Background

Sandwell Aquatics Centre in Smethwick leisure centre was built for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

After its success hosting the Games, the state-of-the-art facility was transformed into a leisure centre with a 100+ station gym, 25+ station ladies-only gym, sauna and steam room, football pitch, two 4-courts, three exercise studios, indoor cycling studio, three swimming pools, and more.

The original venue was reconfigured, removing 4000 temporary seats, and adding new facilities for use by the community from the summer of 2023 onwards.

Requirement

It is common for heat pumps and air conditioning units to emit a low humming or buzzing noise that can disturb neighbouring properties and cause sound levels to be unpleasant for members and visitors.

In the documents for the proposed transformation, Mach Acoustics provided two detailed acoustic reports - one for operational noise, and one for plant noise.

In the plant noise breakout assessment, the acoustician detailed predicted noise outcomes from the mechanical plant room, which includes a number of pumps and air handling units.

The acoustician recommended an acoustic barrier with louvre features to ensure adequate airflow. In a later amendment to the design, a solid acoustic barrier with slatted topper for airflow and aesthetics was specified. It also specified steel louvre doors.

Absorptive acoustic barriers are now commonplace around new and refurbished leisure centres, reducing noise pollution from mechanical plant and operational compounds.

Solution

Having completed a number of similar acoustic installations for aquatic, swimming and leisure centres, Jacksons Fencing submitted a tender proposal for the work to act as subcontractor for Wates, and was subsequently awarded the contract.

Bespoke reflective acoustic barriers and gates

Jacksons produced bespoke drawings for the acoustic fence and gates, which they then manufactured, and installed in three elevations.

  • The first consisted of 16.5m of 2.8m-high Jakoustic Reflective with 2.1m-high timber slats above.

  • The second consisted of 11m of 3.2m-high Jakoustic Reflective with 2.1m-high timber slats above, 9.64m of 5.3m-high, and 11.3m of 3.2m-high with 2.1m-high timber slats above.

  • The third elevation consisted of 16.5m of 3.2m-high Jakoustic Reflective with 2.1m-high timber slats above.

The varying heights of solid acoustic barrier were specified as the height required to effectively reduce noise, with the addition of the timber slats on top to improve aesthetics by breaking up the solid design, while enabling airflow.

Two apertures were left in the first elevation for the installation of steel louvre panels.

Installed on base-plated galvanised steel posts, the acoustic barrier is created from tongue-and-groove boards with a deep V profile. They slot together tightly and reflect noise by up to 28dB.

Matching double-leaf acoustic gates were also installed for access.

Jacksons 25-year guarantee

Supplied with a 25-year guarantee, Jacksons acoustic fencing will help to reduce noise for years to come while presenting a long-term, cost-effective and sustainable solution.

Outcome

The barrier installed not only provides an attractive noise solution that hides the machinery, but is also an effective security barrier; free from hand or foot holds and very difficult to scale.

More information

Find out about Jacksons security and noise reducing solutions for air handling units, substations, air and ground source heat pumps, and battery energy storage systems here.