Soundproofing with Dave

Commentary: The sounds around us

2011-05-09T23:51:00.000-07:00

One of my greatest pleasures, and one of the most soothing in these days of relentless stress, is listening to the sound of the sea.

One of my greatest pleasures, and one of the most soothing in these days of relentless stress, is listening to the sound of the sea.

It doesn’t matter whether it’s the pounding of waves during a winter storm or the soft susurrations of more gentle surf, the sound can smooth away all my anxieties. It’s one of the reasons we continue to live on these Islands.

It’s easy to imagine the way things were here 100 years ago: almost no man-made sounds at all. Maybe somebody hammering a boat together, chopping bush or digging their ground. Maybe even the occasional Saturday night kitchen band (unamplified, of course).

But there were no machines, no television, CD players or boom-boxes, and no vehicles except horse-drawn carts. Think of it – no jets, no trucks (no Jake brakes), no cars, no leaf-blowers, no outboards, no Jet-Skis, no bulldozers, no nightclubs, no DJs, no fireworks, no telephones, no air conditioners, no generators.

It was QUIET!

Instead, there were the sounds of nature. In addition to the ever-changing symphony of the sea, there were the birds, the wind in the trees, the buzzing of insects. Crabs and lizards rustled the leaves, and you might even hear a crocodile roar. Oh yes, and, of course, the perpetual whine of those pesky mosquitoes.

It was easier to sleep in those days (as long as you could keep the mosquitoes out!). The sounds that surrounded our not-so-distant ancestors were those to which our bodies and minds had adjusted over many millennia.

We were “in tune” with our surrounding environment in ways we can only imagine today.

As the last half of the last century progressed – and I use that term loosely – our society steadily acquired the trappings of modernity, and with it came the noises which accompany such a society.

Layer upon layer of man-made sounds crashed against our consciousness until we have reached a point where the noise that assaults us every day has begun to have profound effects on our psyches.

So noise is irritating. But it isn’t really harmful – is it? Well, animals change their migration routes to avoid noise, and military sonar disturbs marine animals like dolphins and whales. Why should we be any different?

150 decibels ruptures eardrums

Our ears are a finely tuned mechanism that can catch weak sounds at zero decibels (the unit by which we measure noise) in a quiet environment. But when the volume starts rising, the ears rebel.

At 120 decibels ears register pain, and sounds measuring 150 decibels can rupture the eardrum. But the damage may start much earlier, at 90 decibels. Noise pollution may also cause irritability, indigestion, high blood pressure and even heart disease.

There has been much scientific and accompanying psychological study carried out on the impacts on us of noise – of both everyday and excessive sounds. None of the results are particularly good, but we still tend to go our merry way and put up with the racket. And the decibels keep getting higher.

Prof. Gabriel S. Timar of the University of Toronto, Canada, says that exposure to high levels of noise or music can have harmful physical or emotional effects. In a recent report he states that impacts of noise may be manifested in serious psychological disturbance or severe – sometimes extreme – pain in the ear.

“The physical damage to the ear could be temporary hearing loss, manifested in reduced perception of low-level sound. If the patient is removed from the noisy environment, recovery could be expected within a couple of months.”

Permanent loss of hearing is possible, he states. It means that the patient will not perceive low-level sounds, and the condition may be corrected only with the use of electronic hearing aids. Although some individuals may be more sensitive to noise than others, the exposure to loud (100 decibels) music – so fashionable today – may eventually lead to a 10- to 15-decibel hearing loss at the lower end of the perception range.

“The extent of the loss in one’s hearing depends on the level and duration of the exposure. It is likely that one hour of exposure to 100-decibel noise may cause short-term hearing loss, with a recovery period of one to five days.

Continuous exposure to high levels of sound, in the vicinity of 90 decibels, for a period of more than five years may eventually lead to 15 to 20 decibels of hearing loss,” the report continues.

Professor Timar goes on: “Apart from the direct physical effects to one’s hearing, the indirect physiological effects of continuous exposure to noise pollution can be significant. Heart disease, raised blood pressure, change in the pulse rate can be related to extended exposure to noise.”

Severe emotional impact

The emotional impact, he says, could be far more severe. Continuous exposure to elevated noise levels will cause irritability, anxiety, stress and, in extreme cases, depression.

In noisy factories, unless the workers are protected with earplugs or specially designed muffs, mental fatigue and loss of concentration is common, leading to lower levels of productivity and accidents.

At construction sites where hydraulic equipment (jackhammers) is used, accident rates have been significantly reduced by the introduction of earmuffs for the operators of the machinery.

In a community the impact of high noise level is significant, he says, since it interferes with sleep as well as conversation.

The psychological effects are far-reaching – perhaps even to the point of contributing to social problems like domestic abuse. Professor Timar recommends that public health officials look into the physical and emotional impact of noise pollution, especially in communities exposed to constant high-decibel noise, such those near busy airports.

