Lightweight acoustic partition offers flexibility for MATES in Construction

MATES in Construction is dedicated to reducing the number of lives lost to suicide in the construction industry by strengthening workplace communities with on-site training and professional support. They recently moved to a new open plan office in Penrose, and needed an acoustic solution that would allow them to use one end of the space as a training and meeting room.

It was important for the MATES team that the partition chosen would offer acoustic and visual separation to ensure privacy and minimise disruption to other areas of the office. It also needed to be durable to withstand use by staff largely working in construction. And with a rented space in an existing commercial building, affordability and the ability to retrofit the system were also key. DuraSound’s STC 43 perfectly met these criteria.

DuraSound is an aluminium accordion partition door which features a twin walled design, with an acoustic insulation blanket lining both walls. The system achieves an STC 43 acoustic rating — the same as many plasterboard linings, and a Group S-2 fire rating. The light weight of the system makes it ideal for retrofit applications such as the MATES office, where the top-hung design could be incorporated into the existing grid.

“Tying into an existing suspended ceiling is always tricky, as you can’t be involved from the outset and put steel beams in place. Our DuraSound partition is light — it weighs just 18kg per metre square — which allowed us to work with the builder to develop a system that connects with the existing ceiling grid.”

— Nick Askelund, Director, Moveable Partitions Australia

Specified in Matt Gull Grey, the 8m accordion door was manufactured to measure and then installed on site by the MPA team. With no floor track, the top-hung bi-parting door provides a subtle solution — stacking to each side of the space when not in use, and closing in seconds to separate the space when needed.

“The DuraSound acoustic partition has been an integral part of our office fit-out. It has enabled us to enjoy the benefits of an open plan office environment while also having the flexibility to quickly transform one end of the office into a dedicated Training & Meeting Room. It is easy to operate, and we can slide the partition across the 8m wide room in seconds.”

— Jacqui Swan, MATES in Construction

Having enjoyed their new office for over a year, the MATES team are pleased with the flexibility the DuraSound partition gives them. The acoustic performance of the accordion door has significantly contributed to the overall functionality of their office space, enabling them to maximise their floor plan design