Chapter – 2

Acoustics insulation
KARTHIKEYAN KUMARASAMY
 Sound insulation
Sound insulation of building is another requirement because of the following reasons
◦ The investigation on the effect on human comfort and annoyance have proved that
high noise conditions not only result in uncomfortable living conditions, fatigue,
inefficiency and mental strain, but prolonged exposure to such conditions may
cause temporary deafness or nervous break
◦ Sound proofing of room is as important as good acoustical design, particularly in
case of film studios or sound studios of the radio station and some laboratories
◦ The insulation of noise has become a very important requirement for the building
such as hospital, education building, offices, hotels, et.. And residential building
located in urban areas.
◦ It is desirable to keep the building free from the harassing effects of noise through
proper planning and design to improve their living and working condition
 The sound insulation can be achieved
through the following means
1. Planning against indoor and outdoor noises
2. Adopting construction measures
3. Reducing sound transmission through wall
4. Reducing sound transmission through floor
5. Sound insulating material
6. Using insulating sanitary fittings
Planning against indoor and outdoor
noises
To achieve the acceptable noise levels, as laid down by the standards or dictated
by the zoning regulations
Adopting constructional measures
•Such as use of cavity wall construction,
•Air tight windows
•Floating floors over structural floors
•Floors with suspended ceilings
•Mounting for machines
Reducing sound transmission through
wall partitions
By several way such as use of massive and rigid construction with air-tight doors, windows, etc..
And free from openings for pipes or ventilators.
Use non-homogeneous structure for walls containing inert cells
Use of hard reflating surface on the outside of wall
Use of hollow walls with air gap in between to prevent continuity of structure
Use of an insulating material as filling material in wall construction
Use of sound absorbent material such as fiber boards, hair felt, mineral wool for surfaces facing
the other rooms
Reducing sound transmission through
floors
Indoor noise in vertical direction by several way such as
provision of sound insulating material like wood, cork, rubber, etc between
the floor covering
use of a massive and rigid floor construction
use hallow floor construction
use of insulated and suspended ceiling and also by
use of resilient floor covering such as carpets, cork or linoleum it the
materials are sufficiently thick
use of floating floors
Sound insulating materials
•Compressed straw slabs
•Cork slabs
•Slag wool
•Felt
•Bitumen
•Asbestos
•Use of an insulating layer of 1.5cm to 3cm is usually sufficient
Compressed straw slab and cork slab
Slag wool and bitumen
Asbestos and flet
Using insulating sanitary fittings
In several way is also important for sound insulation, such as
W.c.’s should not be fixed above a living room or next to bed room, unless is insulated well say
by cup-boards
W.c pan should be rested upon a thin pad of felt, linoleum, cork or rubber or other resilient
material for insulation
W.c cisterns should not be fixed direct to a bed room wall but should be fisxed upon insulators
fixed to the brackets
The pipes should be wrapped and held in insulated clips from where they pass through wells
floors
Maximum acceptable noise levels

These levels are desirable from comfort point of view and have been laid as below
Dwellings (houses and flats) 45 to 55 dB
Schools (class-rooms or lecture rooms) 45 to 50dB
Hospitals 40 to 50dB
Public offices 53 to 60dB
Acoustics
Acoustics as applied to the building, is the science of sound which
assures the optimum conditions for producing and listening to
speech, music, actual or reproduced as recording music on cinema.
The planning, acoustical design and construction have to provide
for dissipation of the noise, external or internal and insulation
against sound. Due to the increasing use of radios, motion picture ,
automobiles, machinery etc.
The much emphasis has been laid in recent years for the
improvement of acoustical conditions of the building by controlling
the acoustical defects
Sound proofing and insulation against
noises
Sound proofing and insulation against noises is as important as good acoustical
design.
Sound-proof-rooms are absolutely essential in the case of film studios or sound
studios of the radio stations, and some laboratories
 whereas the insulation of noise is important for
 hospitals,
 educational building,
 offices,
 bed room and
 hotels etc…
Acoustics of buildings
Is involves the study of principals of acoustics for the planning,
designing and construction of certain rooms and buildings
Which are free from disturbing noises and also provide the
optimum conditions for qualities of speech and music
The construction and application of sound absorbents and sound
reflective material should provide the optimum conditions for the
growth, the decay and the steady distribution of sound in such
rooms or buildings
Characteristics of audible sound
This sound, in the form of waves (consisting of series of alternated compressions and rarefactions) is
transmitted or travels in all directions through any medium whether solid, liquid or gaseous (including air)
The average sound travel in air at ordinary temperature and pressure with a speed of 340m/sec this velocity of
sound depends upon the nature and temperature of the medium through which it travel
The velocity of sound through water is 1310m/sec
The velocity of sound through brick is 3600m/sec
The velocity of sound through steel is 4900m/sec
The velocity of sound in water is 4times of that in air
The velocity of sound in wood is 10 times , 12times in brick and 15 times in steel
It should be noted that sound cannot travel in vacuum and hence should have some medium for its
transmission from one place to another
Behavior of sound and its effects
The behavior of sound plays an important role in the acoustical design of building and room in
sound insulation
Sound originates from any source either as a speech or music, it is transmitted from the source
in all directions.
The sound continues to travel through, till it impinges or strikes on some surface such as wall,
ceiling, floor or any other barrier, from where, apart of it is reflected back,
A part being absorbed by the surface where it may die out in the material or to be transmitted in
part to another side of barrier
Acoustical defects
Perfect acoustic conditions in a room or in an auditorium are obtained when an average sound
rises to a suitable intensity in every part of the auditorium with no echoes or distortion of the
original sound and then dies out quickly enough so as not to interfere with succeeding
sounds.
To achieve this, in practice, one has to remove or remove or minimize all the defects in
acoustics by considering suitable intensity of sound and an acceptable level of reverberation.
These defects which require due consideration for improving the acoustical conditions are
described below
Formation of echoes