Of even more concern is the impact of noise on children. A chapter on noise pollution in the book Silent Scourge: Children, Pollution, and Why Scientists Disagree (Oxford University Press, 2003) states:

“Everyone knows that noise that is loud enough can damage a person’s hearing. … this chapter concentrates mainly on what researchers call the ‘nonauditory’ effects of noise, or how noise affects well-being aside from its effects on our hearing organs. The nonauditory effects of noise in children fall into two main categories: reading and other aspects of cognitive performance, and stress-related responses such as annoyance, blood pressure, secretion of stress-related hormones, and mental health.

“These two categories are also linked to the auditory effects of noise. A very important auditory effect of noise is interference with the intelligibility of speech. Hearing other people talk is critical to children’s early language development. But trying to hear someone talk in a noisy environment can produce other nonauditory effects. Memory and performance can be impaired because of the extra effort required to decipher speech. Mood can also become more negative, and the person feels tired or stressed… auditory and nonauditory effects of noise are often interlaced.”

Reducing noise around us

According to a World Health Organisation (WHO) report to the United Nations Conference on Environment, “Of all environmental problems, noise is the easiest to control.”

But the possibility of control arises only after we become aware that we need to control the unbearable sounds that surround us. Here are a few ways it could be tackled.

1. Reduce noise at the source. Development of silencing devices for use in aircraft engines, trucks, cars, motorcycles, industrial machines and home appliances would be an effective measure. Workers can be protected with devices such as earplugs and earmuffs. Changes in design and operation of machines, vibration control mechanisms, soundproofing and sound-absorbing materials will reduce noise volume.
2. Control traffic noise. Traffic racket can be reduced by imposing noise limits on vehicular traffic, banning the use of horns in certain areas, and properly planning main traffic arteries, industrial parks, amusement areas and residential estates. The creation of silent zones near schools and hospitals and the redesigning of buildings to make them noise-proof is another approach. Other measures might involve reducing traffic density in residential areas and introducing affordable, reliable public transit.
3. Control indoor noise. Where outdoor noise levels are high, there are ways to reduce the impact on nearby buildings, some of which have to do with building design, location and landscaping.
1. Locate in the building as far as possible from the noise source. The noise level drops about 6 decibels each time the distance from the source is doubled.
2. Plant trees and shrubs in front of buildings to absorb sound.
3. Locate non-critical areas such as corridors, kitchens, bathrooms, elevators and service spaces on the noisy side and critical areas such as bedrooms and living spaces on the quiet side.
4. Back-to-back bathrooms should be avoided unless they are effectively sound-insulated. Bathrooms, kitchens and laundry rooms should not be adjacent.
5. Bathroom walls, floor and ceiling should be sound-insulated, and windows should be double- or triple-glazed.
6. Noisy toilets can be replaced with quiet, siphon jet–type flush systems.
4. Road noise. Vegetation buffers should be created in the urban areas on the island. There should be more roadside plantations.
5. At present, there is no specific and detailed legislation to control noise pollution. The government needs to pass such legislation. It should include severe restrictions on hot-rod exhausts (and inefficient muffler systems) and vehicle sound systems that broadcast to the neighbourhood, and restrictions on where and when fireworks may be set off. There are many more … you know what they are!

These are some solutions to the environmental problems caused by noise pollution. But – just as with every other problem our society throws out – do we want to change so we can reduce noise?

Perhaps if we spent more time thinking about how we affect our neighbours – especially the elderly – when we rev up that hot car at 2 a.m., we might just quieten our lives, and thereby improve them.

Remember, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you!”

ECO-COMMENTARY
by the Green Hornet

Last weeks soundproofing news of interest. (May 1st to May 8th)

2011-05-09T12:23:00.000-07:00

"High-tech curtains block sound but let in light" Read

Summary: These computer designed translucent curtains absorb up to 5 times more sound than similar curtains.

"A soundproof room — but you can hear outside" Read

Summary: Soundproofing acts like a one way mirror, the neighbor can not hear the noise but someone just outside the wall can be heard by the occupants inside. This concept was dreamed up by some Italian scientists and is not yet reality.

"Building for a quiet life: Choice of materials will keep the peace or make a din" Read
Summary: Some tips for picking the right materials for soundproofing.

The upstairs neighbor with the hard surface floor

2011-05-05T14:58:00.000-07:00

The Noise

This story has to do with condominium floor/ceiling separation assemblies between upstairs and downstairs units. A woman purchased a very expensive downstairs unit only to discover that it was barely habitable due to noise from the people upstairs.

Another story comes from a homeowners’ association board (HOA). They were trying to respond to complaints from condominium owners whose upstairs neighbors had removed the carpeting and pad from their floors, and had installed hardwood flooring in its place.

Another two stories came in regarding complaints involving conversions of existing buildings into condominiums. In one situation, the problem had already erupted into a full-blown lawsuit.

