Since 2020, lockdowns and work-from- home policies have brought to light the importance of noise reduction in the environment, and the new partnership aims to support the Responsible-Sourcing Movement as the industry further prioritises health and well-being.
Noise is a long-time ignored invisible killer, and in excess can have a damaging effect on health, productivity and cohesion, according to research from the World Health Organisation (WHO). This research shows that environmental noise pollution affects mental and physical health and is now second only to air pollution as the world’s largest killer pollutant, with numbers rising to at least 1 million years of healthy living lost each year due to noise pollution in Western Europe across an estimated population of 340 million people.
Quiet Mark and NBS are now joining forces to make Quiet Mark certified products easily accessible to equip architects and specifiers. The new partnership will enable the 3,600+ practices that use NBS to create specifications to easily find Quiet Mark certified products and materials. The aim is to elevate the aural design of buildings, optimising the overall level of acoustic comfort for occupants.
To do this it is necessary to curate a selection of the quietest products and acoustic improving materials from the outset of a building specification. Sound from sources such as heating, ventilation, and air conditioning appliances hinders productivity and wellness. In addition to airborne noise sources, impact noise from traffic, adjacent activity or mechanical vibration can create very uncomfortable environments long-term. Acoustic plasters, lighting products and low-noise hand dryers are some of the Quiet Mark certified products that will be easily identifiable on NBS Source.
Quiet Mark’s National Noise Report released in October 2021 in association with the UK Noise Abatement Society charitable foundation, further demonstrates the increasing demand for noise reduction solutions, both in households and workplaces. The research was carried out 18 months after the first lockdown, and examined attitudes towards noise in the new pandemic-recovery scenario. The findings reveal noise has become a decisive factor for 52% of the British population when making decisions regarding future employment. The results highlight the importance of a quieter home with over four fifths of people stating they would like quieter appliances and two thirds of 18-34 year olds wishing to have a quieter home.
Commenting on the partnership, Sascia Elliott, Head of Partnerships at NBS, said: “The impact of noise on well-being is something you may have considered when selecting domestic products for your home and that’s probably thanks to Quiet Mark, who have been instrumental in bringing this to the forefront of our minds, most notably within the retail space.”
She further added: “We are delighted to be able to partner with Quiet Mark to help reinforce the importance of this with building product manufacturers, specifiers and building professionals for the delivery of successful building projects. Together with the expertise of Quiet Mark, NBS technical authors can refine content to ensure our customers receive the latest and highest quality information in this field. It’s a privilege to be a part of this journey with Quiet Mark.”
Poppy Szkiler, CEO and Cofounder of Quiet Mark said: “Because sound is invisible it is often overlooked. Yet the fundamental impact it has on all the physical rhythms of our bodies, our hormones, heart-rate and brain waves, is so profound and inherent to our wellbeing and therefore also to the design process of the buildings we live in.”
Szkiler added: “Quiet Mark celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. Since its formation in January 2012, Quiet Mark has been passionate about elevating wellbeing through improved acoustics in the built environment. Just as our retailer partnerships have helped consumers to reduce unwanted noise in their homes, Quiet Mark has partnered with NBS, to enable industry-wide architects and specifiers to easily find and specify verified acoustic products and materials, to create healthier buildings. I can’t think of a better milestone with which to celebrate our birthday!”
Quiet Mark is the international certification programme associated with the UK Noise Abatement Society charitable foundation (est. 1959). Conducting expert acoustic testing and verification of products Quiet Mark has over the past 10 years driven change in manufacturing worldwide to prioritise noise reduction within the design of everyday machines, appliances, technologies and house build materials, creating the first one-stop platform for third-party approved noise reduction solutions for every living space to health and well-being.
NBS is a global leading technology platform that combines the best content and connectivity for anyone involved in the design, supply and construction of the built environment. For architects, engineers, designers and contractors we provide a cloud-based specification system that enables them to work smarter and reduce their risk. Our future lies in cloud-based technologies and connected data, as we fast become the information marketplace for the global construction industry.
Read the original article on pages 26-27 in the February/March 2022 issue of Architecture Magazine here.
The digital version of the feature can also be found on the Archicture Magazine website here.
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