Acoustic Insulation

Effective acoustic insulation is important in any residential or commercial building, to help create a comfortable and safe environment.

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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

Relevant resources

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.

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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

Applications

Insulation

Roof Insulation

We supply an array of roof insulation products for any type of build, increasing energy efficiency. Discover the benefit of ROCKWOOL roof solutions today.

Insulation

Floor Insulation

ROCKWOOL floor insulation is made from premium stone wool and can improve a building’s thermal and acoustic performance. Discover its benefits today.

Insulation

Ceiling Insulation

Effective ceiling insulation helps to retain heat and absorb sound between separating floors. Discover the benefits of ROCKWOOL products and solutions.

Insulation

Interior Wall Insulation

Interior wall insulation reduces heating bills and boosts indoor comfort. Discover the benefits and strengths of ROCKWOOL wall applications today.

Insulation

Exterior Wall Insulation

Exterior walls are key for combatting heat loss in buildings. Improve energy efficiency – and gain other benefits – with ROCKWOOL external wall insulation.

Insulation

HVAC Insulation

HVAC insulation reduces energy loss for central heating systems, piping and ventilation ducts in large constructions.

Installation

ROCKWOOL sound insulation can be applied using acoustic insulation rolls, slabs, boards, granulates or batts.

After building a stud wall, for example, you can easily slot products within to reduce sound transmission between adjacent spaces.

Building or renovating a suspended ceiling, meanwhile, is a good way of installing sound insulation for the ceiling, or to protect a floor below.

For flanking sound transmission, a ROCKWOOL sound insulation slab can be easily fitted around cables, pipes and sockets without leaving gaps that would otherwise reduce performance.

Key tips:

Prepare your surface – Build a stud wall or suspended ceiling first, to make sure there’s room for installing acoustic insulation boards or other products.
Measure the space – Take measurements of the wall, floor or ceiling being insulated to get the right amount of material.
Check for leakage – See if there are areas where sound escapes outside of the main wall, floor or ceiling, and if a solution is required.

Inspiration and guides for professionals

Sustainability and energy efficiency

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

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

ROCKWOOL products also help protect buildings against noise pollution. By significantly cutting the decibel level entering homes and workplaces from external aircraft, trains and traffic – as well as other intrusive sounds – our solutions can play a key role in improving quality of life in living and working environments.

8 facts about the circularity of stone wool

Downloads and resources

By Gary Madaras

Acoustics

Sound absorption

Wellbeing

Soundproofing

Sound Absorption - Create Comfort in Open Environments

Sound absorption is an important component for meeting the unique acoustic needs of your room or building design. We provide a complete best-practices guide in this article.

By Brendan Knapman

Acoustics

Sound insulation/ blocking

Sound absorption

Soundproofing

Using Acoustic Insulation to Soundproof a Room

Managing interior noise doesn’t have to be complicated. We cover how to use acoustic insulation as part of your wall assemblies within homes and buildings to reduce the sound transmission between rooms and soundproof your room.