The Problem

What did all these calls have in common? In layman’s term’s, footfall noise. In acoustical terms, this is known as impact noise.In each case, a hard surface flooring material such as wood, tile, slate or marble had been installed on a floor/ ceiling separation assembly that wasn’t designed to accommodate such materials. This led to dramatic increases in noise levels in the downstairs units when a person upstairs walked around, or dragged an item of furniture, such as a chair, across the floor.

What Causes the Problem? Without the proper design, a floor/ceiling assembly can act like a drum skin, broadcasting the noise into the unit below. Imagine the force exerted on the floor/ceiling assembly every time a shoe heel strikes the floor, and you’ll begin to understand the nature of the problem. There are actually several sources of noise involved with a simple footfall. The first is the actual impact of the foot on the hard surface material. This creates a noise that, if not properly mitigated, travels directly through the floor structure into the unit below.

It can also radiate across the floor surface, causing the walls to vibrate, which in turn transmits the noise into the unit below. Lastly, if the floor structure is too flexible, it will bounce as a person walks across it. This can amplify the noise experienced in the unit below, particularly at low frequencies. Noise Measurements It is possible to measure the ability of the floor/ceiling assembly to reduce impact noise. For the purposes of the test, the sound of a person walking (or causing an “impact”) on the floor/ ceiling assembly, is imitated by a specialized piece of test equipment known as a “tapping machine”. This instrument has a row of small hammer-like “tappers” that knock on the floor of the upstairs unit when the machine is turned on, while an acoustics specialist in the downstairs unit uses a sound level meter to measure the level of noise transmitted through the assembly. After analysis, the measurement result can be expressed as a single number, which is the “Impact Insulation Class” or “IIC” rating for the assembly. Since the assembly is fieldtested (i.e., tested in situ as opposed to being tested under laboratory conditions) the result is referred to as an “FIIC” figure.

The State of California’s Title 24 standards require that floor/ceiling separation assemblies between units in multifamily developments achieve an IIC rating of not less than 45 when field tested. The impact testing will demonstrate whether or not the problematic assembly complies with these requirements. And that information is often very useful when dealing with upset tenants who have no other quantitative way of expressing their subjective experience of the noise.

How to improve the situation

The problem of footfall noise is very difficult to resolve in existing construction. Though the assembly can be brought up to code, it is safe to say that with typical wood frame construction, there is really nothing that can be done to make a hard-surface flooring material “sound the same” as a good quality carpet and pad to the neighbor below. As stated previously, the floor/ceiling assembly must at the outset be designed for hard-surface materials. The only way to achieve a noticeable improvement is to tackle the floor/ceiling assembly from both sides. The problem cannot be resolved by simply blowing insulation into the ceiling assembly.

Start with the Upstairs Floor

In the upstairs unit, typically the flooring material will need to be removed as well as any concrete or gypsum underlayment. Then an acceptable vibration-break material (usually a springy or spongy material) is laid down and a concrete material is poured or placed on top. Finally, the flooring material is replaced. The correct installation of this type of assembly is crucial to its success. One of the inherent difficulties with this corrective method is that the extra layers can significantly increase the height of the floor. This can result in height inequity problems with the existing door thresholds, plumbing fixtures and cabinets. Another problem with this fix is that it can significantly increase the weight of the floor. Because of these problems, an architect and structural engineer need to be consulted to ensure that designand safety issues are appropriately addressed.

Fix the Downstairs Ceiling

The downstairs ceiling design must also be corrected. Typically, the ceiling should be removed, batt insulation should be added to the joist bays, and the drywall should be remounted on resilient channels with sound clips. For an increase in sound isolation you can use Green Glue with drywall and attach it to the underside of the floor between the joist bays. Again, correct installation of each element is crucial to the overall effectiveness.

Is It Worth All The Trouble? As you can see, it takes a great deal of upheaval and expense to rectify this problem in an existing building. Of course, in most of these situations, there is a simple answer. Insist that the upstairs tenants put the carpet and pad back down!

E-Crete has better SoundProofing among other advantages

2011-05-05T13:56:00.000-07:00

A quest for energy efficiency lead a builder to new material. With rising energy and lumber costs, homeowners are looking for more energy-efficient building materials.

Kuerner Homes, LLC, a developer in Bullhead City and Lake Havasu City, is working with a form of concrete known as “e-Crete,” also known as autoclaved aerated concrete, which is a more efficient form of concrete, according to Greg Brasher, project supervisor for Kuerner Homes for the Bullhead City/Fort Mojave area.

While the blocks look similar to regular concrete, e-Crete is lighter than regular concrete and is more environment-friendly, according to Brasher.

This is because the material takes less energy to manufacturing, and no pollutants or byproducts are produced during the manufacturing process, according to the e-Crete web site.

The material is made from natural raw materials such as lime, cement, water and aluminum powder and any waste created by the manufacturing process is recycled back into the mixing process.

So, how will e-crete help you with your soundproofing? Porous structure, high mass and the ability to dampen mechanical vibration energy is going to reduce the noise coming into your home. The manufacturer claims the wall units can achieve a STC rating of up to 60.

