ABSTRACT
Modern Architecture and Ventilated Double Glass Façades (VDGF) (Double Façades and Climate Façades are special types) are often related to each other: the use of enormous quantities of glass, steel and concrete are common ingredients. The need for a multidisciplinary approach with a team of specialists in different fields is required: ventilation, acoustics, stability, fire, day lighting, etc. These types of facilities, generally used as office buildings, yield good building solutions for problem areas, i.e. close to airports, big traffic infrastructures, industrial zonings, also taking into account requirements such as architectural design. VDGF could be briefly defined as façades consisting of two skins (completely transparent or not) with a very particular ventilation strategy. To have an overview of the different types of these façades and their characteristics we refer to our website (based upon our recent study on VDGF): https://www.bbri.be/activefacades.
This article tries to tie in situ measurement results with the calculation of acoustical parameters using different European standards. Predictions of performances of such buildings are needed, especially when situated in noisier environments. The acoustical European standard EN 12354 (2000) offers the possibility to predict façade insulation and insulation between rooms inter-connected with a cavity. Although, double façades (walls) are not directly taken into account in this standard, however. These standards are relatively new and need to be examined (and adapted) in order to “compute” their validity with regard to these (newer) kinds of façades.
