Sound insulating ability of materials. Which material is best for soundproofing

To ensure a good level of comfort in both life and work, it is very important to create a pleasant sound environment. To solve this problem, soundproof materials are used. They are widely represented in the construction market. You can choose a solution for any parameters: place of application, cost, scope of work, etc. Moreover, in a number of materials sound insulation is combined with thermal insulation or waterproofing, which is very convenient.

Soundproof materials

Installation of soundproofing walls can be done by yourself, although it is better to contact the teams specializing in this. Also, given that noise insulation work requires rather dirty processes, you need to try to install sound insulation even at the stage of preparing the room for finishing.

There are several types of noise, which can be grouped into two groups:

• Airborne noise. These are sounds that are carried through the air: screams, conversation, laughter, music. Such noise comes from neighbors through small cracks and cracks in walls and ceilings, as well as through open windows;
• Impact noise... These are sounds that are carried over hard floors and walls. Otherwise, shock noises are also called vibrations. Such sounds are especially annoying and unpleasant: drilling a hammer drill; subwoofer; slamming doors; stomp; jumping.

Special equipment is required to measure airborne or impact noise. There are various models of such devices: from professional expensive ones to household ones with a quite affordable price up to 2000 rubles. Regardless of the cost, the principle of operation of instruments for measuring noise is the same. Conversion of vibration of the trapping membrane into electric current. The greater the vibration amplitude, the more amperes are generated. The final data is displayed on the scoreboard.

Noise Level Tester

According to SNiPs, an acceptable noise level in residential buildings during the day (from 7:00 to 23:00) is considered to be 40 decibels (dB), which is comparable in volume to a normal conversation.

The upper noise threshold for this time should not exceed 55 dB, which is comparable to the volume level of a typewriter or light slaps of the palm on the table. At night, in residential buildings, the upper sound threshold is legally established at 40 dB, but the recommended noise level is 20-25 dB (whisper volume).

These requirements are often unattainable. And often not because of someone's malicious intent, but because of the peculiarities of the house: thin walls, thin partitions, through holes for electrical boxes and sockets, and much more. If the vibration noise insulation in the house does not correspond to the desired one, then the best solution would be to install special sound-insulating structures or materials.

Materials for sound insulation must be selected based on how high-quality soundproofing of the walls is required. All other things being equal, preference is given, usually, to those materials for which the sound insulation index is higher. Sound insulation coefficient, sound insulation index or impact noise reduction index is a qualitative indicator that reflects how many dB impact noise transmitted along walls and ceilings will be reduced.

Noise insulation materials

Soundproofing materials are of the following types:

• soundproof acoustic sealant;
• soundproofing boards made of polyurethane foam;
• soundproof underlays for floor coverings;
• soundproofing panels for floors;
• sound-absorbing linoleum;
• soundproof tape for vibration damping;
• soundproofing sealant;
• soundproof foam rubber;
• non-combustible sound-absorbing mineral wool slabs;
• soundproof panels;
• self-adhesive roll material against impact noise based on bitumen;
• soundproofing mats for floating floors;
• sound insulating base for floating floors;
• vibration-damping and sound-absorbing mastic;
• sprayed liquid sound insulation based on cellulose;
• soundproof foam;
• cork substrates.

Let's consider some of them:

Shumoplast

A mixture of granules of elastic material, a rubber additive and an acrylic-based binder. This soundproofing material has been specially designed to create a damping base for floating floors. It copes with its task perfectly. The best material for rooms with complex shapes. Also Shumoplast is irreplaceable when working in large rooms.

Impact noise reduction index from 24 to 32 dB

Pros:

• allows you to abandon the installation of a waterproofing layer;
• shrinkage no more than 5% under a load of 5 kPa;
• allows local unevenness of the floor surface up to 15 mm;
• long service life;
• does not lose soundproofing properties during operation;
• simplicity and high speed of application;
• environmental friendliness.

Minuses:

• it takes time to dry (about a day).

Soundproof foam rubber

It is a specially shaped polyurethane foam. The material is used when sound insulation and sound absorption of both noise penetrating into the room and coming from it is required. Foam rubber is glued to the walls and ceilings of rooms, recording studios, cinemas to create better acoustics. It is also possible to create special mobile soundproof panels from sound-insulating foam rubber. Acoustic foam rubber is mounted on the surface with glue. Some manufacturers have a self-adhesive tape on the back of the material.