Read More

Safe N' Sound economical green solid core doors for soundproofing

2011-04-03T02:44:00.000-07:00

When you want to reduce room to room noise in your home, solid core doors are the way to go. The added mass helps dampen room to room noise transmission. If you wish to improve their effectiveness your going to have to create a tight seal all the way around the door. Sound will be through any spaces air can travel through. Solid core doors can be expensive, so that is why most people opt for the hollow core doors. However, you do have options and you can be green.

These solid core "green" doors made by Masonite are not made from solid wood. Instead they are made from wheat straw, a process that the manufacturer calls "DorCor" made from wheat straw. So we have a sustainable door made wheat straw which is fast growing and renewable, pre-consumer recycled content, and has low formaldehyde emissions. There is no added urea-formaldehyde and the door is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified. The doors also have a 20 minute fire rating.

Features:

Reduces sound transmission
Lighter weight core allows for easier installation
Available in both 1-3/8" and 1-3/4" doors, 20-minute Fire Rated available in 1-3/4"
Full range of Passage and Bifold widths available (bifolds are 1-3/8" only)
6'8", 7'0", 8'0" Heights available

Download and read the product brochure here. Download PDF

Installing a Sound Proof Door

Serious Materials Launches Window Retrofit System Serious Materials Launches Window Retrofit System

2011-04-02T02:00:00.000-07:00

Serious Materials announced the commercial launch of its glazing retrofit system that was used to update the windows of the Empire State Building for energy efficiency.

iWindow is a retrofit glass system that doesn't replace the existing glass or alter the exterior appearance of the building.

Serioius Materials says the iWindow panel can be installed on the inside of the existing glass in as little as 20 minutes.

At approximately $20 per square foot total installed cost, iWindow is 50% to 75% less costly to install compared to a typical aluminum replacement system which can dramatically impact the viability of such retrofit scenarios. Energy efficiency improvements can also return higher rents, secure greater occupancy, and generate higher resale value.

Each iWindow incorporates the SeriousGlass system. SeriousGlass units include spectrally-selective suspended film systems that create multiple air chambers, accomplishing high thermal performance of triple pane glass without the additional weight and structural concerns. Beyond super-insulating performance, SeriousGlass enables high light transmission, 99.5+% UV blockage, and reduced fading and damage to interior furnishings.

iWindow is designed for any curtain wall or window wall commercial retrofit application and is ideally suited for historic and landmark projects as it allows preservation of the existing façade.

“With iWindow, we have addressed the fundamental challenges preventing more widespread implementation of energy efficiency retrofits in commercial buildings,” said Ian Sullivan, GM and VP of Serious Materials’ Windows division. “iWindow was an innovation that in part evolved out of our work at the Empire State Building. Now, iWindow provides access to the broad market for our high-performance SeriousGlass in a simple package that can be quickly and cost-effectively deployed to solve both energy efficiency goals and occupant comfort considerations”.

Serious Materials upgraded the 6,514 dual pane windows in the Empire State Building with SeriousGlass to create super-insulating units that increased the thermal performance of the windows by up to four times.

By 2015, more than 75% of commercial retrofits will incorporate energy efficiency measures, largely due to higher energy performance standards and programs such as the Better Buildings Initiative, which aims to make commercial buildings in the United States 20% more energy efficient. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, 25% to 35% of energy wasted in buildings today is due to inefficient windows, adding up to 10% of total carbon emissions in the U.S. annually.

For More Information Visit Serious Materials

Source: Press Release

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A Breakthrough in Soundproofing Technology: Soundproof Kleenex

2011-04-01T18:39:00.000-07:00

"Find it embarrassing blowing your snout in public? Kleenex are launching soundproof tissues containing a “micro-thin layer of noise control foam, a commonly used soundproofing material. The foam will act as a noise barrier, using its high sound absorption properties to stifle the sound of nose-blowing.”"

This new Kleenex product should put an end to children being terrified by their nose blowing parents.

QuietRock featured on Holmes on Homes

2011-03-31T10:17:00.000-07:00

This is a great video "Wall of Sound" that features real world and real people before and after. It also has an overview of QuitRock installation. The video features a couple living in adjoining homes who can here their neighbors conversations and more.

Holmes on Homes is a television series made in Canada and hosted by general contractor Mike Holmes. He works with homeowners that are in need of help. He usually comes in after another contractor has botched the job. You can catch Mike on HGTV.

Products featured in this video:

QuietRock for soundproofing the wall.

Sealtight Puddy Pad for sealing the electrical boxes

and looks like they might have also used Roxul for the insulation.

New features at Soundproofing with Dave!

2011-03-31T09:46:00.000-07:00

You can now view a mobile friendly version of Soundproofing with Dave on your mobile device. Just go to the same URL and the the site will detect your mobile device and display the new format.

There is also some new ways to view the site, these new view not only look great but will help browse through all the information on this blog. Check it out.

