// SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS
MEDITE SMARTPLY’s sustainable OSB panels provide increased comfort for housing association tenants
When choosing the right product for flooring applications within housing association constructions, contractors and specifiers must focus on creating comfortable environments for future tenants. A major aspect of building comfortable living environments is achieving proper sound insulation, both to keep unwanted noise out and keep internal noise in.
T
he World Health Organisation (WHO) has regarded noise as a pollutant since 1972, with the ability to greatly impact our lives and health. Noise pollution is especially troublesome for those who live in urban settings near busy roads, where housing associations are oſten situated. In fact, in 2011 the WHO estimated that one million healthy life years, in other words, years lived in overall good health, were lost to traffic-related noise1
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Considering the impact unwanted noise can have on our wellbeing, ensuring that soundproofing specifications are met should be a top priority for housing association contractors and specifiers.
MEDITE SMARTPLY, the leading manufacturer of sustainable wood-based panels, has completed extensive testing with a UKAS-accredited laboratory on its SMARTPLY MAX DB and SMARTPLY SURE STEP DB flooring solutions. Following the results of this testing, these OSB panels as part of a system, have demonstrably achieved the airborne sound insulation performance of 40dB as required by Building Regulations in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland – making them an ideal fit for use in timber flooring systems for internal residential floors.
MEDITE SMARTPLY’s tried and tested SMARTPLY MAX DB and SMARTPLY SURE STEP DB flooring solutions are a welcome addition to the market for housing association specifiers and contractors.
Compared to the traditionally used chipboard solution, these flooring systems offer a host of benefits. Choosing to use SMARTPLY MAX DB enables a thinner, stronger and 30 percent lighter alternative. Opting for SMARTPLY SURE STEP DB provides durable and slip-resistant solution, ticking all the boxes for operational goals.
Roly Ward, Head of Business Development at MEDITE SMARTPLY, commented: “Peace and
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quiet are essential for a comfortable and healthy home environment. We are excited to bring to the market new applications for our products that have been tested in flooring systems and offer sound reduction while providing the construction industry with a lighter, safer, airtight and sustainable flooring solution as an excellent alternative to traditionally used materials.”
MEDITE SMARTPLY has tested its 18mm SMARTPLY MAX DB in flooring systems. The panel helps achieve 40dB, which is required for internal residential floors under
that SMARTPLY SURE STEP DB can help tenants living in social housing save money on heating costs, especially during colder months.
SMARTPLY OSB is a sustainable material that can add value throughout the supply chain. Sourced from sustainably managed and accredited Irish forests, SMARTPLY wood-based panels not only store carbon during the growth of trees but also continue to lock it in throughout the manufacturing process and the entire lifespan of the product and the buildings in which they are used.
SMARTPLY’s OSB panels are fully certified, UKCA and CE marked, legally sourced, and sustainable. Since OSB is made of wood strands, the whole tree is used, and nothing is wasted. The entire SMARTPLY OSB range has been manufactured using no added formaldehyde, contributing towards healthier environments for dwellers in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
“SMARTPLY OSB has one of the lowest embodied carbon values of any mainstream building material. This makes it ideal for building energy- efficient homes – offering a warmer home and a reduction in energy consumption – keeping us on track towards a net-zero future,” added Roly Ward.
the Building Regulations in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. This allows families in housing associations to ensure their homes are comfortably soundproofed.
SMARTPLY SURE STEP DB is an airtight, tongue- and-groove panel with a high-performance coating. Using it as an airtight layer for flooring or decking can contribute to sustainable building practices and reduce energy consumption for heating. This solution complies with building regulations and is certified as airtight. This means
SMARTPLY MAX DB and SMARTPLY SURE STEP DB’s sound insulation qualities comfortably meet regulatory requirements, making them a smarter choice for specifiers, housebuilders and contractors. Furthermore, the increased comfort provided to tenants and families, whether in the form of a good night’s sleep or overall increased wellbeing, holds unquantifiable value, in turn creating happier tenants.
To find out more about SMARTPLY MAX DB and SMARTPLY SURE STEP DB flooring solutions, visit
mdfosb.com/en/products/smartply-osb
1.
www.who.int/tools/compendium-on-health-and-environment/environmental-noise
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