This section is an
introduction to sound and noise control. It deals mainly with common
lightweight or porous constructions - wood - or steel frame, or concrete
block - since these can easily provide very good sound and noise control but are
also easily spoiled by small oversights or errors.
|
Area |
Problem |
Cause |
|
Walls, Floors &
Ceiling
|
Sound / noise intrusion from an adjoining apartment |
A deficiency in the party wall |
|
Kitchen,
bathroom and entertainment sounds and noises are clearly audible in the "quiet"
areas of home or a neighboring apartment |
Poor layout: Noisy rooms iare beside quiet rooms. |
|
Insufficient sound and noise reduction, even through the wood-stud wall
contains sound-absorbing material. |
Drywall directly attached to the wood
studs on both sides of the wall. |
|
Unknown design or construction error.
Existing wall cannot be disturbed. |
|
Mounting drywall on resilient metal furring does not
sufficiently reduce sound and noise transmission. |
Drywall screws that are too long,
"short-circuiting" the resilient metal furring. |
|
Resilient metal furring between two
layers of drywall, forming a small air space with a solid connection of the
inner layer to the studs |
|
Sound and noise leaking close to the floor wall junction. |
No sealant under the sole plate |
|
Sealant not effective because of
debris under the sole plates. |
|
Improper seal between the drywall and
bottom wall plate or bottom metal track. |
|
Sound and noise leaking through electrical receptacles. |
Unsealed, back-to-back electrical
receptacles |
|
Concrete
block wall not providing sufficient sound proofing or noise reduction.
|
Concrete blocks are porous and will
let some sound pass through. |
|
No seal at the foot of a block wall
finished with drywall |
|
Drywall too close to concrete blocks. |
|
Poured concrete wall does not provide adequate sound proofing or noise reduction.
|
Holes or honeycomb penetrations in the
structure |
|
Holes or honeycomb penetrations in the
structure and no seal at the foot of the drywall. |
|
Poor sound proofing or noise reduction from a lightweight floor system.
|
Ceiling directly attached to the floor
joists. |
|
Poor sealing at edges of ceiling |
|
Flooring with
acoustic ceiling not providing enough sound proofing or noise reduction from storey above. |
No effective sound barrier in ceiling |
|
Flooring not
providing enough insulation form impact sound and noise. |
Upper layer not heavy enough or no
direct absorbing of impacts. |
|
Floating
flooring not
providing expected sound proofing or noise reduction. |
Floor contacting structure at edges |
|
Flanking Sound
|
Good wall
design but poor sound proofing and noise reduction
|
Flanking transmission along the top
layer of a concrete floor. |
|
Flanking transmission along the top
layer of a wood floor. |
|
Transmission through the floor into
the common cavity underneath. |
|
Flanking transmission through the
attic space. |
|
Flanking transmissions along single
continuous layers of drywall on walls at right angles to the party wall or
floor. |
|
Excessive sound and noise transmission through the flooring, especially
footstep and impact sound. |
Flanking transmission down the walls |
|
Excessive sound and noise transmission between bathrooms.
|
Drywall behind bathtubs is not
extended completely to the floor. |
|
Bathroom cabinets are mounted
back-to-back on a common wall.
|
|
Sound and noise leaks around pipes |
|
Plumbing Noise
|
Plumbing
sounds and noises heard all over the house or apartment and in adjoining rooms.
|
Pipes rigidly connected to walls. |
|
Turbulence caused by high
water-pressure and an excessive number of elbows and bends. |
|
Turbulence from noisy valves and
fixtures |
|
Bath, shower and toilet sounds and noises heard in neighboring rooms or
apartments
|
Waste pipes installed close to quiet
areas. |
|
Bathtub, shower or toilet rigidly
attached to building structure, |
|
A noisy toilet solidly connected to
the floor. |
|
Loud
banging when, faucets are closed, dishwasher, clothes washing machine
valves operate |
Water hammer-shock waves generated
when valves close to rapidly. |
|
External Sounds & Noise
|
Outdoor
sound and noise penetration into the home
|
Windows left open to provide
ventilation. At noisy sites, windows must be closed for acceptable sound
and noise
reduction. |
|
Sound and noise leaks around windows or doors |
|
Sound and noise transmitted through an
inadequate window |
|
Sound and noise transmitted through an
inadequate door. |
|
Sound and noise transmitted through an exterior
wall. |
|
Sound and noise transmitted through the roof or
ceiling |
|
Outdoor Appliances
|
Sound and noise annoys neighbors
|
Sound and noise from an appliance is a quiet
neighborhood |
|
Appliance in a poor location |
|
Poor location or noisy appliance |
|
Indoor Appliances
|
Sound and noise from a forced-air furnace |
The fan or combustion systems for some
modern high-efficiency furnaces are noisy. |
|
Ducts creak or bang when furnace cycles on and off |
Expansion and contraction |
|
Noisy appliances (dishwasher, washing machine) |
Load noise generation, poor location,
poor insulation |
|
Noisy ventilation equipment
|
Fan equipment |
|
Ducts carry sound |
|
Ventilation equipment connected
directly to the building's structure. |