Pros:

• mounted in an open way;
• elastic and flexible;
• effective material.

Minuses:

• requires careful operation;
• melts when burning with the formation of poisonous smoke;
• collapses from heat and ultraviolet radiation.

Soundproof foam rubber

Teksound

Soundproofing material made on a mineral basis. Rolled soundproofing with a high mass density and. The thickness of the material (4 mm) allows it to be used for walls and ceilings.

Impact noise reduction index up to 28 dB

Pros:

• resistance to decay;
• flexibility and elasticity;
• easy and simple to fit;
• does not change the soundproofing properties during operation;
• slightly flammable material, self-extinguishing.

Minuses:

• not cheap enough soundproofing;
• when mounted on concrete, it requires an obligatory substrate.

Teksound

Acoustic decorative plate Audek

Perforated soundproofing panels. Combines good sound insulation and decorative finishes. The outside is sheathed with natural veneer, the color of which can be chosen based on the requirements of the design project. The slabs are designed primarily for sound absorption of noise from inside the room. Installation of soundproofing walls of Audek is very fast.

Sound absorption coefficient up to 0.95

Pros:

• environmental friendliness;
• efficiency
• ease of installation.

Minuses:

• high price.

Panels Audek

Isoplast

Softwood sound insulation material. It suppresses noise well, gives a heat-insulating effect. It can be used as sound insulation under plaster.

Pros:

• environmental friendliness;
• ease of installation.

Minuses:

• high price.

Isoplast

Mineral wool

A natural material based on basalt, also called stone wool. Has a high density. Manufacturing technology is similar to glass wool. Soundproofing materials of this type combine sound insulation and thermal insulation well.

Impact noise reduction index up to 30 dB

Pros:

• withstands temperatures up to 550˚С;
• does not contain formaldehyde resins;
• does not require lathing during installation;
• environmentally friendly;
• durable;
• resistant to shrinkage;

Minuses:

• absorbs moisture, requires mandatory waterproofing.

Mineral wool

Soundproof membrane

Thin soundproofing made of natural minerals and polymer binder. The soundproofing film can be used on all types of surfaces, to which it is attached with an adhesive.

Impact noise reduction index up to 22 dB

Pros:

• operating temperature range from -60˚C to +180;
• high tear resistance;
• elasticity;
• environmental friendliness;
• durability;
• does not break when bending up to -20˚С;

Minuses:

• high price.

Soundproof membrane

Soundproof plaster

Effective with a thickness of at least 2 cm

Pros:

• speeds up the repair process;
• aligns the walls;
• environmentally friendly;
• wide range of operating temperatures.

Minuses:

• ineffectiveness in suppressing external noise;
• the need to apply in several layers
• high price.

Soundproof plaster

Shumoizol

Two-layer material produced in rolls. Consists of non-woven fabric - base and bitumen layer. Excellent vibration isolation. This thin sound insulation, due to its good sound-absorbing properties and resistance to compression, can be used even with frameless (this method is when the metal profile is not exposed, and the gypsum board is attached directly to the wall).

Impact noise reduction index up to 27 dB

Pros:

• combines soundproofing and waterproofing properties;
• elastic and flexible;
• environmentally friendly;
• durability.

Minuses:

• high price.

Shumoizol

Cork

Natural material from extruded cork chips. Very good sound and heat retention. Available in sheets, panels, rolls, etc.

Impact noise reduction index for material thickness 3 mm - 18 dB

Pros:

• ease of installation;
• does not absorb liquid;
• environmentally friendly;
• durable;
• decorative;
• retains well not only sound, but also heat;
• efficiency.

Minuses:

• accuracy is required during installation, since the material can tear;
• high price.

Cork

Soundproof

Roll material, a combination of foamed polyethylene foam and bitumen layer.

Impact noise reduction index up to 23 dB

Pros:

• combines waterproofing and soundproofing properties;
• elastic and flexible;
• environmentally friendly;
• operating temperature range from -25˚С to + 85˚С;
• durability;
• low cost.

Minuses:

• not identified.

Soundproof

Specialized types of sound insulation

There are many types of soundproofing materials. Some of them are used exclusively in construction and decoration, while others are universal.

Automotive noise insulation is highlighted in a separate section. The materials that are used on car bodies can also be used in construction.

