JCW goes International!

• Project: World Bank offices, Nairobi, Kenya
• Architect: Pharos Architects
• Main contractor: Seyani Bros.
• Product: JCW Reflecta Sound panels
• Quantity: 410m²
• Production programme: Four weeks
• Planned completion: August 2013

JCW Supplies Acoustic Panels for a Project in Nairobi

JCW Acoustic Supplies secured an international contract to manufacture and supply 410m² of JCW Reflecta Sound panels for World Bank meeting rooms in Nairobi, Kenya.

The project was delivered in collaboration with main contractor Seyani Bros. and Pharos Architects. It required a sound absorption treatment that would help control reverberation while fitting with the design requirements of the meeting spaces.

The contract demonstrated JCW’s ability to manufacture a substantial quantity of customised acoustic panels in the UK and coordinate their delivery to an overseas construction project.

The Acoustic Challenge

Meeting rooms need to support clear speech and comfortable communication. Where a space contains large areas of hard, reflective materials, voices can continue to reflect between the walls, floor and ceiling after the original sound has been produced.

This persistence of reflected sound is known as reverberation.

Excessive reverberation can make speech less distinct, particularly when several people are taking part in a meeting or when presentation and conferencing equipment is being used.

The project therefore required an internal acoustic treatment that would absorb a proportion of the reflected sound and reduce the reverberant character of the meeting rooms.

Why Sound Absorption Was Required

Sound absorption and soundproofing perform different functions.

Soundproofing is used to reduce sound transmission between separate rooms, buildings or areas. It may involve dense materials, structural separation, resilient components and careful sealing.

Sound absorption controls reflections within the room where the sound is generated.

For this project, the primary requirement was not to add mass to separating walls or construct an isolated room. It was to introduce sufficient absorptive treatment within the meeting spaces to help manage reverberation and support clearer communication.

JCW Reflecta Sound Panels

JCW Reflecta Sound panels were selected for the meeting-room treatment.

The panels are designed to absorb reflected sound when installed across suitable areas of a room. Their contribution to the completed acoustic environment depends on factors including:

• The dimensions and volume of the room
• The quantity and placement of the panels
• The acoustic performance of the panel construction
• The amount of existing absorption within the space
• The wall, floor and ceiling finishes
• The intended use and occupancy of the room

Rather than blocking sound from passing through a wall, the panels help reduce the amount of sound reflected back into the occupied space.

Custom Manufacturing for the Project

The Reflecta Sound panels were custom-manufactured to suit the project’s design and performance requirements.

Acoustic treatments in meeting rooms need to be coordinated with the wider interior scheme. The panels must provide the required absorptive surface while fitting around doors, glazing, presentation screens, lighting and other room features.

The ability to specify finishes and panel arrangements allows sound absorption to be incorporated as a considered part of the interior rather than added without regard to the room’s appearance.

For the Nairobi project, JCW produced the required 410m² of panels on a four-week manufacturing programme.

Coordinating an International Supply Contract

Supplying a project outside the UK required more than manufacturing the panels themselves.

The order also involved coordinating:

• The final panel specification
• Production quantities
• Packaging and protection
• Delivery timescales
• International shipping
• The wider construction programme

Acoustic panels must arrive in suitable condition and at the correct stage of the project. Early delivery can create storage and damage risks, while late delivery may affect finishing work and the completion of the rooms.

The panels were shipped from the UK to Nairobi in preparation for the planned project completion in August 2013.

Why Meeting-Room Acoustics Matter

A meeting room may look suitable while still performing poorly acoustically.

Hard plasterboard walls, glazed sections, solid floors and plain ceilings can reflect voices repeatedly around the space. This can make discussions feel less clear and increase the effect of background activity.

Appropriate absorption can help reduce these reflections and create a more controlled internal acoustic environment.

This may be useful in spaces used for:

• Meetings and group discussions
• Video conferences
• Presentations
• Training sessions
• Interviews
• Private consultations

The amount and position of absorption should be considered according to the room rather than selected through appearance alone.

Acoustic Panels and Speech Privacy

Reducing reverberation may make speech clearer within a meeting room, but absorption panels should not automatically be treated as a solution for sound passing into adjoining spaces.

Where speech privacy is also required, the complete room enclosure may need to be assessed, including:

• Separating walls
• Doors and perimeter seals
• Internal glazing
• Suspended ceiling voids
• Raised access floors
• Ventilation ducts
• Service penetrations

A room may therefore require both sound absorption and soundproofing, but each treatment must be specified for its own purpose.

Applications for Reflecta Sound Panels

Although Reflecta Sound panels were selected for meeting rooms on this project, absorptive panels may be considered for a range of environments where reflected sound needs to be controlled.

Possible applications include:

• Conference and meeting rooms
• Commercial offices
• Classrooms and training spaces
• Reception areas
• Restaurants and hospitality venues
• Studios and rehearsal rooms
• Community and public buildings

Every space should be assessed according to its size, finishes, occupancy and intended activity. The same quantity and arrangement of panels will not be suitable for every room.

A Significant International Project for JCW

The World Bank project in Nairobi represented an important international contract for JCW Acoustic Supplies.

It combined custom manufacturing, a substantial panel quantity, a four-week production schedule and coordinated overseas delivery.

The project also demonstrated how a UK-manufactured sound absorption product could be adapted to meet the practical and visual requirements of an international commercial interior.

Find Out More About Reflecta Sound Panels

JCW Reflecta Sound panels are intended to help control reverberation and reflected sound within suitable commercial, educational and public spaces.

Panel quantity, size, finish and placement should be considered alongside the dimensions and intended use of the room.

Find out more about JCW Reflecta Sound panels, or call Acoustic Supplies on 01204 548400 to discuss the sound absorption requirements of your project.