These dynamic views give a whole new look to the blog and will allow you to easily sift through all the articles on the blog. More information on these dynamic views can be found at Blogger Buzz.

Mosaic: http://www.soundproofingwithdave.com/view/mosaic

Flipcard: http://www.soundproofingwithdave.com/view/flipcard

Sidebar: http://www.soundproofingwithdave.com/view/sidebar

Snapshot: http://www.soundproofingwithdave.com/view/snapshot

Timeslide: http://www.soundproofingwithdave.com/view/timeslide

Check out the video for more information.

myLot User Profile

Promo for soundproofing story on KFMB

2011-03-30T14:24:00.000-07:00

I came across this video promotion of a series of news segments on soundproofing. Unfortunately, I have not been able to find the soundproofing stories that it is promoting. Enjoy!

"Today's Chicago Woman" writes "Sound Advice To Soundproof Your Home"

2011-03-30T12:40:00.000-07:00

TCW writes about soundproofing your home. Some of the tips brought up in this article are the use of mass, acoustic drywall and dropped ceilings. The products mentioned in this article are:

QuietRock
Green Glue
RSIC (Resilient Sound Isolation Clips)
MLV
Solid Core Doors
Acoustic Door Seals
& Soundproof Windows

"Do you need help to make your home quieter? Whether you live in a single-family home, high-rise building or anything in between, there are distracting noises from outside, neighbors or other family members.

There are a number of things you can do to soundproof your home. The concept of soundproofing is to stop the flow of sound by placing something between the source (for example, a loud stereo) and the target (your ears). Here's some advice from experts in the soundproofing business."

"House & Home" writes "Condo Living: Soundproofing"

2011-03-30T12:06:00.000-07:00

I came across the article on "House & Home", not too informative but I always like to point my readers to any new articles that discuss soundproofing. One product is mentioned in this article which is db-Bloc.

"Sound transmission between units is one of the biggest complaints among condo dwellers today. Moving from a single-family home, many condo owners aren’t used to sharing common walls with their neighbors.

Although some noise in shared living spaces is normal, if you can clearly hear your neighbors’ conversations, you have a noise problem, said Eric Wolfram, lead acoustical engineer for Riedel & Associates, an acoustical consulting firm in downtown Milwaukee.

Wolfram explained that the state building code only requires condos to meet an STC (sound transmission class) of 45, which means that normal conversation levels between units will be muffled, not inaudible. In other parts of the country, building codes now require condos to meet an STC of 50, while luxury developments might aspire to an STC of 60 or higher.

“We get calls from a lot of disappointed people,” Wolfram said. “They often aren’t aware of the issue before they buy.”"

You can read the full article here at House & Home

Green Glue Brings Soundproofing Functionality to Aesthetic Design

2011-03-21T14:26:00.000-07:00

Green Glue Tubes

(openPR) - Recent UL recognition underscores the Noiseproofing Compound’s reputation as a high-performance and safe building material

Granville, NY – March 15, 2011 – Architects and builders looking to specify both the safest and most effective materials in their designs and construction have a compelling new choice in soundproofing. Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics (SGPPL) has announced the company’s innovative Green Glue Noiseproofing Compound – already one of the most environmentally friendly soundproofing products available – has been recognized for use by independent testing authorities including Underwriters Laboratory and American Society for Testing and Materials.

Over the past months, the Green Glue Noiseproofing Compound has undergone and passed multiple performance tests for Fire Resistance, Surface Burning Characteristics, Mold Resistance, and VOC Emission. Independent testing results validated the Green Glue Noiseproofing Compound as being in compliance with UL 263 and UL 723 tests. In addition the Green Glue Noiseproofing Sealant received a Class A rating to UL Standard 723 when testing surface burning characteristics. The independent test results provide specifiers of Green Glue products with the necessary fire safety information required when designing a new building.

"These tests underscore that the Green Glue Noiseproofing Compound has been thoroughly evaluated for safety by some of the world’s most respected independent testing authorities," said Mark Darby, Global Sales and Marketing Manager, Acoustics for Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics. "We are extremely pleased to receive this recognition and consider it an important milestone for our flagship product."

Fire Resistance (UL 263)

UL Test 263 is intended to register material performance and resistance to heat during a predetermined period of fire exposure. Following extensive testing, by Underwriters Laboratory, the Green Glue Noiseproofing Compound has been recognized to UL Standard 263 for 66 different wall systems in North America. In addition, the Compound is rated for another 21 systems in Canada.

Surface Burning Characteristics for Building Materials (UL 723)

Underwriters Laboratories evaluated the surface burning characteristics of Green Glue Noiseproofing Sealant when applied to inorganic reinforced cement board, analyzing both flame spread and smoke development characteristics. The result of the evaluation concluded that the Compound, when tested to UL Standard 723, achieved a score of 0 for flame spread and 0 for smoke developed. In addition it also achieved a Class A rating as defined in NFPA Standard No. 1 for interior finish materials.

