Find out more about sound with our online guide.
Explaining Noise / Sound Treatments
Sound is measured in Decibels (dB)
There are 2 Main types of Sound Treatments
i) Sound Absorption
ii) Sound Insulation
Sound Absorption Explained
Sound Absorption – Simply described as a process in which sound energy is reduced when sound waves pass through a medium or strike a surface. Also known as acoustic absorption.
More Detailed Explanation - This effect is measured by means of measuring in seconds, the rate of decay of Sound (RT) this is known as the Reverberation Time. Absorption is expressed as a Co-efficient of Absorption and is normally expressed as a decimal of less than 1, ie 0.45.
The process is commonly experienced when filling an empty room with furniture and carpets, before, you will normally experience an “Echo”, this is because sound is bouncing or reflecting around the room, off all surfaces. Adding Absorption, ie soft furnishings and carpets then reduces this bouncing effect and so reduces the (RT).
Typical Materials used to reduce Reverberation Time (RT) include:
Foam
Mineral Fibre (Glass or Rock type)
Basically the thicker the product then the more it will reduce the Reverberation Time and the higher its Absorption Co-efficient will be.
Sound Insulation Explained
Sound Insulation - Simply described as a process in which sound intensity is reduced when sound waves pass through a medium or strike a surface. Also known as Acoustic Insulation.
More Detailed Explanation The effect is measured by determining the Sound Reduction Index (SRI) achieved by a given Material. This SRI is expressed in dB and is calculated by measuring sound created on one side of the material, then measuring sound on the other side of the material, the lowest is deducted from the highest value and the result is known as its SRI value.
The process is commonly experienced when you open and close the door of a room which has a TV or stereo on, the door will act as a sound insulator and you could effectively measure its SRI value in the same way.
Typical Materials used to increase Sound Insulation include:
Plasterboard
Acoustic Mats
Basically the thicker and denser the product then the more it will increase the Sound Insulation and the higher its Sound Reduction Index will be.
Transmission of Sound
Sound is transmitted in basically 2 ways:
Airbourne Transmission
i) Airborne Transmission – This is the transmission of sound via Air Molecules hitting each other. Ie conversation between 2 people in the same room.
To reduce the amount of sound heard by the other person you would need to install a barrier or Sound Insulator between the 2 people, the thicker and taller the barrier then the better the sound reduction will be.
Vibration Transmission
ii) Vibration Transmission – This is the transmission of sound via the connection of different Materials to each other ie Footstep Noise on a floor of a house.
To reduce vibration transmission , you need to either stop the sound getting into the floor, out of the ceiling or a combination of both., by adding a Floating Floor or an Acoustic ceiling system such as Resilient Bars.
The above information is only a brief explanation of some Acoustic Terms , there are many more terms and variables not provided, this is merely an attempt to simplify the various acoustic problems or issues you may be facing. For further assistance please call 0845 5212096
For a range of insulation materials please visit our Acoustic Insulation Materials page.