A brick that cures sick, noisy buildings
Media release 31 May 2004
 A breakthrough in sustainable office and house design – invented in Sydney
“Silenceair looks like a
transparent brick but it’s a high-tech solution to one of the biggest problems
of city living,” says Fresh Innovator Dr Chris Field.
“Cities are noisy. When we
block the noise from our offices and homes, we usually reduce the ventilation or
use noisy air conditioners to circulate fresh air – the result is sick buildings
and people.”
Silenceair uses patented
passive technology to allow fresh air into buildings while leaving 85% of the
noise behind.
Chris developed the concept during his doctoral research
at the University of Sydney. Now he plans to take it to the world – starting
with an invitation to speak in Prague at the world’s largest noise control
conference.
Chris’s work has already won him a place at Fresh
Innovators – a national initiative to bring the work of 16 early career
innovators to public attention. Following training in Sydney in May, the sixteen
are talking to the media, schools and business about their ideas. One of the 16
will win a study tour to the UK courtesy of the British Council Australia.
"Urban life involves a compromise between convenience and
proximity to noise," says Chris. "Part of that compromise is deciding whether to
have the window open or shut. Research on sick-building syndrome highlights the
issues of working in buildings that rely on closed windows and mechanical
ventilation."
Silenceair is a brick that can be inserted into buildings
to allow the natural passage of air while reducing the noise from the outside by
up to 85%. The device is environmentally friendly because it uses no power –
just a patented configuration of passive resonators. It can even be made
transparent to allow natural illumination.
"With the increasing awareness of “sick building
syndrome” there is mounting demand for naturally ventilated buildings,” says
Chris. “But open windows also bring in outside noise, which becomes unacceptable
in noisy urban areas where most people work.”
“A device that allows natural ventilation without
compromising noise attenuation represents a breakthrough in sustainable office
design,” says Tristram Carfrae, Principal of Arup Australasia, the engineering
firm who employs Chris as a senior consultant and who have been very supportive
of his work. Arup Australasia is recognised as a world leader in sustainable
design and undertook the structural design of the Sydney Opera House.
In August Chris will speak at Inter-Noise 2004 in Prague,
one of the largest international gatherings of experts in noise control.
“Silenceair has received a lot of interest in overseas
markets, particularly in Europe and the US, so I hope to see my 10
years of research turn into a manufactured product soon.”
About the
Inventors
The Silenceair concept was first developed through Dr Chris
Field's doctoral research at the University of Sydney under the supervision of
Associate Professor Fergus Fricke. Associate Professor Fricke has since retired
from the University's School of Architecture. A company, Silenceair
International, led by Chris Matthews, has been established to commercialise
Chris’ work.
Photos: High resolution photos and technical
specifications available on request. Prototype available for viewing.
For interview or more information: Dr Chris Field M: 0417
493 832 or Associate Professor Fergus Fricke (02) 9351 4877 or Tristram Carfrae
(02) 9320 9320
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