EARL MULLINS, PE
Principal Acoustical Consultant

Expertise
Mr. Mullins consults in the following areas of expertise:

  • environmental noise measurements, analysis and mitigation
  • acoustical aspects of commercial building systems
  • acoustical issues in multi-family housing
  • industrial noise measurements and analysis
  • expert witness testimony and technical support

 

Prior to founding MULLINS ACOUSTICS in 1990, he was a senior staff consultant and project manager for two different major San Francisco consulting firms.  He is a registered Professional Engineer in Alaska (# ME 8897), California (#M25810) and Idaho (#13107).

Education
Bachelor of Science - Mechanical Engineering,   Michigan Technological University, August 1983

Project Experience
Mr. Mullins has been the primary acoustical consultant on over 2900 different projects since 1984. Typical projects include office buildings, research facilities, hotels, conference rooms, training centers, medical facilities, environmental noise studies, university buildings, and multi-family housing.  He also has worked extensively implementing acoustical treatments in construction environments.

Special project experience includes remedial / retrofit noise control engineering for existing noise problems, radio TV and recording studio design, acoustical design of luxury single family homes, expert witness, impact testing (IIC) in condos, and noise assessment for shooting ranges.  Details regarding specific projects are available on request.

Since 2012, Mr. Mullins has been a guest lecturer for the Construction Administration program at Boise State University.

Publications
"Plumbing Noise in Buildings", presented to the Institute of Noise Control Engineers annual meeting, December 1989. This paper contains the first published criteria for plumbing noise in dwellings in the United States, and suggests a test method for rating plumbing fixtures.

"Noise Control: Materials & Applications", Construction Specifier magazine (CSI), June 1994. This article covers the fundamentals of sound and vibration, and discusses the proper application of noise control materials. Also discussed are surprisingly common misuses of acoustical treatments.

"Sound Transmission Control in the UBC", Building Standards magazine (ICBO), March/April 1996, discussing the STC and IIC requirements contained in the Uniform Building Code and how they apply to residential construction.

Organizations
American Society of Heating, Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), American Institute of Architects (Professional Affiialte), Institute of Noise Control Engineers