Principles And Methods Of Acoustic Insulation

by Mark Row

Soundproofing: Obligatory and useful

Acoustic insulation has become a necessity now days, not only because it is very important to soundproof our home and protect it from potential sources of noise pollution but also because it has become obligatory, according to the applicable regulations, that is Building Regulations Part E, with a single goal of increasing sound insulation. This is why it is good to know the basic principles and methods of acoustic insulation, which is proven to be very useful in both commercial and residential buildings.

Acoustic insulation or soundproofing usually refers to methods and materials used in order of reducing the noise transmission from one area to another and to improve sound quality inside the room, but also reducing some side effects like resonances and echoes. Namely, sound waves travel until they come to a certain resistance point, like a ceiling, floor or a wall. Basically using insulation materials helps reducing or absorbing the sound, since these work as barriers that absorb, dampen or reflect the sound waves pressure.  They simply deflect and partially absorb the sound waves and thus reduce the sound level.

Before soundproofing your home, it is important to be aware of potential noise sources and identify these, since different method or acoustic insulation material should be used depending on the source of the noise you want to decrease. Noise can come from both external sources where noise is transmitted through wall and ceiling and internal sources, coming from inside your living space or the rest of the building, transmitted through internal wall, floors or ceilings. The next step would be identifying the kind and material that the surface transmitting the noise is made of in order of choosing the proper insulation material.

Namely, different ways of acoustic insulation are used for floors, external or internal wall, ceilings or even small gaps and cracks in your windows and doors, just as there is difference between concrete, bricks, blocks, plasterboards etc. While you can successfully insulate your floor by simply adding a carpet, your walls and ceilings may use additional attention, from using insulating foam or fiberglass, using external wall covering to using mineral wool insulating products. Finally, you should define the acceptable maximum level of noise (perceived in dB) and thus choose the best acoustic insulator. Basically there are certain average noise levels, depending on the type of noise. Therefore, average noise level of loud music is 80dB, while traffic makes averagely 70 to 100dB, but the level of noise should anyhow be under 140dB.

Insulation London offers you a wide set of insulation products, made by leading manufacturers of insulation products, some especially design to make your home soundproof, other for not only substantial acoustic but also thermal performance, helping your home stay warm and protected. For example, our Resilient Bar is designed to improve the sound insulation of ceilings (with amazing performance with suspended high mass ceilings) and plasterboard walls, while Knauf Soundshield plasterboard (link) can be used in any place where sound insulation is especially important, such as ceiling acoustic floors and partitions. You can also find Knauf and Rockwool Insulation Slabs as rock mineral wool slabs, available in a whole set of different density and thicknesses, with both thermal and acoustic performance or glass mineral wool Knauf and URSA Acoustic Insulation Rolls, as being very lightweight and resilient, providing a high level of sound absorption, while improving the thermal and fire performance, used for both new or existing buildings projects.

By choosing one of the insulating products offered here, you will not only be in compliance with the regulation, but also protect yours and the health of your family, since studies have shown that continuously increased level of noise can cause high levels of annoyance and stress, hypertension or even hear loss. Also bearing in mind the basic characteristics of some the products, it can help you not only stay calm and sleep peacefully, but also stay warm or cold, whatever is necessary. 

Feel free to share your opinion on Acoustic Insulation in the comments section below. I will be happy to answer all your questions.