Sound insulation: Possibilities and Applications
It is possible to reduce noises that come from within or outside of a building substantially by using sound insulation. What kind of insulation and what type of technique should be used depends on the construction of the building as well as the source of the sound. This article examines the causes of noise nuisance and the applications of soundproof insulation in terms of its use.
How Sound Insulation Works
First of all, the thickness of the wall is very important in order to exclude sound; the thicker the wall, the better the sound will be blocked.
It is, however, not always possible to build a very thick wall. In order to install sound insulation, one often applies the ‘mass-spring-mass principle’. There are two masses (the inner and outer walls) surrounded by a spring. In order to reduce the sound levels even further, an insulation material can be placed between the two masses, either in the form of air or an insulation layer.
In addition to leaving a layer of air behind the insulation, one also leaves a layer of air on the wall.
The best way to reduce the amount of sound transmission between the mattresses and the floor is to have a soft spring. This way, the sound can be absorbed better. Aa material like mineral wool is therefore more suitable than a solid sound insulation board.
The insulation material must be quite heavy. This way, it will be able to absorb the sound waves better. It goes without saying that a thick layer of the same material will absorb better than a thin layer of the same material. If the weight of the insulation material is high, it will absorb better than a thin layer.
To Insulate Against the Noise
I think it is important to note that depending on the source of the noise, the type of insulation method and the choice of insulation material will strongly impact the choice of insulation method. Noise pollution inside of the house can arise in three different ways:
1) Structure-borne Sound
Vibrations that occur in the building construction process are referred to as structure-borne noises, as they are transmitted from the building itself. When these vibrations are transmitted, they will cause the air to tremble, which will be what we hear. These vibrations can be experienced on either the inside or outside of a house. You can perceive the vibrations clearly when a heavy truck passes your house, for example.
In the interior of a house, a moving table is an example of a structure-borne noise that can be heard.
In order for you to successfully eliminate structure-borne sound from your home, you will need to create a whole insulation shell in your house in order to reduce this type of sound. It is very important to install sound insulation in order to reduce this type of sound. You can provide soundproof insulation to your ceiling, for example, if you live in an apartment and are subjected to noise pollution by your upstairs neighbor.
However, this will hardly help if your house does not have any insulation on the walls. The vibrations that are generated by the sound of your house will then still be able to reach your house through the walls.
Having a complete insulation shell is crucial to the integrity of your home. For this reason, it is very important that you check for air leaks (for example around windows or doors) and ensure that the insulation material has not been damaged. If it is not properly soundproofed, it will lose its soundproofing properties. You can request and compare price offers on our quote page for free if you wish to have structure-borne noise removed.
2) Hearing Sounds Travelling Through the Air
There are many advantages of fighting airborne sound as opposed to structure-borne sound, since in the case of airborne sound, the noise simply moves through the air without causing vibrations in the construction of the building. Because of this, it is much easier to fight airborne sound as compared to structure-borne sound.
You are also capable of obtaining airborne sounds from both inside and outside of your home. As an example of airborne sound outside of a house, children playing on the street are an example of external airborne sounds, whereas a television can be a good example of airborne sound inside the house. It is easier to deal with airborne sounds than it is to deal with structure-borne sounds.
3) Improving Sound Quality
It is possible to improve the sound perception inside a room by investing in acoustic insulation if you wish to enhance it. The importance of good acoustics can be found in offices and music studios, for example. Acoustic insulation can be applied in many different ways. In this article you will learn about the many possibilities that exist in the area of acoustic insulation.
That way, you can easily compare price offers. The only thing you need to do is fill in a short form to get started. Do you want to have a sound insulation installed by a professional? On our quote page, you can request free and non-binding quotes from insulation experts in your region.
Where to Install Soundproof Insulation?
1) Soundproofing the Walls
In order to soundproof a wall, it is often necessary to build a false wall in order to insulate the wall from both inside and outside. One often builds a false wall in order to soundproof the wall.
It is necessary to build a frame in front of a existing wall in order to construct a false wall. This frame is then insulated with insulation material and plaster boarded. Any sound that is emitted through the exterior wall will be absorbed by the insulation. In terms of the sound that still manages to pass through the completed wall, the remaining sound will have been significantly reduced (mass-spring-mass principle).
2. Floor Insulation for Sound
Installing an insulation material beneath the floor is especially suited to block the sound that comes from structure-borne sounds, although it can also reduce the sound that comes from airborne sound. In fact, polyethylene is a commonly used insulation material for solid floors.
Hollow wooden floors can be insulated using an insulation material like glass wool under the floor finish if they are hollow wooden floors. A floating floor is another option that can also be used as a soundproofing floor, and a layer of sound-absorbing material is placed between the floor bearing structure and the screed in order to provide soundproofing properties.
3) Soundproof Ceiling
It depends on your upstairs neighbour whether his floor is soundproof. However, you can still choose to provide the ceiling with sound insulation. If you live in an apartment, it depends on your upstairs neighbour whether his floor is soundproof.
A suspended ceiling is a frequently occurring application in this case. By connecting the new finishing layer (for example, plasterboards) to the existing ceiling through the means of a wooden or metal frame, the ceiling can be transformed.
In many cases, insulation professionals will install sound insulation between the new ceiling finish and the old ceiling layer. Glass wool is a popular option for this purpose.
In addition to noise insulation, you should also invest in high-quality glass as well. This is another important factor when it comes to reducing the sound from the outside when it comes to creating an entire insulation shell. As well as improving your home’s thermal performance, low-E glass (low-emissivity) will also increase its thermal efficiency.
Sound Insulation Materials
The materials that are used to block sound have already been discussed in this article, and some of them have already been discussed in the following. In the following, you can read more about these materials:
It is important to note that even though glass wool is primarily used for thermal insulation, it also exhibits excellent soundproofing properties. Especially on roofs, glass wool can be a better choice when it comes to sound insulation than rigid insulation boards, because of its large mass, which is able to absorb a large amount of noise. When you think of fiberglass insulation, you need to be aware that it requires a lot of space in order to be installed.
It can be used for all types of flooring, walls, and ceilings as well as for outdoor applications.
1)Glass Wool: insulation is usually supplied in the shape of semi-rigid insulation sheets. With this type of insulation, the installation is easy, and they are excellent at absorbing noise.
2) Polyethylene: polyethylene is especially used to create a soundproof floor. Polyethylene is two times stronger than polyethylene and it is much cheaper to produce. Next to that, this material is resistant to moisture and very low or very high temperatures.
3) Other Materials: next to glass wool and polyethylene, there are many other materials which can serve as sound insulation in your house or office. Cork and rock wool, for example, have good soundproof and sound-absorbing properties as well.
Which material suits your situation best, depends on several factors. For example the location of the insulation (floor, ceiling or wall), the available space and your budget will determine the choice of material.
