Acoustiblok Installed in the BIA-Hawaii's Construction Training Center

WAIPAHU, Hawaii, March 16, 2011 – Architects forecasting the needs of the Construction Training Center of the Pacific (CTC) in Waipahu, Hawaii determined early in the design phase that soundproofing would be a necessity in the center's classrooms.

Armed with mounting evidence of the detrimental effects of industrial and construction noise on workers and nearby residents, and presented with the opportunity to teach by example, more than 4,700 square feet of sound abatement material was donated and installed in the classroom walls of the 16,000 square-foot facility.

The Acoustiblok was installed during the construction phase, providing much-needed sound deadening to the entire center complex, located in Waipahu's Mill Town Center.

The workforce development arm of the Building Industry of America (BIA)-Hawaii, the non-profit CTC provides comprehensive training, education, career counseling and other related support services to people on the pre-apprenticeship level to establish career goals and to qualify for entry-level positions. It also offers continuing education courses to post-apprenticeship workers looking to expand their job and management skills. Programs include coursework in safety training, certification and business management.

"BIA is very pleased with how the Acoustiblok material functions and we are very thankful for their generous donation," said Karen T. Nakamura, CEO of the Building Industry Association of Hawaii.

"This past year, we have trained more than 1,800 developers, builders, contractors, suppliers, government officials and business owners who have experienced the Acoustiblok material in every classroom," Nakamura added. "They were told about this material and are amazed at the quality of our building."

Acoustiblok has been proven effective in reducing construction and industrial noise exposure. This type of noise often exceeds limits recommended by the World Health
Organization and contributes to noise-induced hearing loss. As information about the health risks of construction and industrial noise</a> mounts, more and more architects, builders and contractors are including noise abatement in their designs as a preemptive measure to avoid the possibility of future noise-related complaints and resulting litigation.

Adding one, 3 mm layer of the UL approved Acoustiblok to a standard stud wall can result in more sound reduction than 12-inches of poured concrete.

As the heavy, limp Acoustiblok material vibrates from the sound, it actually "transforms" the acoustical energy into "inaudible friction energy" in a process referred to as "isothermal adiabatic." Lead, previously considered the best soundproofing material, works on precisely the same basis and has exactly the same STC sound reduction rating.

The Acoustiblok installed within the CTC classroom walls proved so effective, an Acoustiblok demo is on display in one of the classrooms and is used as a teaching aid.

The goals of the CTC are first to reach out to communities at large, women, youth, minority and disadvantaged groups and to provide continuing education to the construction industry. This continuing education includes promotion of a safe work environment and participation in comprehensive designation programs that promote entrepreneurship and company success.

"This project lends itself to promoting further education within the building industry on inter-office privacy and noise pollution," said Lahnie Johnson, founder and president of Acoustiblok, Inc. "We're proud to be a part of it."

For more information or to view a video demonstration of Acoustiblok's sound deadening capabilities, visit our website, call 813.980.1400, or E-mail sales@acoustiblok.com.