[CAUT] Heating system volume level

[Tim Coates]

Hi Fred,

Yes, the fan is in the room.  I'm not quite sure I'm understanding  
the situation you mention concerning the recording studio.  Was the  
room built with the fan in the room and excellent sound baffling kept  
the room silent?

Thanks,

Tim Coates

ps:  Fernando Ortega was living in LA and moved back to Albuquerque  
to take care of his parents.  Last time he was in Sioux Falls he was  
asking if I knew who could take care of his S&SB in Albequerque.  I  
gave him your name and he said he went to school with you.  It's  
really hard to get a hold of him, so I just have to wait until he  
comes to Sioux Falls periodically.   Brahms.  Makes a lot of sense  
for where he's at now.


On Sep 25, 2008, at 10:52 AM, Fred Sturm wrote:

> Hi TIm,
> 	My question would be just exactly what are you dealing with. You  
> talk about an HVAC unit in the room. My building has centralized  
> fans (some in basement, some in "attic") that force air through  
> ducts throughout the building. There are two duct systems, one for  
> relatively hot, one for relatively cold air, with mixing boxes for  
> individual rooms or sets of rooms. The thermostats control the mix,  
> using air pressure (from the constant flow of air) to set baffles  
> to let in more of one or the other. The baffles are old and get  
> stuck. Sometimes there is whistling or a sound like a gale if one  
> gets stuck not quite closed. THen there is fan noise that can get  
> transmitted through the ductwork. Lots of different things that can  
> cause noise.
> 	But it sounds like you have the actual fan motor in the room with  
> you in your system. Or do you? In any case, the first step is to  
> find out exactly what you have, mechanically.
> 	It is quite possible to have excellent HVAC sound baffling for  
> individual areas (like concert halls or recording studios). Our  
> recording engineer had a studio built 10 years ago, and got amazing  
> silence. So I know it can be done. Sometimes it is a matter of the  
> right person asking the right question of the right person. There's  
> the rub: finding that right person. And it does cost money.
> Regards,
> Fred Sturm
> University of New Mexico
> fssturm at unm.edu
>
> PS (other post): Yes, I went to school with Fernando Ortega. He was  
> nuts about Brahms at the time, as I recall. Is he based in your area?
>
>
> On Sep 25, 2008, at 6:02 AM, Tim Coates wrote:
>
>> I have appreciated the comments from this list.  I have also  
>> contacted some educators who have dealt with noisy HVAC units in  
>> class rooms and rehearsal  rooms.  Proper air handling, turning  
>> off the units during rehearsal, moving the HVAC units outside the  
>> room to the roof, and staying on good terms with the janitors and  
>> engineers are consistent comments.  One other solution is the use  
>> of an in-room PA with the instructor using a headset.  One band  
>> director reported students requesting the continued use of the  
>> headset even after the noisy HVAC unit was removed from the room.   
>> The headset allowed the instructor to never use a raised voice.   
>> Which when you think about it can change the tone or character of  
>> a rehearsal.  No yelling.  The relationship between the students  
>> and the instructor became conversational.   The wear on the  
>> instructors voice also affects their physical energy.
>>
>> My major concern:  voices or instruments need to blend together to  
>> make music.  Noisy HVAC units prevent the blending.  I think side  
>> effects are teachers with hoarse voices and students who don't  
>> hear directions properly.
>>
>> Tim Coates
>
>