Acoustic standart, insulation, DIY

Acoustic Insulation

Noise pollution can have a significant impact on people’s health. Those living and working in cities are especially vulnerable, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO)1.

Controlling noise levels at the source is not always possible – but quality sound insulation of the building envelope can offer a valuable solution.

Outside noise from traffic or aircraft – for example – can be significantly blocked out by proper installation in the roof or building façade.

Insulation within a building, meanwhile, can improve privacy and avoid annoyance from sounds in adjacent properties, such as music or footsteps from an apartment above.

Especially useful when installed in separating floors and walls between different spaces in a block of flats or office complex, sound insulation boards, or granulate can be applied to reduce the amount of noise intruding into a living or working environment.

Read on to learn about ROCKWOOL acoustic solutions.

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Why do we need acoustic insulation?

Noise affects health and wellbeing in many ways, from accelerating hearing loss to disrupting sleep and reducing productivity levels.

According to the WHO, around 40 percent of people aged 12 to 35 could be exposed to unsafe sound levels from entertainment venues2 - while noise from traffic in towns and cities is also cited as cause for concern3

Sound insulation can protect those living and working in buildings against exposure. Whether installed in the walls and floors at a major music venue, in busy offices or between urban living spaces, it can significantly reduce problems caused by nuisance noise.

Key benefits can include:

  • Protection from external noise
  • Comfort and privacy
  • Reduction of sound transmission and vibration passing through building elements
  • Applications for both renovation projects and new builds

 

How much do I need?

Building acoustics focus on sound transmission mainly through the building envelope (façade and roof), as well as internal walls, floors and ceilings.

Transmission loss (TL) or Sound Reduction Index (R) express the effectiveness of blocking sound, which is frequency-dependent.

This is expressed in decibels (dB). The higher the loss, the better the insulation works as a barrier to unwanted noise.

The amount of acoustic insulation roll, slabs, granulates or panels required will depend on the material you choose, the size of the area being insulated and how much direct, flanking and other sound transmission there is.

  • Direct sound transmission – passes straight through the wall, ceiling or floor.
  • Flanking sound transmission – passes around, over the top or under the primary partition separating two spaces (passing through building elements adjoining the main separating elements).
  • Other sound transmission – leakage through poorly sealed doors and windows, brickwork and uninsulated pipelines.

Use our local tools or consult our local experts to find the right solution for your project.

Use our ROCKWOOL RT60 Calculator to determine the acoustic performance of the building, and estimate the acoustic delay value (echo). For more details on technical specifications, visit our ROCKSPEC Specification Toolkit.

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ROCKWOOL insulation can reduce the perceived noise level coming from floors above – including footsteps or furniture movements – up to a factor of eight.

Riccardo Gandolfi

Acoustic Knowledge Manager

Case studies

The challenge

Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) is under construction to accommodate growing travel capacity – in a capital city which more than 30 million people pass through every year.

Local residents in Berlin-Blankenfelde are only a few kilometres from the runways, and many decided to prepare for the increased noise pollution created by the new flight paths.

The solution

Four families approached a local master roofer, Hartmut Quappe, to improve the sound insulation of their homes.

He proposed high-density insulation boards made from ROCKWOOL stone wool for their pitched roofs. These provide confirmed on-site sound insulation of up to 52 dB – and even higher in many cases.

The results

Residents are benefiting from improved acoustic protection, which will reduce the impact of aircraft noise.

As an added bonus, the energy efficient rafter insulation system provides effective thermal insulation – cutting heating costs by up to 30 percent.

Airport, Plane, Departure
From the airport Schönefeld, or passing cars, you hear almost nothing. And I’m also very confident for the upcoming BER air traffic.

Annelies and Joachim

Residents at Berlin-Blankenfelde

Sustainability and energy efficiency

ROCKWOOL sound insulation is made from stone wool – a highly sustainable source that can be indefinitely recycled6.

When a building is renovated or demolished, it can be easily removed and recycled into new products, such is its level of circularity.

 

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Financial support

Tax incentives and other schemes encouraging noise pollution reduction may be available in your country. For further information, contact our local offices.

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FAQs

How well does ROCKWOOL insulation sound proof?
What product is used in party walls for noise control?