Mold Resistance (ASTM D3273)

ASTM antifungal test D3273 is the standard test method for resistance to mold on the surface of interior coatings and is uniquely designed to simulate a harsh environmental exposure to the high humidity and temperatures likely to promote fungal growth. UL Environment tested the Green Glue Noiseproofing Compound and the Green Glue Noiseproofing Sealant to ASTM D3723 and validated the mold resistant claim for each. As a result both products are eligible to display the UL Environment mark for Mold Resistance.

Low VOC Emission (CA Section 01350)

Green Glue Noiseproofing Compound and Green Glue Noiseproofing Sealant were also tested and validated using the CDPH Standard Method for the Testing and Evaluation of Volatile Organic Chemical Emissions from Indoor Sources Using Environmental Chambers Version 1.1. As a result, both the Compound and the Sealant were validated by UL Environment as able to claim the following: No formaldehyde emissions detected and meets the requirements of CA Section 01350.

Green Glue Noiseproofing Compound is a viscoelastic compound that can quickly and easily be applied between two sheets of drywall, plywood or any commonly used building materials. It effectively eliminates up to 90 percent of noise transfer from one room to another and is a widely-used material for residential and commercial building and remodeling applications. Green Glue Noiseproofing Sealant plugs up gaps and cracks in walls and ceilings that are easily overlooked but which contribute significantly to noise transfer. When applied along wall and ceiling edges, the sealant can prevent these cracks from leaking noise and help maintain a high level of sound isolation.

To learn more about the Green Glue Noiseproofing System, visit www.greengluecompany.com

Italian Lingerie Company Recycles Used Bras into Soundproof Insulation

2011-03-02T11:31:00.000-08:00

What do bras have to do with soundproofing? In Italy they love women's bra, so much that they are collecting and giving $4 towards the purchase of a new one. The Italian intimates company Intimissimi plans to to recycle all those bras and turn them into soundproof building insulation. What type of insulation, you ask? Well they will be made into soundproof construction panels.

QuietRock drywall in action

2010-12-06T16:15:00.000-08:00

This is a great video of QuietRock in action. QuitRock is a sound damping drywall that you install just like regular drywall.

Noise and wood flooring

2010-12-06T15:59:00.000-08:00

A reader writes in question to the St. Petersburg Times:

"Q: I live in a two-story condominium and the upstairs unit has installed wood floors. It sounds like there is a broken washing machine all day long slapping against a wall. It is almost mind-bending. Is this legal? What would have had to be in the documents for this to even possibly be legal? You have no idea of what a disappointment and of what disturbing effect this has had on my life. This was the worst purchase I have ever made. I would have rather bought a frame home infested with termites."

You can read the answer here

Source St. Petersburg Times

Ford to use recycled denim for soundproofing in the Ford Focus

2010-12-01T15:06:00.000-08:00

Recycled denim insulation is not just for your soundproofing your home. The Ford Motor Company will be using recycled denim in their Ford Focus. It will be used in places like the carpet backing. Ford says that will will use the equivalent of two pairs of jeans in the Focus. Like in the Ford Focus recycled denim insulation can help deaden the sound you your home.

Source MSNBC

Soundproofing your windows with a double glazing.

2010-12-01T14:49:00.000-08:00

Secondary glazing is when an extra glazing panel is placed on the inside of an already existing window. This second panel will help soundproof you window from outside noise sources.
One of the issues with this approach is if your existing windows are drafty, this will allow moisture from the outside to come in, and in the right conditions, the moisture creates condensation between the glass and settles at the bottom of the window.

Serious Materials has a new drywall product QuietRock ES

2010-04-16T10:00:00.000-07:00

Here is a PRESS RELEASE from QuietRock regarding a new drywall product.

Serious Materials Launches QuietRock ES which is 4X Easier to Use than Other Brands

Sunnyvale, CA — November 11, 2009 — Serious Materials, a leading energy-saving building materials company in the U.S., today launched QuietRock® ES soundproof drywall with EZ-SNAP™ Technology which is 4X easier to score and snap than other brands. QuietRock ES is the lowest-cost, sound-reducing Type X drywall available today and the only one without any paper in the middle. The advanced, patent pending approach incorporates new gypsum core technology which offers greater strength, enhanced fire resistance, and easier and cleaner score and snap than even standard gypsum board.

Manufactured completely in the U.S., QuietRock ES delivers acoustical ratings of up to STC 55 on single stud construction and is designed to complement Serious Materials’ family of QuietRock products which are available with ratings up to STC 80. Unlike old methods such as resilient channel, it cannot be easily shorted out in the field, thus yielding superior results with less cost and supervision. And unlike other brands of soundproof drywall, it can be scored and snapped as easy as regular drywall, yielding lower labor costs and higher productivity. Serious Materials invented acoustical drywall in 2002, and now has more than 2 million panels installed in 50,000 successful projects.

