Loading Profile...
Twitter,
Facebook, or email.
CHAMP
I've just bought a top (1st floor) flat. The building is around 100 years old and was originally a family home before being converted into two flats around 30 years ago. I'm having my flat completely renovated. The floorboards are currently up and I can see that there is no insulation whatsoever. Literally just my downstairs neighbours ceiling, void where the joists are and then the floorboards for my flat. It is no surprise that my neighbour and I can currently hear every, and I mean every, word of each others conversation. I've not yet moved in and wish to get this sorted asap.
What is the best way to insulate for acoustics bearing in mind that I'm on a limited budget as I still have to complete the renovation. What realistic difference can be achieved between the bronze and silver floor sound proofing insulation options. I've looked for test data on your site but was unable to find this.
I’m
indifferent
Soundproofing a floor void in my flat
Official
Response
-
EMPLOYEE
I’m
confident
To upgrade your separating floor to meet today's standards of noise control, both the ceiling, between the joists and the floor would require work and involve the installation of a floating floor that will increase the height of existing flooring. If this was possible the floor could be upgraded to have a minimum airborne insulation value of 43dB and a maximum impact insulation value of 64dB.
It is unlikely you will meet this level of soundproofing by just installing sound insulation between the joists but the Bronze and Silver systems are worthwhile in the absence of any further work.
The Silver system uses our SoundBlocker Quilt which is up to four times more efficient than the normal 100mm of mineral wool often used instead. In addition, the system also benefits from an additional layer of 1mm thick SoundBlocker Membrane, a sound barrier mat that is fixed across the tops of the joists. SoundBlocker Quilt also has this membrane sandwiched within it so in effect, there is a double layer of barrier mat combined with sound absorbing mineral wool. This insulation system is one of the best you can expect between the joists and is expected to give up to a 10dB improvement depending on the make up of the existing floor system.
The Bronze system replicates the Silver Floor system by replacing the SoundBlocker Quilt with normal 50mm layers of AMW50 acoustic mineral wool with our SoundBlocker Membrane sandwiched between the layers and lapped over the joists. No additional SoundBlocker Membrane is used. This system has the advantage of being much cheaper than the Silver system and will still give good results of up to an 8dB improvement.
It is not possible to give you an estimated final insulation value of a floor with these systems installed because every floor is different. This is why when a building is being converted into flats, the change of use requirements mean that every floor between each flat has to be subjected to a pre-completion sound test to prove compliance and to show the floors meet the minimum sound insulation requirements.
For those that do not understand how noise is measured, on a straight line scale, every 3dB reduction is equal to a 50% reduction in noise, so in theory, a 6dB reduction is equal to a 75% reduction.
If you are still unsure about what you are doing or feel you need some more technical advice I suggest you email our technical team tech@soundservice.co.uk or you can call them on 0845 363 7131 (Option 2) from our main menu.
-
EMPLOYEE
I’m
confident
To upgrade your separating floor to meet today's standards of noise control, both the ceiling, between the joists and the floor would require work and involve the installation of a floating floor that will increase the height of existing flooring. If this was possible the floor could be upgraded to have a minimum airborne insulation value of 43dB and a maximum impact insulation value of 64dB.
It is unlikely you will meet this level of soundproofing by just installing sound insulation between the joists but the Bronze and Silver systems are worthwhile in the absence of any further work.
The Silver system uses our SoundBlocker Quilt which is up to four times more efficient than the normal 100mm of mineral wool often used instead. In addition, the system also benefits from an additional layer of 1mm thick SoundBlocker Membrane, a sound barrier mat that is fixed across the tops of the joists. SoundBlocker Quilt also has this membrane sandwiched within it so in effect, there is a double layer of barrier mat combined with sound absorbing mineral wool. This insulation system is one of the best you can expect between the joists and is expected to give up to a 10dB improvement depending on the make up of the existing floor system.
The Bronze system replicates the Silver Floor system by replacing the SoundBlocker Quilt with normal 50mm layers of AMW50 acoustic mineral wool with our SoundBlocker Membrane sandwiched between the layers and lapped over the joists. No additional SoundBlocker Membrane is used. This system has the advantage of being much cheaper than the Silver system and will still give good results of up to an 8dB improvement.
It is not possible to give you an estimated final insulation value of a floor with these systems installed because every floor is different. This is why when a building is being converted into flats, the change of use requirements mean that every floor between each flat has to be subjected to a pre-completion sound test to prove compliance and to show the floors meet the minimum sound insulation requirements.
For those that do not understand how noise is measured, on a straight line scale, every 3dB reduction is equal to a 50% reduction in noise, so in theory, a 6dB reduction is equal to a 75% reduction.
If you are still unsure about what you are doing or feel you need some more technical advice I suggest you email our technical team tech@soundservice.co.uk or you can call them on 0845 363 7131 (Option 2) from our main menu.Comment -
