At a £9 million care home development in Sunderland, soundproofing between apartments was a key requirement which led to the specification of the Wavin AS System, an internal drainage system which offered low noise, durability and ease of installation.
Built by contractor Gentoo Construction for the Gentoo Group, the new retirement village in the Doxford Park area of Sunderland includes a state-of-the-art BREEAM Excellent extra care facility as well as 40 extra care apartments and 14 bungalows. In an environment where noise can impact sleep and cause health problems, it was imperative that the homes were built with quiet pipework.
Allan Thompson, Managing Director of Gentoo Construction said: “We were very happy with the expertise Wavin brought to the build and were able to meet our specific needs. This is a flagship project for the Group and this level of detail was needed in order to construct a facility that had some pretty stringent acoustic requirements in order to provide an excellent living environment for those residents moving in over the coming months.”
In order to meet the client's brief of an acoustic internal drainage system within the apartments, mechanical and electrical consultant DTA Consulting Engineers looked at a range of options including cast iron and normal soil pipe drainage with soundproofing. Following close consultation with the Wavin technical department and sub-contractor Lorne Stewart, Wavin’s AS System was specified as the most efficient and cost-effective low noise system.
Made of a minerally reinforced polypropylene called Astolan® which has a high specific weight and a special molecular structure, the Wavin AS system is able to absorb airborne sound as well as structure-borne sound, which is caused by wastewater hitting the pipe wall. Manufactured to BS EN 1451, the Wavin AS system also meets the acoustic requirements of the German standard DIN 4109, achieving a sound performance of under 30dB (A) at 2l/s.
Available in dimensions from DN56 to DN200 and complemented by a full range of push-fit fittings, this durable system offers the flexibility of an extensive choice, excellent quality and reliability. Compared to cast iron, Wavin AS is quick and easy to install, because of its socket connection.
Ideal for multiple-storey buildings requiring noise insulation such as hotels, hospitals, shopping malls, office buildings, residential homes, high-rise apartments, schools and universities, the Wavin AS system can be installed as a soil stack, internal rainwater system and suspended pipe system.
With the Doxford Park retirement homes set for completion in the summer of 2014, Wavin has ensured that the residents will have a drainage system that offers noise suppression and a good night’s sleep.
You can find out more about AS+ by visiting our dedicated webpage here.