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OWA UK - CAIS New Research & Acoustics Guide

Worldwide research looking into acoustics in offices, summarised by Professor Bridget Shield, has formed the basis for possibly the world's leading authorative guide to office acoustics. The research and guide, sponsored by the AIS, has been written by some of the leading experts in room and building acoustics in the UK. Cundall Acoustics' Director Andrew Parkin, principle technical author of the guide and a leading expert in the field, was also an important contributor to Building Bulletin 93, cited in Building regulations as the recommended guide to classroom acoustics in the UK.

RIBA recently described the office acoustics guide as 'A scholarly work on a complex subject'.

The main acoustic issue in offices is one of reverberation, affecting communication and speech intelligibility, and the most practical solution can be an effective suspended ceiling to reduce reverberation time. Building occupants can then enjoy quieter environments, aiding concentration and enabling speech to be heard. OWA is a leading global force in acoustic control through suspended ceilings. OWA (UK) has developed a RIBA approved seminar entitled 'Acoustics and Suspended Ceilings' - just one of OWA's many presentations available to architects and building professionals on suspended ceilings.

Prof Shield brought together for the first time peer-reviewed articles from across the globe in the area of office acoustics. The AIS Acoustics Forum was then formed, and spent two years writing the guide. As well as the leading acousticians on the forum, recognised building services and office design consultants were involved. Industry was represented by two leading suspended ceilings manufacturers; one of whom was OWA UK's Managing Director, Andrew Smith. Andrew had previously been involved with the pioneering work undertaken by Herriott-Watt University in the field of classroom acoustics, research which ultimately influenced BB93.

The UK Trade Association for interior 'fit-out', the AIS, is proud to have produced the guide. Technical Manager Jo Cilia helped to pull the final document together, and the AIS also offer a RIBA-approved seminar on the acoustics guide. Soft copies of the guide can be downloaded and hard copies purchased from the AIS website.

Pictured at the AIS AGM where the guide was launched are, from left to right - Martin Romaine, AIS President; Andrew Smith, MD OWA (UK) Ltd; Jo Cilia, AIS Technicial Manager; Andrew Parkin, Cundall Acoustics Technical Director; David Friese, CEO of the AIS.