So, for example, car vibration damping mastic is perfect if you need to reduce the volume of a tin roof and walls of a metal corrugated sheet shed. The mastic is applied with a brush or, if the consistency allows, a spray gun. It dries quickly and dampens noise and vibration quite well.

Another good solution for soundproofing in an apartment, which is borrowed from the automotive world, is vibration damping materials such as Vibroplast or the like. Sheet and roll materials are made on a bituminous basis, akin to Shumaizol or Zvukoizol. An important difference is that Vibroplast is self-adhesive. It is very easy to install - you just need to peel off the protective layer and press the sheet against the insulated surface. Convenient solution for vibration isolation of small areas. For example, you can also improve the balcony door.

To create a practically soundproof house, it will not be enough to use only one of the listed materials. On each element of the structure, some of their solutions will be appropriate and effective. It is best if a combination of several materials is used: for vibration absorption, sound insulation and sound absorption.

As the quality of housing improves, when the question of the number of square meters has ceased to be the only determining factor, the problem of sound insulation of residential premises becomes more and more urgent. However, due to the fact that this question is quite specific, i.e. In the theory of acoustics, there are a lot of implicit features and conclusions "illogical" from the point of view of common sense; in this area a large number of myths and misconceptions have arisen and become firmly established.

This leads to the fact that a large number of people have formed a stable stereotype about what materials, if necessary, can solve all the problems of insufficient sound insulation. However, the practical use of such materials at best will leave the situation unchanged, at worst - will lead to an increase in noise in the room. As a first example:

The myth of the soundproofing properties of cork

Almost everyone believes that cork is a good sound insulator. These kinds of statements can be found on many construction forums. And the "application technology" is developed "to the smallest detail. If you hear a neighbor behind the wall - you need to glue a cork over the wall common with the neighbor, if the noise comes from the ceiling - then the ceiling. And the resulting acoustic effect is amazing ... in its absence! But what's the matter? After all, the seller showed the data of acoustic tests, where the effect of sound insulation was indicated, and not a very small effect - about 20 dB! Is it really a deception ?!

Not really. The numbers are true. But the fact is that such figures were obtained not for "sound insulation in general", but only for the so-called impact sound insulation... In addition, the indicated values ​​are only valid for the case when the given cork covering is laid under a concrete screed or parquet board near the neighbor on top. Then you really hear your neighbor's steps 20 dB quieter than if the neighbor did not have this pad. But for music or the sound of a neighbor's voice, as well as for all other uses of cork in other versions, these figures of "sound insulation" have, unfortunately, nothing to do. The effect is not only faintly noticeable, it is zero! Of course, cork is an environmentally friendly and warm material, but you shouldn't attribute all possible soundproofing properties to it.

All of the above also applies to foam, polyethylene foam (PPE), polyurethane foam and other similar materials, which have different trademarks starting with "foam" and ending with "-fol", "-fom" and "-lon". Even with an increase in the thickness of these materials up to 50 mm, their sound insulation properties (with the exception of impact sound insulation) leave much to be desired.

Another misconception closely related to the first. Let's designate it as:

The myth of subtle soundproofing

The ground for this misconception is the struggle to improve the acoustic comfort of the room, along with the desire to preserve the original square meters. The desire to preserve the height of the ceiling and the area of ​​the room is quite understandable, moreover, for standard apartments with a small footage and a low ceiling. According to statistical observations, the overwhelming majority of people are ready to donate "for sound insulation" to increase the thickness of the wall and ceiling no more than 10 - 20 mm. To this there is still a requirement to obtain a rigid front surface ready for painting or wallpapering.

Here all the same materials come to the rescue: cork, PPE, polyurethane foam up to 10 mm thick. Thermosvukoizol is added to them in a separate line. But for this case, these materials are sewn up with a layer of drywall, which acts as a rigid wall, ready for finishing.

Since the acoustic properties of cork and PPE for sound insulation of walls and ceilings were discussed above, we will focus on thermal sound insulation.

Termozvukoizol (TZI) is a roll material, where a polymer material "Lutrasil" is used as a shell (like a duvet cover), and super-thin fiberglass fibers are used as a stuffing (blanket). The thickness of such material fluctuates in the region of 5-8 mm. I do not presume to discuss the thermal insulation qualities of TZI, but as for sound insulation:

Firstly, TZI is not a sound-insulating material, but a sound-absorbing material.... Thus, its own sound insulation is out of the question. We can only talk about the soundproofing of the structure, in which it is used as a filler.