Reverberation

Sound foci and dead spots

Insufficient loudness

Exterior noise nuisance or outdoor noise effects

Summery of acoustical defect, causes and remedies

Effects of sound
High noise conditions not only result in uncomfortable living conditions, fatigue, inefficiency and
mental strain, but prolonged exposure to such conditions may cause temporary deafness or
nervous break-downs.
Sound-proofing is absolutely essential in case of film studios, radio-broadcasting stations,
television stations, sound recording studios etc.
The insulation of noises is important for office buildings , hospitals , educational institute , hotels
etc.
Though it is difficult to prevent the outdoor noises coming into the building but acceptable
indoor noise levels can be achieved by adequate planning of building and its components and by
suitable constructional measures using insulating materials.
TYPES OF NOISE

‘Noise’ is defined as unwanted sound. Noises from their origin point of view are of the
following two types:
1. Outdoor Noises.
2. Indoor Noises.
1. Outdoor Noises: These noises have their source of origin outside the room or
building, such as rood traffic, railways, aero-planes, lifts, loud speakers, moving
machinery in the neighborhood or in adjacent buildings
2. Indoor Noises: These noises have their source of origin inside the room or building,
such as conversation of the occupants, foot steps, banging of doors, shifting of
furniture, in water closets, working of typewriters, playing of radios, gramophones
etc..
TYPES OF NOISE
Another Classifications: From the viewpoint of the analysis of sound insulation problems, the
noises are again classified into two types:
1. Air-borne Noises or Sounds.
2. Structure-borne Noises or Impact Noises or Sounds.
1. Air-borne Noises or Sounds: It is generated in the air and is transmitted through the air
directly to the human ear. This types of sound travels one part to another through small gapes
or openings or by vibrating the partition walls or doors.
2. Structure-borne Noises or Sounds: They are originate and progress in the building structure.
It is caused by impact and transmitted as air-borne noises.
TRANSMISSION OF NOISE

The noise is transmitted in the following 3 ways.

1. Through the air.
2. By the vibration of Structural Members.
3. Through the Structural Members.
The 1st type of noise transmission, being common is important.
The 2nd type becomes prominent only when the enclosing walls, floors, ceilings etc. are of thin
construction.
The 3rd type is prevalent where mechanical vibrations are caused, particularly in case of
factories, work shops, public buildings, offices etc.
SOUND INSULATION vs. SOUND
ABSORPTION

The distinct function of sound absorption is the prevention of reflection of sound waves where
as the function of sound insulation is the prevention of transmission of sound, may be by any
means. Sound insulation is used to indicate the reduction obtained when sound passes from one
room to another room or from one side of partition to the other side.
Porous materials, which are generally good sound absorbents, are poor sound insulators and
vice versa.
TRANSMISSION LOSS

During transmission of air-borne sound from the source to the recipient; a reduction in the
sound intensity takes place and this is termed as ‘Transmission Loss’. This transmission loss is
numerically equivalent to the loss in the intensity of sound expressed in decibels (i.e., dB).
The following facts regarding transmissions loss require special attention:
1. The efficiency of sound insulation of any barrier, such as partition, wall, floor etc. is expressed
in terms of the transmission loss of air-borne sound that occurs while the sound is being
transmitted through the barrier.
2. The transmission loss or sound insulation offered by a structure depends upon the materials
used and the method of construction employed.
3. Transmission loss varies directly with the frequency of sound.
4. Higher sound insulation of a barrier is indicated by the larger transmission loss.
MEANS OF NOISE CONTROL AND
SOUND INSULATION

