ACOUSTIC INSULATION OF PARTITIONS
Are you interested in testing the acoustic insulation of partitions, or maybe acoustic analysis?
Do you suspect that the designer has designed the walls incorrectly?
Do you have the impression that the ceilings have not been installed properly and the noise penetrates them excessively?
Do you feel that the standards are exceeded?
Are you interested in sound permeability through partitions in a building?
Do you suspect too much noise from a neighbor or from an adjacent room?
If you need help in this area, Ekomeritum will be happy to help you!
Acoustic Insulation
Acoustic insulation of ceilings and walls is quite often performed.
Our offer is addressed to both companies and individuals.
The measurement makes it possible to determine whether the partitions made have the correct parameters and whether their execution complies with the acoustic standards applicable in our country.
The value of sound insulation of partitions (e.g. ceilings and walls) has a fundamental impact on feeling of comfort not only in residential buildings and houses, but also in offices. Sleeping or working indoors is very difficult in conditions of high acoustic vibrations. If the sound insulation is too low, you can hear conversations in neighboring rooms, working television sets or audio equipment, and even in some cases, surprisingly enough, the sound of a light switch.
Despite the fact that values regarding acoustic insulation have been in force in Poland for years, it still happens that some investors (e.g. developers) do not comply with them, which leads to the partitions failing to meet e.g. walls and ceilings acoustic requirements specified by law.
If an acoustic defect is found, the owner has the right to file a claim with the entity responsible for the investment or the seller (depending on what contract they had signed) for the removal of defects, or for compensation.
If you notice that:
– the insulation of the walls or ceiling in the rooms is insufficient;
Would you like to:
– measure the acoustic insulation of windows or doors,
– increase the acoustic insulation of partitions,
– verify whether the sound insulation, e.g. of ventilation, is properly made
Call us! - Our area of operation is the whole country.
Contact us! - Trust our specialists!
We are available from Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 16:00.
SOUND INSULATION
What is sound insulation?
Acoustic insulation is a parameter showing the difference between the noise on both sides of a particular partition, between the noise inside and outside the room. By "outside" we can mean another room in the building or space outside the building. The standard defines specific, applicable types and values of insulation indexes for partitions, which should be used in the design and construction of partitions.
How can you improve comfort – reduce noise nuisance in the premises where you live or work?
In order to improve the comfort of staying in the room, the possibility of soundproofing the walls, ceilings and floors should be considered. Partitions are designed not only to separate and/or cover what is outside them, but also to inhibit the spread of sounds in the air and the flow of impact sounds, e.g. vibrations from floors, ceilings and adjacent walls.
Where to start to find out if and how the acoustic insulation of partitions differs from generally applicable standards? – offer
We offer measurements and calculations in the field of both sound insulation external partitions (e.g. façades) and internal partitions. In addition, our offer includes impact sound impact measurements (for example, hits inflicted on ceilings). We provide acoustic tests on site (in place of the already installed partition). We are also able to perform calculations on the basis of the submitted data us by the customer information.
We offer the following services:
- acoustic insulation tests of external and internal partitions,
- field testing of acoustic insulation, both inside buildings and the sound insulation of building elements that are part of the building,
- reverberation time research,
also
- using acoustic program used to assess acoustic properties, we are also able to assess the acoustic insulation of a specific, designed structure (internal and external partitions). The above-mentioned software makes it possible to assess the sound insulation of walls, windows, ceilings and floors. Calculates attenuation, sound insulation index, as well as "spectral adaptive: Crt and C" indices, useful when designing.
The software described above enables simulation, thus accelerating the assessment of the use of new, other than previously planned materials and systems - thus facilitating the modeling of the impact of the use of changed, often innovative solutions (construction products) in the designed project.
What to do when, despite the use of good quality materials, we are still disturbed by the noise coming from us?
It happens that the use of the best materials, in our opinion, is not able to provide the effect of acoustic insulation that we had planned. One of the reasons are leaks appearing at the joints compartments. The reasons for these leaks vary, including: :
– losses or deficiencies in connections,
– imprecise fastening of elements, e.g. doors, windows,
– errors in the assembly of entire partitions, e.g. walls, ceilings, floors.
In the above situations, a thermal imaging test can be carried out, which will show the presence of leaks through which the noise penetrates.
What is the purpose of the documentation resulting from the performance of acoustic insulation tests?
When commissioning a building, it pays to commission acoustic insulation tests of partitions together with the preparation of documentation that is the interpretation of these results. This approach will not only be an advantage for the seller in dealing with the buyer, but also in the event of shortcomings and their immediate elimination, minimizes the risk of potential claims resulting from failure to comply with the standards required to meet the acoustic parameters. Insulation tests are also useful already at the design stage of certain subsequent stages of the investment. In the course of a multi-stage investment, the introduction of small changes makes it possible to avoid the need to install extra, often expensive, solutions serving as acoustic protection.
What are acoustic surveys and what are they for?
Acoustic operations are performed on the basis of acoustic modeling of room interiors and computer simulation of the propagation of sound waves there. The aforementioned documentation contains acoustic requirements in terms of permissible noise levels, and also informs about the reverberation time, and verifies the noise emission to the surrounding space. It allows you to create a protection project against various types of installations, including air conditioning or ventilation.
ACOUSTIC PROPERTIES OF MATERIALS
Acoustic properties are the characteristics of materials/products that affect the sound wave penetration through them. In simple terms, it can be said that it is the resistance to the energy of the sound wave. The properties on which this resistance depends include: porosity, elasticity, internal damping in the material, dynamic stiffness of the layers of the medium, bulk weight of the material from which the products/materials are made. The acoustic properties of materials should always be considered taking into account the specific technological solutions planned for use.
