Noisy environments can have negative impacts on the mental and physical health as well as the quality of life of occupants in a building (loss of focus and privacy, stress, sleeping problems, etc.). In today’s reality where working from home and uninterruptible noise pollution are becoming increasingly common, architects, building owners and developers are—now more than ever—aware of the importance of soundproofing, and motivated to improve acoustic performance in buildings.
Understanding Soundproofing
As sound waves can travel through air and components, they must be absorbed by heavy materials (concrete, rubber membranes, gypsum, etc.) to be reduced or blocked. Moreover, as all acoustic materials behave differently depending on the situation, it is important to understand their placement and role in an assembly to obtain optimal soundproofing.
Acoustic performance factors and their principal stakeholders:
- Materials (the manufacturer and installer)
- Type of structure and flooring (the architect and builder)
- Budget (the building owner)
