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Advertising supplement provided Solutia Inc. and Arch Aluminum & Glass Co.

Continuing Education Use the following learning objectives to focus your study while reading this month’s ARCHITECTURAL RECORD / AIA Continuing Education article. Learning Objective: After reading this article, you will be able to: 1. Understand how laminated glass with a polyvinyl butyral (PVB) interlayer can control unwanted environ- mental noise while providing the visually attractive characteristics sought by the architect, specifier and owner. 2. Gain a better perspective on determining the necessary level of acoustical glazing. 3. Identify the advantages and multi-functional benefits of laminated glass with a PVB interlayer.

Sounds of the city

Rush hour traffic, airplanes overhead, construction equipment, blaring music — these are just some of the noises polluting U.S. cities. Unfortunately, noise is an unavoidable part of the daily environment, but it can be especially intrusive when it finds its way indoors. Transferred ground vibrations and sound transmitted through windows are the greatest contributors to noise in building spaces. Hence, improving the ability of windows to resist the passage of sound into building spaces is a high priority.

Exposure to excessive noise has been shown to cause hearing problems, stress, poor concentration, reductions in workplace productivity, communication difficulties, lack of sleep and a loss of psychological well being. At its most extreme, loud noise can even cause instant and permanent hearing loss.

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Noise Abatement and Control, “Noise constitutes a real and present danger to people’s health and can produce serious physical and psychological stress.”

Reducing unwanted noise is critical in commercial and residential settings. According to a 2001 study by Shomer and Associates of Champaign, Illinois, in the U.S. more than 40 percent of the population is exposed to transport levels exceeding 55 decibels (dB). And unlike most other environmental problems, noise pollution continues to grow.