and seating areas. We also configure room surfaces and recommend appropriate ceiling heights to obtain proper reflective angles. Applications include civic centers, cinemas, theaters, libraries, schools,studios and worship spaces.
• Environmental Acoustics, Noise Measurement, Noise Impact Assessment and Mitigation   Interior or exterior  Using noise measurements and analyses, we determine whether emitted noise level exceeds/will exceed the allowable criteria.  If required, we then introduce solutions to mitigate the noise impact and to bring it into compliance with the criteria.  This can be done by many techniques depending on the nature of the noise source, location of the receiver and budget. Common applications are emergencygenerators, industrial uses and car washes.

SFMI offers acoustical engineering services both in the area of noise and vibration control and in design of spaces and systems to to enhance the listening experience or to maximize speech intelligibility.  Broadly, these related areas of practice areNoise Control and Room Acoustics

SFMI is fully computerized in all aspects of its practice.   We maintain and utilize extensive in-house computerized engineering analysis programs including proprietary and standards based community noise propagation models, multi-barrier effects simulators and automated noise contour generators.  The firm also employs commercial loudspeaker "mapping" software, such as EASE to analyze the impact of outdoor performance venues and room acoustic design. 

We also maintain a significant professional library consisting of reference texts, professional journals and product files allowing our engineers to rapidly identify possible mitigation alternatives.