It have been laid by the Indian Standard (Is: 1952- 1962) for various types of buildings.
Some example of sound insulation between individual rooms:
Between houses or flats: 40 dB.
Between one room and another in the same house or flat: 30 dB.
Between lecture rooms: 40 dB.
Between 2 wards in hospital: 30 dB . etc.
The study of noise control and sound insulation
can be further divided in the following heads
The study of noise control and sound insulation can be further divided in the following heads:
1. General consideration.
2. Constructional measures of noise control and
sound insulation.
3. Practical hints and conclusions.
1. General consideration: The following general considerations should be made for noise control and should
insulation in buildings.
1. The 1st and foremost way of insulating against air-borne noise is to isolate it at source. Air tight rooms for
machinery would achieve this purpose to some extent. Working methods, which create less noise, can be
adopted
2. The residential buildings should be properly located in a quite area away from the noisy surroundings. The
building should be properly oriented with respect to the road and it should be such that doors and windows do
not face the source of noise.
Cont..
3. The different units of a building should be properly planned.
4.The provision of furnishing material and lining of walls and ceilings by means of air-filled
materials, helps to reduce the noise to a great extent.
5. The transmission of noise by vibrations can be prevented by making the walls, floors,
partitions very rigid and massive or heavy.
6. The control of impact sound to some extent is possible by either providing resilient materials
or to carry the whole floor surface on resilient materials.
7. Structure-borne noise or sounds can be prevented by introducing discontinuities in the path
of vibrating waves and by using sound absorbing materials.
8. The personal protective devices, such as earplugs, head-phones etc. can be used to reduce
the noise to the extent of 20 to 30 dB.
Constructional Measures of Noise Control and Sound
Insulation

1. Walls and partitions.

2. Floors and ceilings.
3. Windows and doors.
4. Insulating sanitary fillings.
5. Machine mounting or insulations of machinery
1. Walls and partitions:
these wall constructions should act as vertical barriers in the transmission of air borne sound or
noise. To achieve this objective, the following methods of wall construction can be adopted
depending upon the extent of sound insulation required:
i. Rigid and Massive Homogeneous Partitions.
ii. Partitions of Porous Materials.
A composite Construction employing a combination of rigid materials and porous absorbers can
be adopted with advantage of better insulation with lesser unit weight of partition.
iii. Hollow and Composite Partition Walls or Double wall Constructions.
Floors and Ceilings:
Floors and Ceilings: The objective of floors and ceilings construction should be to offer adequate
insulation against impact sound. The objective can be met by the following constructional
measures.
i. Use of Resilient Surface Material on
Floors: By this method, insulation against impact noises to an extent of 5 to 10dB over a bare
concrete floors can be obtained.
ii. Providing a Floating Floor
Construction: The principle underlying the construction of a floating floor is its insulation
from any other part of structure. Floating floor construction can be adopted for both concrete as
well as wooden floor.
Concrete Floor
Concrete Floor: It is 5 types.
a. Concrete Floor with Floating Concrete Screed.
b. Concrete Floating Wood Raft.
c. Concrete Floor with Suspended Ceiling and Soft Floor Finish or Covering.
d. Concrete Floor with Light Weight Concrete Screed and Soft Floor Finish or covering.
e. Heavy Concrete Floor With a soft Floor Finish or Covering.
Wooden Floors
Wooden Floors : It has 2 types.
Type 1. when Supporting walls are 10cm thick or less.
Type 2. When Supporting Walls are 20cm thick or more.
We can also use of Suspended-ceiling with Airspace.
Windows and Doors:
Windows and Doors: In case of windows, sound insulations of single windows is improved by
making them as air-tight as possible by filling the air space at the edges of such panes with
sound absorbing material.
Insulating Sanitary Fittings:
Insulating Sanitary Fittings: For improved insulation, water-closets should not be fixed above a
living room or next to a bed room unless the latter is well-insulated, as for example by cup-
boards etc.
Machine Mountings or Insulation of Machinery:

The machines or mechanical equipment's create vibrations is an adjoining building and are
transmitted further away as structure-borne sound, the machines should be insulated by resting
them on resilient supports or mountings such as steel springs, rubber, cork etc.
Practical Hints and Conclusions:

i. From view point of noise control, when windows of bed or living rooms face a main traffic
route or a railway line, they should not be situated less than 30 to 45 m from its near edge.
ii. The increase in transmission loss or sound reduction of a solid massive construction is slow in
proportion to the increase in its thickness.
iii. If the material used is of porous and flexible nature, like hair felt, its sound reduction is
proportional to its thickness.
iv. In double wall or cavity wall construction, an air-space is generally better than a filling
material.
v. A cavity wall with two leaves having thickness of 10cm each, has 80% increase in insulation
value as compared to a single brick solid wall of 20cm thickness without any increase in weight
but with a little increase in cost.
Practical Hints and Conclusions:

VI. Smaller and solid glass panes have better insulation property as compared to larger and
thicker flexible glass panes.
VII. Double glazing of glass windows improves insulation to a considerable degree.
VIII. Sealed double windows or triple windows of plate glass with an air-space in between can be
successfully used where sound-proofing is desired.
IX. A steel plate door is more efficient for sound insulation than a double wall, hollow cold
storage type door.
Practical Hints and Conclusions:

The desired sound insulation or sound reduction can be achieved in any one or more of the
following 3 ways:
A. By adopting continuous construction by using homogeneous materials where sound
reduction depends upon the weight per square meter.
b. By adopting semi-discontinuous construction where air-cavities are employed with cross
connection between the two partitions. These cross-connections should be few in number and
preferably made of flexible material
c. By adopting a fully discontinuous construction where there is complete discontinuity in the
structure by means of an air cavity or an elastic acoustic materials. This method is considered
suitable for meeting the requirements of sound insulation of the highest order within the
reasonable weight per square meter.
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