ON THE RIGHT NOTE
Janeeth Devgun, Insulation and External Category Manager at CCF, shares how flooring products are contributing to high acoustic performance in buildings to meet Part E of the Building Regulations.
PART E
For newbuild and new residential dwellings, it is important to get the flooring specification right and installed in compliance with Part E (resistance to the passage of sound). To prove compliance with Part E, flooring products on the market are required to go through Pre-completion testing or Robust Detail specification.
Pre-completion are tests undertaken when building work is complete. If tests are failed, remedial work needs to be carried out, other similar properties tested or remediated, and the rate of testing increased. Robust Detail specification, although costlier, certifies that products have gone through vigorous third-party testing to prove performance and compliance when installed correctly.
TYPES OF SOUND TO CONSIDER
There are various types of airborne and impact sounds to consider when thinking about the best flooring products for the job.
Airborne sound is noise transmitted through air and can include conversations, noise from TVs, music sound systems, or barking dogs. Impact sound on the other hand can be the result of footsteps on flooring, or items hitting the floor. The level of noise that transmits through the flooring depends on the force of the impact, the floorcovering, and the vibration transmission characteristics of the floor structure.
A range of acoustic flooring options exist to suit a variety of construction types: concrete, timber beam and block floors, to underfloor heating (UFH) applications as well as refurbishment projects and uneven floors that may require a service void. These product options work to address airborne and impact sound through adding mass such as acoustic decks, acoustic underlay, screed and dry screedboard.
ACOUSTIC DECK AND UNDERLAY
One solution to soundproof a room is to lay acoustic floor decks and underlay. These products are ideal for concrete or timber floors, but most acoustic underlay is suitable underneath a variety of flooring types. Underlay and deck flooring can provide soundproofing against both airborne and impact sounds. It is worth noting that hard flooring types will always be more susceptible to noise than carpeted floors, however acoustic floor decks with underlay can help reduce sound.
SCREEDBOARD AND
DRY SCREEDBOARD Screedboard, when combined with a resilient layer, is an ideal acoustic solution for soundproofing new builds and refurbished floors. Projects that use screedboard can be
40 | SOUND REDUCTION SYSTEMS
completed faster as they are able to take footfall instantly. Dry screedboard can even be used with UFH systems as, not only is screedboard an effective soundproofing product, there are types specially designed to enhance thermal conductivity.
Additionally, there are a wide range of perimeter and acoustic joining tapes on the market that can help to soundproof a project. These tapes are designed to be lightweight, easily cut, and have additional impact sound deadening properties to further eliminate the transfer of sound between walls and the acoustic flooring.
SOUND SUPPORT
Involving the manufacturer or a trusted distributor early on in the specification process will ensure that the right product is selected for the job, as well as the relevant installation information and guidance being made available where required.
With an abundance of information and wealth of acoustic flooring solutions available, it is simple for building contractors and interior specialists to get the right type of acoustic flooring.
www.ccfltd.co.uk www.tomorrowscontractfloors.com
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