Ontario Construction News staff writer
OTTAWA – Last Thursday (April 23), around 15 people attended in person while another 200 joined virtually for a special technical session and facility tour at AMBICO Limited, hosted by the Construction Specifications Canada (CSC) Ottawa Chapter.
This hybrid event highlighted the importance of sound control in architectural design, providing an in-depth look at acoustic testing, specifications, and the intricate manufacturing of high-performance door assemblies.
Speaking to the crowd, AMBICO’s technical expert Rachel Barr, who is also the Director of Engineering and R& D, pointed out that managing sound levels is essential for the health and safety of building occupants. She mentioned that 40 decibels is generally viewed as the maximum safe level for environments where people live or work long-term.
“Sustained exposure to high sound levels has been linked to health conditions such as increased high blood pressure, increased heart attacks, increase of type two diabetes, let alone the more immediate impact of decreased focus and productivity,” she said.
Barr clarified that finding the right Sound Transmission Class (STC) rating heavily depends on how a space will be used. This could mean ensuring privacy during conversations in medical exam rooms or maintaining concentration in classrooms or secure facilities.
A key point made during the presentation was the need to test and specify acoustic doors as complete units rather than just individual components. Since these doors have to fit into standard architectural profiles-usually only 1 3/4 inches thick-they must still offer similar sound blocking capabilities as much thicker wall cavities.
To achieve lab-certified STC ratings, it’s crucial for all elements like door leafs, frames, perimeter seals, door bottoms, and meeting style seals to be designed to function together. Barr noted that mixing parts from different manufacturers can create fit issues and significantly lower performance on-site.
If standard seals are added to unoptimized doors, they might only produce a two to three point boost in STC ratings. In contrast, using seals specifically designed for engineered doors can enhance performance by four to ten points.
An issue often seen in architectural design is over-specifying STC ratings which can negatively affect both budget and functionality of a project.
While aiming for the highest possible rating might seem safe initially, it frequently results in doors that are too heavy or difficult to operate-and they may even exceed budget limits.
“If you try to put that in a kindergarten classroom, for example, it’s not going to be functional in that space,” Barr warned. She also noted that expensive specifications often go through value-engineering during bidding processes which can ironically lead to under-specified final installations based on intended use.
Apart from just acoustics, AMBICO’s specialized steel and wood doors can come with additional protections. Options include combining acoustic features with radio frequency (RF) shielding against electromagnetic waves along with ballistic ratings, blast resistance features, and fire ratings up to 180 minutes.
However, achieving high-performance designs relies entirely on precise installation practices. Setting frames correctly along with proper clearances and tolerances is critical so seals compress properly when installed. AMBICO strongly recommends certified installers help prevent issues after installation by offering dedicated certification seminars multiple times each year.
Diving into questions afterward about compliance with the Buy American Act regarding U. S.-based projects was Judah Silverman-the company’s Chief Administrative Officer (CAO). He explained compliance varies based on how front-end tender documents are drafted.
“There’s Buy American which is different from Buy America which is different from BABA (Build America Buy America),” Silverman said.
He further clarified that often AMBICO meets requirements due to typical treaty exemptions for Canada under USMCA. The toughest stipulations usually arise from older regulations like the Buy America Act prioritizing U. S.-made steel-which tends mostly reserved for major transportation initiatives.
After completing the technical presentation segment attendees had an opportunity for a guided behind-the-scenes tour at AMBICO’s Ottawa manufacturing site where they could observe their unique assembly process firsthand.
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