Evaluation of sound attenuation effect in recording studios: case of angel FM station in Kumasi, Ghana
Cities in developing countries like Ghana experience severe environmental noise pollution resulting predominantly from a blend of exponential increase in road traffic volume, industrial, commercial and residential activities that are associated with thick population trends. High levels of noise po...
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| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Penerbit UKM
2014
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| Online Access: | http://journalarticle.ukm.my/8881/1/116-349-1-PB.pdf http://journalarticle.ukm.my/8881/ http://spaj.ukm.my/jsb/index.php/jbp/issue/view/24 |
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| Summary: | Cities in developing countries like Ghana experience severe environmental noise pollution resulting
predominantly from a blend of exponential increase in road traffic volume, industrial, commercial and
residential activities that are associated with thick population trends. High levels of noise pollution can
have detrimental effects on human beings. Buildings that house noise sensitive activities such as
recording studios in city centres need to be designed to provide protection from high ambient noise
levels that may interfere with speech communication. Cities and towns in Ghana have about one
hundred and eighty Frequency Modulation (FM) stations that are invariably sited in the Central
Business Districts (CBD) that happen to be in very noisy environments. The study investigated
prevailing sound levels in the recording studio and associated spaces in an FM Station in Kumasi,
the second largest city in Ghana. Data collection approaches involved monitoring of indoor and
outdoor sound levels, interviewing of residents and workers of the community to assess their
perception of noise levels. In addition measured drawings of the facilities and some observations
were undertaken. The data was analysed within the context of the study objectives. Monitored sound
levels were compared to set standards by World Health Organization (WHO). The WHO permissible
ambient noise level limits of 45dB to 55dB and 55dB to 65dB for residential and commercial zones
respectively were exceeded for all outdoor monitored values. However, the sound attenuating
capabilities of the FM Station building maintains sound levels in the recording studios that are within
permissible sound limits. It is expected that the findings of this study will contribute in assisting
designers to make more objective design decisions at the preliminary phase of a studio building
project, especially in very noisy urban environments. |
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