As independent engineers, we are not associated with equipment
manufacturers or suppliers and we therefore have no conflicts
of interest in regards to equipment selection or recommendation.
Our objective is to provide functional, practical, and
cost-effective design solutions to save you and the project
time and money. Expensive and over-designed details typical
of a biased or less scientific approach are avoided. To
this end, we make extensive use of standardized CAD details
and specifications, through which we can swiftly respond
and easily conform to our client's specific needs. Our
recommendations and specifications are detailed and generic
for maximum applicability; however, we can also assess
the suitability of commercial products and materials that
are presented to us for review.
Standard Services
E&I Emirates can provide the following acoustical
engineering services:
Building AcousticsIndustrial
Noise and Vibration Control
Acoustical Design for Speech & Music Noise
Surveys
MEP Equipment and Machinery Noise Control Plant
Noise Studies & Noise Source Identification
Architectural Noise Control (Walls, Structure, etc.) Machinery
Vibration Analysis and Diagnostics
HVAC Attenuator Selection Preventative
Maintenance Programs
Auditorium and Studio Design and Measurements Noise
Exposure Studies
Background Noise Measurements (NC, NR, etc.) Sensitive
Equipment Vibration Audits
Sound Isolation Measurements (FSTC) Acoustical
Product Development
Curtain Wall Acoustical Design
VibrationEnvironmental
Noise
Human Response to Vibration Studies Environmental
Noise Assessment
Equipment Vibration Isolation Noise
Control Design (Barriers etc.)
Floor Vibration Control Environmental
Noise Monitoring
Seismic Engineering and Qualification Noise
Impact Studies
Noise
and Vibration Audits
Turnkey Solutions
While completely independent, E&I Emirates maintains
contact with various acoustical contractors and material
suppliers in the UAE. Where desired, this allows us to
offer clients complete turnkey solutions including design
services, material selection, installation, and acoustical
measurements. When projects are executed in this way, our
clients’ interests form the basis for all management
decisions. Our clients know that they can expect the
highest quality and best service that the project budget
allows.
R&D / Specialized Services
E&I Emirates maintains a co-operative understanding
with several specialized engineering consultants and testing
laboratories in Australia, Canada, and the UAE. When unusually
complicated projects or sophisticated tasks can benefit
from services that exceed the range offered by E&I
Emirates alone, our industry allies can assist with state-of-the-art
measurement and computation capability. As part of an alliance,
E&I Emirates can provide multi-disciplinary engineering
and project management services in all fields related to
the science of dynamics.
The following are examples of a few specialized areas in
which our industry allies can add value to your projects:
Building Noise and Vibration ControlFluid
Mechanics
Subway/Building Isolation Computational
Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
Tuned Mass Damper (TMD) Design Flow
Induced Noise and Vibration of Structures
Finite Element Modeling (FEM) Air
Quality Studies
Wind Engineering Pressure
Studies
Pipe Stress Analysis
Tests and MeasurementsR&D
and Other Services
Curtain Wall Tests (Sound, Water, Structure, etc.) HVAC
Silencer and Diffuser Design
Acoustical Louver Attenuation Tests Industrial
Silencer Design
Wall Partition Tests Hot
Gas Silencer Design
High Temp Probe Microphone Measurements Modal
Analysis
Sound Intensity Analysis Computational
Noise Propagation Modeling
Instrumentation
E&I Emirates uses a dual-channel Realtime and Fast
Fourier Transform (FFT) narrow band frequency analyzer
(IEC and ANSI Type 1) for sound and vibration measurements.
A noise dosimeter is available for noise exposure studies.
Our instrumentation, all regularly calibrated, readily
allows sound source identification and signature analysis
during noise surveying, performance verification, and
commissioning exercises.
Example Projects
This short list of UAE projects showcases the broad range of acoustical work that staff at E&I Emirates have had experience with.
Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai
The DIFC Gate and Precinct Buildings make up an iconic development by US architects Gensler. Due to the high profile of the project, the acoustical environment was deemed an important part of system performance and fit-out quality. The principal acoustical design elements were silencer attenuation requirements for HVAC duct-borne noise control; the noise and vibration control of large MEP equipment, and room acoustics for both speech intelligibility and privacy.
Etisalat Telecommunications and Administration Building, Dubai
The new Etisalat Building at at Al Kifaf was designed by architects Shankland Cox. The 33-storey building stands at the head of Sheikh Zayed Road and promises to be one of the most prominent new landmarks in this city. It combines office spaces, equipment rooms, an auditorium, and public areas. Several features of the acoustical design showcase the complexity and sophistication of this project. A specialized attenuation system for HVAC duct-borne noise was necessary due to short duct runs and small plant room size; unusual noise and vibration control measures had to be implemented on the chillers and generators; and the installation of the entire MEP system was designed with seismic bracing.
Emirates Airlines Headquarters, Dubai
The new Emirates Headquarters, designed by consultants Archgroup, is located opposite the new Dubai Airport Terminal 3. The acoustical design involved MEP noise and vibration controls and presented some challenges in room acoustics. Due to the proximity of the building to heavy aircraft traffic, an upgraded curtain wall and sound-absorbing ceilings were needed to reduce the intrusion of outdoor noise into open office areas. Walls and wall treatments were designed to improve sound isolation and speech intelligibility in auditoria and briefing rooms, while special partitions were designed to isolate atrium noise.
Zenith Bar, Abu Dhabi
For the Zenith Bar at the Sheraton Abu Dhabi Resort & Towers, special curved acoustical panels were designed to achieve improved speech intelligibility in the cylinder-shaped booths, even with loud music playing. Control measures were also implemented to reduce sound transmission between the bar and nearby noise-sensitive indoor spaces.