“QuietRock ES is another example of how we continue to innovate and obsolete older approaches,” said Kevin Surace, CEO of Serious Materials. “Our customers asked for a product that was lower cost and far easier to use than any other product from any other manufacturer. We listened intently and delivered. Simply put: No one else has this level of advanced technology in the space at any price…let alone the lowest price.”

“With QuietRock ES being 4 times easier to score and snap, and more affordable, it is clearly way ahead of other sound-reducing drywall products on the market today, which simply sandwich two pieces of drywall together and have 2-layers of paper in the middle,” said Craig St. John, President of Westwood Building Materials. “I can’t wait to get this in the hands of my customers.”

“QuietRock ES is just as easy to score and snap as regular gypsum and handles very well,” said Paul Repetto from Eric Stark Interiors. “I can tell from the texture of the material that cutting out outlets or other openings will be easy. I absolutely will recommend using it for common walls and other sound applications instead of some of those old, antiquated sound-reducing products.”
Disruptive Manufacturing Approach Delivers QuietRock ES with EZ-SNAP Technology

Serious Materials has developed patent-pending, disruptive, automated manufacturing processes to create QuietRock ES with EZ-SNAP Technology, making obsolete the old line process of how traditional sound-reducing drywall is made. Nearly 4 years in the making, Serious Materials engineered an advanced gypsum core technology and created a breakthrough manufacturing process that splits the core down the center, dispenses proprietary polymers in a specified and proprietary pattern inside, presses the two halves back together and seals the edges.

About QuietRock ES with EZ-SNAP Technology

5/8 inch QuietRock ES is load bearing, Type X, 1-hour fire-rated, abuse-resistant panel that scores and snaps easier than standard drywall. QuietRock ES is designed to install and hang just like standard drywall. A typical QuietRock ES wall assembly, with QuietRock ES on both sides of single wood studs, has an STC rating of 52 compared with a typical gypsum wall assembly, with gypsum on both sides of single wood studs, which has an STC rating of 39. QuietRock ES delivers ratings up to STC 55 on single steel stud construction.

Benefits of QuietRock ES with EZ-SNAP Technology include:

Ease of use: QuietRock ES has no paper in the middle, is even easier to score and snap than regular gypsum, and is 4X easier to use than other brands of sound-reducing drywall. There is no need to use a saw to cut the panel.

Lowest cost: QuietRock ES is less expensive than any other brand of acoustical drywall (as of today) and is easier and faster to install, which leads to increased productivity and lower labor costs.
High performance and reliability: QuietRock ES outperforms other sound-reducing methods, and can be used on ceilings and load bearing walls. Unlike resilient channel, QuietRock ES cannot be easily short circuited.

Soundproofing your floor with Peacemaker

2009-07-29T19:14:00.000-07:00

In this short video by the company Audimute, they used the product Peacemaker to reduce airborne and impact noise. The 3.2mm product appears to be just mass loaded vinyl also known as MLV and the 6.4mm product appears to be rubber type product, thus it's ability to absorb impact noise.

Soundproofing your condo/ apartment ceiling

2009-07-09T10:26:00.000-07:00

The first thing you want to do is talk to your neighbors, here is an excellent article on the subject Noisy Nuisances: What are Your Rights? and another Nolo Law Noise FAQ. To sum this article up talk to your neighbor, write a letter to your neighbor, ask for mediation, call the police and finally sue your neighbor. You would probably like to avoid the last two solutions.

I found it helpful to keep a noise diary of all the noise my neighbor made. I also bought a sound meter of eBay so I could measure the amount of noise they were making, this may be a little extreme. However, I wanted to make sure I was not being overly sensitive.

If your past the love thy neighbor stage you can try a white noise generator or sound conditioner. In my bedroom, I use an air cleaner, it makes plenty of white noise. I learned this trick while attending college, where I bought myself a big window fan and it drowned out everything including the fire alarm (bad).

If you can, try to tackle the noise from above. Offer your neighbor to help pay for new flooring. Of course you will want to lay down some type engineered product(s)to absorb impact noise and block airborne noise. You could try Impact Acoustical Floor Treatments, Ekasonic, Subfloor Plus Foam, Impact Line, Kinetics Sound Rated Floor System, QuietWood, QuietFoam , or Green Glue. The above products are part of a system, so read the fine print, other materials may need to be used to achieve good results. But before you start laying down underlayment, be sure to read this information from SoundProofing America Soundproofing Wood and Tile Floors, flooring information from Super Soundproofing and Dealing With Impact Noise. Also, do not forget high quality thick carpet padding.

If you can, try to tackle the noise from above. Offer your neighbor to help pay for new flooring. Of course you will want to lay down some type engineered product(s)to absorb impact noise and block airborne noise. You could try Impact Acoustical Floor Treatments, Ekasonic, Subfloor Plus Foam, Impact Line, Kinetics Sound Rated Floor System, QuietWood, QuietFoam , or Green Glue. The above products are part of a system, so read the fine print, other materials may need to be used to achieve good results. But before you start laying down underlayment, be sure to read this information from SoundProofing America Soundproofing Wood and Tile Floors, flooring information from Super Soundproofing and Dealing With Impact Noise. Also, do not forget high quality thick carpet padding.