Secondly, the sound insulation of such a structure largely depends on the thickness of the sound-absorbing material located inside. The thickness of the TZI, at which this material will be effective in a sound insulating structure, must be at least 40 - 50 mm. And these are 5 - 7 layers. With a layer thickness of 8 mm, the acoustic effect of this material is VERY LITTLE. As, however, and any other materials the same thickness. There is nothing to be done - the law of acoustics!

ZIPS panels can be recommended as a really effective material for additional noise insulation of walls and ceilings. For example, ZIPS-Vector panels with a structure thickness of 53 mm increase noise insulation by 9-11 dB, and the newest ZIPS-III-Ultra panels with the same thickness - by 11-13 dB. The panels are patented and currently have no analogues in the world.

Thus, with a total thickness of the structure of additional noise insulation of 20 - 30 mm (including a layer of drywall), one should not expect an increase in noise insulation that is noticeable to the ear.

In addition to these, perhaps the most common misconceptions, there are others, less known, but no less significant. Therefore, in matters of ensuring the required sound insulation of the premises, it is best to immediately contact the specialists. Sometimes a single glance is enough for a professional acoustician to immediately assess the ineffectiveness of the proposed measures or the materials used. But the most unpleasant thing is to spend time, effort and money, and not feel the results of your labor.

Acoustic principles are often misinterpreted and, as a result, incorrectly applied in practice.

Much of what should be attributed to knowledge and experience in this area, in fact, often turns out to be incompetence. Most builders' traditional approach to soundproofing and correcting room acoustics is based on practice and experience, which often limits or even diminishes the overall acoustic effect. Successful acoustic projects are generally free from misconceptions and pseudoscientific conclusions, and their content is geared towards ensuring that the money and effort invested is beneficial and predictable.

Listed below are some of the most common acoustic myths that we constantly encounter when communicating with our customers.

Myth # 1: Soundproofing and Sound Absorption Are the Same

Facts: Sound absorption - a decrease in the energy of the reflected sound wave when interacting with an obstacle, for example, a wall, partition, floor, ceiling. It is carried out by dissipating energy, transforming it into heat, exciting vibrations. Sound absorption is assessed using the dimensionless sound absorption coefficient αw in the frequency range 125-4000 Hz. This coefficient can take a value from 0 to 1 (the closer to 1, the correspondingly higher sound absorption). Using sound-absorbing materials, they improve the hearing conditions inside the room itself.

Sound insulation - reducing the sound level when sound passes through the fence from one room to another. The effectiveness of sound insulation is assessed by the airborne noise insulation index Rw (averaged over the frequency range most typical for housing - from 100 to 3000 Hz), and the floor slabs also by the index of the reduced level of impact noise under the ceiling Lnw. The higher the Rw and the lower the Lnw, the higher the sound insulation. Both quantities are measured in dB (decibel).

Advice: To increase sound insulation, it is recommended to use the most massive and thickest enclosing structures. Decorating a room with sound-absorbing materials alone is ineffective and does not lead to a significant increase in sound insulation between rooms.

Myth No. 2: The higher the value of the airborne sound insulation index Rw, the higher the sound insulation of the fence

Facts: The airborne sound insulation index Rw is an integral characteristic applied only for the frequency range 100-3000 Hz and calculated for the assessment of household noises (speech, radio, TV). The higher the Rw value, the higher the sound isolation of this type.
In the process of developing the methodology for calculating the Rw index, the appearance in modern residential buildings of home theaters and noisy engineering equipment (fans, air conditioners, pumps, etc.) was not taken into account.
A situation is possible when a lightweight GKL frame partition has an Rw index higher than that of a brick wall of similar thickness. In this case, the frame partition is much better at isolating the sounds of a voice, a working TV, a phone ringing or an alarm clock, but a brick wall will reduce the sound of a home theater subwoofer more effectively.

Advice: Analyze the frequency response of existing or potential noise sources before installing partitions in a room. When choosing options for the construction of partitions, we recommend comparing their sound insulation in one-third octave frequency bands, and not the Rw indices. For soundproofing low-frequency noise sources (home theater, mechanical equipment), it is recommended to use enclosing structures made of dense massive materials.

