School Administrators
Question: Adele W. / School District Superintendent (Port
St. Lucie, FL)
Greetings from the sunshine state! When our new High School was
built seven years ago, we planned for the future addition of moveable
walls that could divide the lobby in front of our auditorium up into
smaller rooms used for various functions, including classrooms.
Well, the future is here, but the original architect that we worked with
is not. We are looking for criteria and options for the moveable
walls. You were so helpful last time with our band room, so we’re
coming back for more help. Thanks so much!
Sound-Answers.com
Thanks for coming back! Based on the drawings you sent us when we
advised you on your band room, we can see that they show the storage
cabinets for the operable partition panels. We assume these were
built as part of the original construction (albeit empty for the past
seven years) or that they can still be built as part of the planned
work. We did not receive structural drawings, so we cannot verify
if the structural steel was added as part of the original construction
or not. Be sure to have a structural engineer or contractor verify
that you have the steel in place to support the operable partitions.
The operable partition manufacturer can do this as well.
For the most part, standard operable partitions are available in
sound transmission class (STC) ratings between STC-40 and STC-55.
Most fall into the STC-45 to STC-50 range. If the rooms will be
used mostly for normal speech functions (classrooms, meetings, etc.),
then we recommend the minimum design criterion of STC-45. If
budget permits and there is possibility of louder uses for the rooms,
then a higher design criterion of STC-55 is recommended. (Read about STC
in Sound-Answers.com’s resource center.)
There are a few manufacturers that can provide you with these
horizontally tracking partitions. All are reputable and provide good
products.
- Industrial Acoustics Company – Trackwall Series 854 (www.industrialacoustics.com)
- Moderco, Inc. – Series 700 (www.moderco.com)
- Modernfold, Inc. – Acousti-Seal Model 931, 911 or 941 (www.modernfold.com)
- Panelfold, Inc. – Moduflex Series 600 or 800 (www.panelfold.com)
However, we encourage you to also consider a vertically deployed system called Skyfold (www.skyfold.com). If you think these walls will be set and struck frequently, this is the way to go because they are fully automated ~ just turn the key and watch them come down out of the ceiling. It is not just about convenience; think safety too. But, if you are sure you want the horizontally tracking type, there are automated options for those as well. Panelfold is the closest manufacturer to you. They are in Miami, FL. Their nearest distributor/installer is Lotspeich Company of Florida. Contact Sherry Riggott at 954-978-2388.
Beyond the question ~ Also remember that there must be solid bulkheads (walls) above the partitions that extend up to the underside of the roof deck. This will prevent sound from going up and over the operable partitions (through the lobby ceiling). The bulkhead should be made of two layers of 5/8” thick drywall on each side of a metal stud divider stuffed with fiberglass insulation. Seal all gaps and cracks with nonhardening acoustic sealant.
