ACOUSTIC FLOOR | SOUNDPROOFING FLOORS

Acoustic floor significantly reduces the impact of noise on building occupants, by cutting sound transfer between neighbouring spaces. Acoustic floors have an important contribution when it comes to reducing noise in buildings. Generally speaking, the best way to reduce sound is at the source. Having said that, acoustic flooring must prevent the transmission of two types of noise. Impact Sound - whether from foot traffic or vibrating machinery and Airborne Sound - airborne sound typically stems from people, speakers and instruments. To soundproof this floor, we need to build in a dampening system for impact and vibration noise and add mass to block airborne noise. This is normally achieved by adding high mass/density products. Without this, the addition of the mass will have very little effect on impact noise. Soundproofing the floor in flats can be done in two ways. Either by filling high-density insulation below floor and between joists such as Rockwool RW45 of Knauf RS100 or by installing acoustic chipboard flooring system on top of existing floor system such as JCW Acoustic Deck 28. This is also known as a ‘direct to joist’ type of acoustic flooring. Acoustic floor boards come in certain thicknesses such as 19mm, 28mm or 32mm. Acoustic decking can be overlaid onto flat timber or concrete floors. 

TYPES OF ACOUSTIC FLOOR INSULATION

DIRECT TO JOIST

JCW offers a direct to joist acoustic flooring systems. While JCW Acoustic Deck 19 comprises a 9mm moisture resistant MDF board and 10mm pre-bonded resilient layer, 28 Deck system comprises an 18mm P5 T&G Chipboard with a 10mm pre-bonded resilient layer. JCW Acoustic Deck 32 is the thickest deck system offering a 22mm P5 T&G Chipboard with 10mm resilient layer. The acoustic systems made by JCW offer reduction in Impact Sound Transmission of ΔLw18. JCW acoustic decking has been tested in a UKAS accreditation laboratory.

Sound proofing and deadening Rubber Acoustic Tiles are also a good option that can go directly on existing floors. It is a high density, polymer based, soundproofing and sound deadening rubber sheet that provides excellent sound deadening properties. However, each tile weighs 30kg, so this is something to consider when youare about to use such a product. Average size room in a UK house is 18m2. Figure 18m2 x 30kg gives you an extra 540kg weight on your floor, so always make sure your floor can withstand extra loading.

BETWEEN JOISTS

Rolls and slabs are common soundproofing products used between floor joists. There must be a good reason for it. They can simply be friction-fitted into joists and studs in all metal and timber frame constructions. Moreover, rolls are designed to fit between studs to close joints, reducing the potential for unwanted gaps and ensuring high levels of sound insulation. Acoustic insulation rolls simply create a barrier between your space and unwanted sounds.

Rolls are 1200mm wide and ready-cut to produce three, 400mm wide rolls, or two, 600mm wide rolls and manufactured to a minimum density of 10Kg/m3 meeting the requirements outlined within relevant sound related Building Regulations. Acoustic Insulation Rolls are available in various thicknesses covering 11m2, 15m2, 15.6m2, 24m2. Acoustic roll common thicknesses are 25mm, 50mm, 60mm, 75mm, 80mm and 100mm. Range of acoustic rolls features products from industry-leading manufacturers such as Isover, Knauf, Ursa, Terra, Rockwool or Superglass. 

Acoustic slab range is available in a variety of thicknesses and densities. All slabs are 1200mm x 600mm. Sound shield slab range comes with a choice of density and this is how compacted the slab is (not the weight). The range in density is kg/m³ from 45, 60, 80 100 & 140. It’s the density that marks out this type of soundproof insulation from other slabs of insulation. The easiest way to understand which one to choose would be to assume the higher the density, the better the overall level of soundproofing. It is recommended to use 60kg/m³ as this offers the best sound insulation for the money spent.

Common thickness: 25mm, 30mm, 40mm, 50mm, 60mm, 75mm, 100mm and 150mm.

SOUNDPROOFING BUILDING REGULATIONS FOR ACOUSTIC FLOORING

If you are looking to pass Part E Building Regulations for a new build or conversion you will need to achieve a set minimum level of soundproofing for impact and airborne noise. After installation will have to be proven with a sound test carried out by a UCAS accredited sound tester. However, if you are just looking to improve on current soundproofing in an existing property then you do not have to achieve the same levels as the Part E building regulation, but we will always aim to exceed the Regulations target figures to give you a good level of soundproofing. The regulations specifically state that internal airborne sound resistance inside any dwelling must be a minimum of 40dB. Impact sounds must also be limited to 62dB for set floors and stairs in new builds as well as 64dB in conversion projects. The regulations specify the need for there to be some type of acoustic insulation between the flooring joists. The fitting of such insulation will result in the increase of mass and the minimisation of airborne sound. 

ACOUSTIC FLOORING CONTRACTORS

Whether you are in need of acoustic flooring contractors or you would like acoustics work for your ceiling, our team is here for all your needs. We specialise in soundproofing, so that you can keep sounds in a particular space. 

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