Myth No. 3: Noisy engineering equipment can be located in any part of the building, because it can always be soundproofed with special materials.

Facts: The correct location of noisy engineering equipment is of paramount importance when developing an architectural and planning solution for a building and measures to create an acoustically comfortable environment. Soundproofing structures and vibration damping materials can be very expensive. Despite this, the use of soundproofing technologies cannot always reduce the acoustic impact of engineering equipment to standard values ​​in the entire sound frequency range.

Advice: Noisy engineering equipment must be located away from the protected premises. Many vibration isolation materials and technologies have efficiency limitations depending on the combination of equipment and building structures weight and size characteristics. Many types of engineering equipment have pronounced low frequency characteristics that are difficult to isolate.

Myth No. 4: Windows with a double-glazed unit (3 panes) have higher sound insulation characteristics compared to windows with a single-pane unit (2 panes)

Facts: Due to the acoustic coupling between the glasses and the occurrence of resonance phenomena in thin air gaps (usually they are 8-10 mm), two-chamber double-glazed windows, as a rule, do not provide significant sound insulation from external noise compared to single-chamber double-glazed windows of the same width and total glass thickness. With the same thickness of glass units and the total thickness of glass in them, a single-chamber glass unit will always have a higher value of the airborne noise insulation index Rw in comparison with a two-chamber one.

Advice: To increase the sound insulation of a window, it is recommended to use double-glazed windows of the maximum possible width (at least 36 mm), consisting of two massive glasses, preferably of different thicknesses (for example, 6 and 8 mm) and the widest possible distance bar. If, nevertheless, a double-glazed window is used, then it is recommended to use glasses of different thicknesses and air gaps of different widths. The profile system must provide a three-circuit sash seal around the window perimeter. In real conditions, the quality of the porch affects the sound insulation of the window even more than the glass unit formula. Please note that sound insulation is a frequency-dependent characteristic. Sometimes an insulating glass unit with a higher Rw index can be less effective than an insulating glass unit with a lower Rw index in some frequency ranges.

Myth 5: The use of mineral wool mats in frame partitions is sufficient to ensure high sound insulation between rooms.

Facts: Mineral wool is not a sound insulating material; it can only be one of the elements of a sound insulating structure. For example, special sound-absorbing acoustic mineral wool boards can increase the sound insulation of gypsum plasterboard partitions, depending on their design, by 5-8 dB. On the other hand, cladding a single-layer frame partition with a second layer of drywall can increase its sound insulation by 5-6 dB.
Nevertheless, it must be remembered that the use of arbitrary heaters in soundproof structures leads to much less or no effect on sound insulation at all.

Advice: To increase the sound insulation of the building envelope, it is strongly recommended to use special acoustic mineral wool slabs due to its high sound absorption performance. But acoustic mineral wool must be used in combination with soundproofing methods, such as the construction of massive and / or acoustically decoupled enclosing structures, the use of special soundproofing fixtures, etc.

Myth No. 6: Sound insulation between two rooms can always be increased by erecting a partition with a high sound insulation index

Facts: Sound spreads from one room to another not only through the dividing partition, but also through all adjacent building structures and utilities (partitions, ceiling, floor, windows, doors, air ducts, water supply, heating and sewerage pipelines). This phenomenon is called indirect sound transmission. All building elements require soundproofing measures. For example, if you build a partition with a sound insulation index of Rw = 60 dB, and then mount a door without a threshold in it, then the total sound insulation of the fence will practically be determined by the sound insulation of the door and be no more than Rw = 20-25 dB. The same will happen if you connect both insulated rooms with a common ventilation duct laid through a soundproof partition.

Advice: When erecting building structures, it is necessary to ensure a "balance" between their sound insulation properties so that each of the sound propagation channels has approximately the same effect on the total sound insulation. Particular attention should be paid to the ventilation system, windows and doors.

Myth No. 7: Multi-layer framed partitions have better sound insulation characteristics than conventional 2-layer partitions.

Facts: Intuitively, it seems that the more alternating layers of drywall and mineral wool, the higher the soundproofing of the fence. In fact, the sound insulation of frame partitions depends not only on the mass of the cladding and on the thickness of the air gap between them.

