Inside buildings, the recommended maximum average for indoor background noise levels is 35 dB (A). In practice many tenants suffer from noise above this level because their building hasn’t been sufficiently sound proofed. Further improvements of national requirements – and especially their implementation - are needed.

It is not unusual to see noise reduction building standards that haven’t been improved for several decades. Lack of sound proofi ng not only reduces the quality of life of the pestered neighbour. It also prevents many of us from free expression of music and other happy, noisy activities.

Sound insulation in multi-storey buildings
Are you being driven crazy by the tapping of footsteps from the upstairs apartment, or by the sound of flute scales next door? Your neighbours are not the problem – rather, the sound proofing of your home is inadequate, says professor in acoustics, Jens Holger Rindel, who received the Danish Rockwool award 2005 of €20,000 for his work on sound insulation in multi-storey buildings.

Read the interview ... (PDF 191 KB)