“It’s easy for putting staples in, easy to flick them out …it just makes our life so much easier, it makes a hard job easy.” Nicole Heuser – Teacher, Gisborne Central School
Project Background & Purpose
Three local Gisborne Schools underwent a much needed retrofit of their older and relocatable, kitset classrooms. This project was initiated when it was identified that these types of buildings had potential structural failings and an upgrade of the structural integrity would present several benefits and extend the building life a further 20 years. The building envelope was required to be left uninterrupted while thermal and acoustic properties had to be brought up to an acceptable standard. Property services group School Support Limited took on this challenge and were very pleased with the finished results.
Solution – Product & Installation
Developing the existing classrooms to extend their building life was considered highly cost effective compared to a new build classroom. As the buildings had no external building paper or insulation, encapsulating or insulating walls internally was not an option, prompting School Support Ltd to seek out an alternative solution.
Aware of the high performing acoustic properties of 50mm Quietspace Panel, Project Manager Phil Elms was pleased to learn that 50mm Quietspace Panel also achieves an R-value rating of R1.48. As well as acoustic benefits, the thermal properties of Quietspace Panel have helped lift the total performance of the building envelope. Custom cut and slotted into aluminium joists; the Quietspace Panels laminated with Atlantis coloured Vertiface® provided a great cost effective solution for building retrofits that require sound control and thermal performance.
Other products also used included Autex Composition Acoustic Fabric, Dado wall carpet and GreenStuf polyester insulation. Koala coloured Composition Acoustic Fabric was used to transform walls between classrooms into acoustic notice boards, increasing overall acoustic performance and reducing noise bleed. Made from 100% polyester fibre; Composition® Acoustic Fabric won’t stain, rot or break down and is a safe, non-toxic, long-lasting and sustainable acoustic wall treatment ideal for primary schools, day care centres, commercial offices, libraries and the hospitality industry.
Benefits & Feedback
Teachers had nothing but positive feedback on their freshly renovated teaching environments and believe that all schools would benefit from the upgrade. Prior to installation, several teachers commented on how cold the classrooms were – especially in the mornings – and how easily students were distracted by both internal and external sources of noise. Now, classrooms are warm and cosy, teachers have noticed that students were much more focused and external noise sources were no longer a distraction. Teachers also loved the finished look of the classrooms, in particular the colours used and the overall calming effects the retrofitted rooms evoked.
Check out our full range of Autex acoustic products here.