Various designs of frame partitions are shown in Fig. 1 and are arranged in ascending order of sound insulating capacity. As an initial design, consider a partition with double plasterboard cladding on both sides.

If we redistribute the drywall layers in the original partition, making them alternate, we will divide the existing air gap into several thinner segments. Reducing air gaps leads to an increase in the resonant frequency of the structure, which significantly reduces sound insulation, especially at low frequencies.
With the same number of GKL sheets, the partition with one air gap has the greatest sound insulation.

Thus, the use of the right technical solution in the design of soundproof partitions and the optimal combination of sound-absorbing and general construction materials have a much greater impact on the final soundproofing result than a simple choice of special acoustic materials.

Advice: To increase the sound insulation of frame partitions, it is recommended to use structures on independent frames, double or even triple plasterboard cladding, fill the internal space of the frames with special sound-absorbing material, use elastic gaskets between guide profiles and building structures, carefully seal the joints.
It is not recommended to use multi-layer structures with alternating dense and elastic layers.

Myth # 8: Styrofoam is an effective soundproofing and sound-absorbing material.

Fact A: Polyfoam is produced in sheets of various thicknesses and bulk density. Different manufacturers call their products differently, but the essence of this does not change - it is expanded polystyrene. This is an excellent heat-insulating material, but it has nothing to do with sound insulation of airborne noise. The only structure in which the use of foam can have a positive effect on noise reduction is laying it under a screed in a floating floor structure. And even then this concerns the reduction of impact noise only. At the same time, the effectiveness of a foam layer 40-50 mm thick under the screed does not exceed the effectiveness of most cushioning sound-insulating materials with a thickness of only 3-5 mm. The overwhelming number of builders recommends sticking foam sheets on walls or ceilings to increase sound insulation and then plastering. In fact, such a "soundproofing structure" will not increase, and in most cases even reduce (!!!) the soundproofing of the fence. The fact is that facing a massive wall or overlap with a layer of drywall or plaster using an acoustically rigid material such as expanded polystyrene leads to a deterioration in the sound insulation of such a two-layer structure. This is due to resonance phenomena in the midrange. For example, if such a cladding is mounted on both sides of a heavy wall (Fig. 3), then the decrease in sound insulation can be catastrophic! In this case, a simple oscillatory system (Fig. 2) “mass m1-spring-mass m2-spring-mass m1” is obtained, where: mass m1 is a layer of plaster, mass m2 is a concrete wall, a spring is a layer of foam.

Fig. 2	Fig. 4
Fig. 3

Rice. 2 ÷ 4 Deterioration of airborne noise insulation by the wall when installing additional cladding (plaster) on an elastic layer (foam).

a - without additional cladding (R'w = 53 dB);

b - with additional cladding (R'w = 42 dB).

Like any oscillatory system, this design has a resonant frequency Fo. Depending on the thickness of the foam and plaster, the resonant frequency of this structure will be in the frequency range of 200 ÷ 500 Hz, i.e. falls into the middle of the speech range. Near the resonant frequency, there will be a dip in sound insulation (Fig. 4), which can reach 10-15 dB!

It should be noted that the use of materials such as polyethylene foam, polypropylene foam, some types of hard polyurethanes, sheet cork and soft fiberboard, and instead of plastering gypsum plasterboards on glue, plywood sheets, chipboard, OSB, can lead to the same disastrous result. ...

Fact B: In order for the material to absorb sound energy well, it is necessary that it be porous or fibrous, i.e. blown out. Expanded polystyrene is a windproof material with a closed cellular structure (with air bubbles inside). A layer of foam, mounted on a rigid surface of a wall or floor, has a vanishingly low sound absorption coefficient.

Advice: When installing additional sound-insulating facings, it is recommended to use acoustically soft sound-absorbing materials, for example, based on thin basalt fiber, as a damping layer. It is important to use special sound-absorbing materials, and not arbitrary insulation.

And finally, perhaps the most important misconception, the exposure of which follows from all the above facts:

Myth No. 9: It is possible to soundproof a room from airborne noise by gluing or fixing thin, but "effective" soundproofing materials on the surface of the walls and ceiling

Facts: The main factor exposing this myth is the presence of the problem of sound insulation itself. If such thin sound-insulating materials existed in nature, then the problem of noise protection would be solved even at the design stage of buildings and structures and would be reduced only to the choice of the appearance and price of such materials.