Due to their suitability for sound insulation of buildings and rooms (thanks to the material absorption of noise), two types of materials are distinguished - basic and auxiliary. Both types of materials are used to build partitions and construct insulating formations.
Basic are such popular materials as concrete or brick. Their proper selection makes it possible to create partitions with good, often predetermined, acoustic properties.
Auxiliary materials are products that alone do not enable the construction of partitions with the expected acoustic properties, but in combination with other substances or materials they have a chance to fulfill such a function (e.g. mineral wool boards). It could be said that auxiliary materials increase the insulation of partitions / structures made of basic materials.
Basic features building materials that determine the acoustic properties are:
– bulk weight,
– porosity,
– elasticity of the system (expressed by the modulus of elasticity),
– coefficient of internal sound attenuation in the material.
Features that determine insulation properties of the auxiliary materials are:
– dynamic stiffness,
– modulus of elasticity,
– sound absorption coefficient,
– acoustic resistance
– flow resistance.
SOUND INSULATION - What interests the designer? What types of insulation are there?
When designing buildings, the principles of noise protection should be followed.
The designer is interested in the acoustic insulation of the partitions, not the materials they are made of. Analyzing the insulation performance of each material separately is wrong.
Due to the origin of the acoustic energy moving through the partition, the following can be distinguished:
– insulation from airborne sounds – when the partition barrier is stimulated by an acoustic wave spreading in the air medium,
– insulation against impact sounds – when mechanical stimulation of the partition is involved, for example by impacts.
The sound (acoustic) insulation of a partition barrier depends, among others, on from the frequencies passing through the barrier of acoustic waves. The acoustic properties of a barrier are almost always determined by the sound insulation curve.
INSULATION AGAINST IMPACTING AIR SOUNDS.
Rw is a parameter of proper acoustic insulation - it determines the insulation of partitions in relation to the impact of airborne sounds on them and does not depend on the surface area of the partition barrier, but depends on the power of the acoustic wave passing through it.
If the partition separates two rooms with different acoustic fields in terms of dispersion, the value of Rw depends on the difference in sound pressure levels in both rooms separated by a barrier.
Acoustic insulation can be calculated without lateral energy permeability (in principle, in most cases, this applies to laboratory conditions) or with lateral permeability and the determined Rw value in these conditions is then approximate.
R indicatorsw (without the penetration of sound energy through side paths) or R'w (taking into account side sound insulation) are not the only indicators used to determine sound insulation.
In addition, there are also two other indicators R'A1 and R'A2 also in decibels.
To determine the insulation of partition barriers or insulation from airborne sounds between rooms separated by a barrier, the "insulation characteristic" is determined as a function of frequency (defined in octave or one-third bands). There is a generally accepted range of 100 – 3200 Hz. It is extended to the range of 50-5000 Hz, e.g. when we measure industrial or communication noise, which is very often characterized by high sound levels - frequencies lower than 100 Hz.
ACOUSTIC INSULATION - IMPACT SOUNDS.
In the case of sounds from moving objects, walking or rolling on the surface of objects, we determine the acoustic insulation from impact sounds, which usually determines the acoustic properties of ceilings when they are mechanically excited to vibrate.
The acoustic insulation of the ceiling resulting from such sounds is given as Ln . This parameter is the impact level generated in a room located under the ceiling during impacts on the ceiling of vibrations generated by sources of impact sound - for example by a knocker. The shock level is also defined as a characteristic of the shock level, in octave or one-third bands, as a function of frequency. The range from 100 to 3200 Hz is used here, and in case of extension from 50 to 5000 Hz.
How to ensure better acoustic insulation of the interior?
Considering what can be done: soundproofing walls, ceilings and floors brings good results. Walls should stop both airborne and impact noise from vibrations from floors, walls and ceilings.
Regarding ceiling, may prove to be an effective solutione suspended ceiling, made of plasterboard. It will soundproof on not just noises coming from above, but it will also absorb sounds coming from inside the room. The space "between", i.e. above the suspended ceiling, should be filled with insulating material. Silencing materials include: mats, mineral wools, synthetic rubber, insulating foams.
In terms of walls, one of the methods is the use of cladding in a new technology. For example, mineral wool, which is covered with acoustic coatings, can be used. An effective and modern solution is the use of natural cork or wall panels.
It is also important the acoustics of the interior itself – about designing and developing the room in such a way that the wall, on which the TV is placed dispersed the sound adequately.
If we think about floors under panels or carpets, an appropriate type of mat can be used, which has silencing properties for the neighbors living below us. Natural wood does not reflect sound, a absorbs sound, but is usually the most expensive solution.
It is important to take care of the gaps between the floor and the wall, the so-called expansion joints preventing the movement of vibrations between the centers, which are floors and walls.
If you want to complete the soundproofing effect, you should not forget about the fact that the sound has no chance of reflecting off the furniture, floor and walls. Here we can use fabrics, carpets, upholstered furniture, pillows, curtains or curtains, as well as images.
If you need to test the sound insulation, feel free to contact us.
If you know exactly what you want - you will specify it exactly in the inquiry sent to us.
If you do not have knowledge in this area - we will offer you a type of measurement!
The material is for information purposes only and is not an interpretation of the law. Due to possible changes in applicable law, all information provided should be verified and checked for validity.