First, some information on structure noise from the Specifications Construction Institute, Noisy Neighbors, and the Institute for Research in Construction.

1. Use Resilient Channel and MLV (Mass Loaded Vinyl). This usually requires that you have open studs. So if you already have an existing ceiling in place this may not be your best choice. More information on this type of soundproofing can be found at the following websites: SuperSoundProofing Company, and Soundproofing America.

2. Your going use Sound Clips/Isolation Mounts and in most cases they will connect to flurring channels. There are several of these types of clips on the market: Aero-Support, Super Sound Clip, and Springers and Hangers. More information on this subject can be found here: SoundProofing America, and SoundClips Vs. Resilient Channels.

3. Soundproofing an existing ceiling with mass loaded vinyl. You will want to attach
flurring strips to the existing ceiling and attach the MLV to the strips as outlined here: Mass Loaded Vinyl Installation.

4. Soundproofing an existing ceiling with mass loaded vinyl backed with foam. More info on this procedure can be found here: Decoupled Mass Loaded Vinyl for walls and ceilings.

6. You can also increase the effectiveness of any above methods by replacing the sheetrock with an engineered pre-dampened sheetrock product. You could either use QuietRock or Supress.

7. The most interesting and promising method of soundproofing your ceiling is using The Green Glue Company's Green Glue. This product is a viscoelastic dampening material, basically it can convert noise and vibration to heat. See my other posts about Green Glue and download the Pratt School of Engineering's paper of QuietRock vs Mass Loaded Vinyl. QuietRock also incorporates an viscoleastic dampening material. You can use Green Glue for existing or new ceilings. This method also requires less labor and is less expensive. Check out these articles Upgrade Existing Floors and Dealing with Impact Noise.

For some additional thoughts and info on Green Glue go here: Green Glue SoundProofing, , The Green Glue Revolution, and check out the Green Glue thread at AVS Forum sign-up required.

Technorati Tags: soundproofing, ceiling, footfall, impact noise, sound clips, mass loaded vinyl, upstairs neighbor, sound isolation clips, resilient channels, flurring, green glue

Remodeling Guy: "Using Green Glue To Make Noiseproof Walls"

2009-07-07T16:02:00.000-07:00

The "Remodeling Guy" uses Green Glue to cut the noise down in his master bedroom and living spaces.

"Have you ever wished you could make a wall a little more soundproof?Or, maybe a little more than a little? I’ve come across the question of soundproofing many times over my career and the options have never been great. It’s been “possible” for a long time, but never inexpensive and never easy. I think those days are gone!"

Read the full article at the Remodeling Guy.

QuietRock 500 available exclusively at selected Lowe's

2009-07-04T00:20:00.000-07:00

You can now buy QuietRock 500 1/2" drywall exclusively at selected Lowe's stores. The say that you can "Experience an increase in noise reduction from 25% to 65%, depending on how you use it." There is no other information provided regarding the soundproofing qualities of QuietRock 500. If you follow this link you will find that QuietSolutions does not provide acoustic tests for QuietRock 500. However, they do provide the chart that you see above.

At the price of $29.96, this is the cheapes QuitRock yet. I believe QuitRock 510 is $40 a panel. Visit QuietSolution for a list of stores that carry QuietRock 510.

Soundproofing for existing walls

2009-07-03T23:39:00.000-07:00

A 4 x 8 sheet made from post-recycled products is placed on your existing wall and requires a minimum existing drywall that is at least 3/8 inch thick. You simply hang the product, align the seems, spackle the seams, then finish the wall.

The manufacturer claims that the dB2-4walls can reduce airborne and structural noise up to 75% between rooms. Their acoustical tests show a standard wall with wood Studs 2” x 4”, 16” on center, and with 5/8" drywall went from an STC of 34 to 39 or a reduction of 8db above 200 HZ. Keep mind that these tests are done in a laboratory, so most likely you will not be able to achieve the same results.

You might be saying that 8db is not much, but be aware that each three decibel increment affects a 50% change in sound pressure levels. Thus, a 3 dB drop reduces sound exposure by 50%, while a 6 dB drop reduces exposure by 75%. Though reducing the decibel level produced by a sound source from 80 to 77 may not seem like a major change, it would actually represent a 50% reduction in audible sound.

You can visit the manufacturers site here.

The Green Glue Company relocates

2009-07-02T14:20:00.000-07:00

Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics plans to relocate the Green Glue Company from North Dakota to Granville, N.Y. Saint-Gobain will manufacture Green Glue, a high-performance soundproofing material for the construction market, at the company's Granville plant. Saint-Gobain acquired Green Glue in 2008 and will transfer seven jobs associated with the product line.

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