Emirates Park Towers Hotel & Spa, Dubai
Standing 395 m tall—one of the five tallest hotels in the world—the USD 490-million, 77-story, twin towers of the Emirates Park Towers Hotel & Spa will form a majestic landmark at Dubai’s new Business Bay. E&I Emirates was retained by consultants Archgroup to provide a complete acoustical consulting package: design recommendations consisting of CAD details and specification supplements, product approval, construction supervision, and commissioning measurements. Extensive noise and vibration controls were provided for the building’s MEP systems. Special curtain wall considerations were developed to attenuate noise from nearby Sheikh Zayed Road and to bring isolation between rooms in line with a 5-star standard. Space layout, room shape, and finishing materials for the facility’s large auditorium were designed to optimize circulation, sound isolation, and speech intelligibility.
Emirates Palace Hotel, Abu Dhabi
As one of the most luxurious hotels in the world, the Emirates Palace features very low levels of background noise. Acoustical measurements were conducted upon completion of construction to confirm that conservative Noise Criteria (NC) design targets had been met in shared areas of the hotel.
Sofitel Jumeirah Hotel and Beach Resort, Dubai
The Sofitel Jumeirah, located in the midst of the Jumeirah Beach Residence Development, was designed by the International Group of Canadian-based Norr Limited Consultants. It features 450 sea-facing rooms, several meeting rooms, and a ballroom. Acoustical design elements included: meeting strict background Noise Criteria (NC) through MEP noise and vibration control, improving speech intelligibility through the treatment of sound reverberation, and achieving sound isolation between rooms by designing appropriate wall constructions and crosstalk attenuation.
Manhattan Hotel, Dubai
A major design consideration prior to the renovation of the Manhattan Hotel
in Deira was that sound from the bar might propagate through structure-borne
paths and intrude into guest rooms above. Following thorough measurements of
sound transmission, a resiliently isolated room-within-room construction including
floating floors, acoustical walls and ceilings, and attenuated HVAC ducting
was designed to considerably improve the attenuation of bar noise
Al Zahra Hospital on Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai
Designed by architects RSP, the new Al Zahra Hospital, currently under construction,
will provide premium healthcare services in an extravagantly designed setting.
The acoustical design and specification package includes both MEP system noise
and vibration reduction and architectural treatments to ensure compliance with
international standards and to reduce the chance of occupant disturbance. Since
the hospital faces Sheikh Zayed Road and features a helicopter landing pad,
particular attention was paid to the design of the exterior shell and glazing
to improve isolation from outdoor environmental noise.
Takreer Industrial Plant, Abu Dhabi
A part of most large industrial developments is an Environmental Assessment,
in which the impact that a facility will have on its surroundings is examined.
On this project, both short-term acoustical surveying and long-term noise monitoring
was conducted to establish baseline noise levels. Working around the clock
under extreme desert conditions, measurements were taken along the site perimeter
as well as at numerous critical receptor locations in nearby communities.
Zayed University, Dubai
The new Zayed University at Al Ruwaiyah, designed by HOK Group Inc. and Shankland
Cox, is a prestigious educational institution for Emirati students. Its complete
facilities for 15,000 students include an architecturally prominent tower intended
as a central gathering space. The tower has the unusual shape of an elliptical
cone and features balconies and overhead walkways. Acoustical treatment requirements
for interior surfaces were calculated to prevent excessive reverberation and
focused specular reflections, which could otherwise reduce speech intelligibility.
Material specifications were provided to assist the coordination of acoustical
and architectural requirements.
Acoustics Division Director
TOM NEUDORFL, BASc
Mr. Neudorfl earned his degree in Mechanical Engineering, with a specialization
in acoustics, at the University of British Columbia, Canada.
Since 1998, he has been designing and building high-performance custom audio
equipment including loudspeakers and tube amplifiers. In 2002 and 2003, he worked
as an acoustical and audio system designer at Douglas Welch Design Associates
Ltd. in Vancouver, British Columbia, where he contributed to several renowned
Canadian projects such as the Jubilee Auditoria in Calgary and Edmonton, the
Vertigo MysteryTheatre in Calgary, and the Christ
Church Cathedral in Vancouver.
Simultaneously, his Vancouver-based proprietorship Sonoscape Acoustics Co. provided
room acoustics consulting to recording studios in BC and in the Czech Republic.
During this time, he also served on the executive committee of the Vancouver
Chapter of the Audio Engineering Society.
In the spring of 2003, Mr. Neudorfl joined Aercoustics
Engineering Limited and applied himself to a wide range
of acoustical work. In Toronto, under the guidance of
Aercoustics partner John O’Keefe, he worked as
lead designer on the Young Centre
for the Performing Arts and the St.
Elizabeth High School. He also contributed
to other prestigious developments including the Four
Seasons Centre for Performing Arts, the Royal
Conservatory of Music Concert Hall, and the Art
Gallery of Ontario renovation.
In September 2004, Mr. Neudorfl transferred to the Aercoustics
office in Dubai, UAE, where he held the administrative
position of Regional Manager and the technical position
of Chief Engineer. Acoustical work completed under his
leadership includes projects such as the Rose
Rotana Hotel on Sheikh Zayed Road, the Points
Restaurant at
Dubai Marina, JBR Sector 2, Dubai
Marina Sectors 4 & 7,
Dubai Studio City, and the Dubai Sky Gardens.