It was said above that to isolate airborne noise, it is necessary to use sound-insulating structures of the "mass-elasticity-mass" type, in which a layer of acoustically "soft" material, thick enough and having high values ​​of the sound absorption coefficient, would be located between the sound-reflecting layers. It is impossible to fulfill all these requirements within the overall structure thickness of 10-20 mm. The minimum thickness of the soundproofing cladding, the effect of which would be obvious and tangible, is at least 50 mm. In practice, claddings with a thickness of 75 mm or more are used. The greater the depth of the frame, the higher the sound insulation.

Sometimes "experts" cite as an example the technology of soundproofing car bodies with thin materials. In this case, a completely different mechanism of noise isolation works - vibration damping, which is effective only for thin plates (in the case of a car, metal). The vibration damping material must be viscoelastic, have high internal losses and have a thickness greater than that of the insulated plate. Indeed, in fact, although car noise insulation is only 5-10 mm thick, it is 5-10 times thicker than the metal itself, from which the car body is made. If we imagine an interroom wall as an insulating plate, then it becomes obvious that the "automobile" method of vibration damping will not be able to soundproof a massive and thick brick wall.

Advice: Performing soundproofing works in any case requires a certain loss of usable area and height of the room. It is recommended to consult an acoustician at the design stage in order to minimize these losses and choose the cheapest and most effective soundproofing option for your premises.

Conclusion

There are many more misconceptions in the practice of building acoustics than described above. These examples will help you avoid some serious mistakes during construction or renovation work in your apartment, house, recording studio or home theater. These examples illustrate the fact that you should not unconditionally believe the repair articles from glossy magazines or the words of an "experienced" builder - "... And we always do this ...", which are not always based on scientific acoustic principles.

A reliable guarantee of the correct implementation of the complex of soundproofing measures that ensure the maximum acoustic effect can be provided by competently drawn up acoustic engineer recommendations on the soundproofing of walls, floors and ceilings.

Andrey Smirnov, 2008

Bibliography

SNiP II-12-77 "Protection against noise" / M .: "Stroyizdat", 1978.
"Guide to MGSN 2.04-97. Design of sound insulation of enclosing structures of residential and public buildings "/ - M .: GUP" NIATs ", 1998.
"Handbook on protection against noise and vibration of residential and public buildings" / ed. IN AND. Zaborova. - Kiev: ed. "Budivelnik", 1989.
"Designer handbook. Protection against noise "/ ed. Yudina E.Ya. - M .: "Stroyizdat", 1974.
"Guidelines for the calculation and design of sound insulation of building envelopes" / NIISF Gosstroy of the USSR. - M .: Stroyizdat, 1983.
"Reducing noise in buildings and residential areas" / ed. G.L. Osipova / M .: Stroyizdat, 1987.

Sound insulation is measured in decibels, a term used when it comes to reducing the volume of incoming / outgoing noise.

Sound absorption is estimated by calculating the sound absorption coefficient and measured from 0 to 1 (the closer to 1, the better). Sound-absorbing materials absorb and dampen sound inside the room, resulting in a loss of echo.

If you need to get rid of the noise of your neighbors, you need soundproofing materials. If you need the absence of echo in the room, they are sound-absorbing.

How to reduce the noise of neighbors up / down / behind the wall? Can I get them out of my noise?

Soundproofing the ceiling is a losing option. A maximum reduction of 3 to 9 dB can be achieved. Try to negotiate with your neighbors and make them soundproofing the floor, then you will achieve a reduction of up to 25-30 dB!

The soundproofing of the wall depends on the type of wall. They are either being built or already existing (between rooms and apartments). For the walls to be erected, immediately make double, independent frames. The thicker and more multi-layered the wall, the higher the chance of achieving a noise reduction of 50-60 dB in the apartment.

For existing walls - either make a frame filled with soundproofing materials, but be prepared that it will "eat" 10 cm of space. Or, if space is tight, fix soundproofing panels or roll material directly to the wall.

For soundproofing the floor, place TOPSILENT DUO or FONOSTOP BAR under the screed. If it is not possible to raise the floor under the screed by 10 cm, then lay soundproofing materials under the floor covering. Please note that in this case, the noise will decrease by no more than 10-15 dB.

Try to keep the screed and flooring away from the walls of the premises. The "floating" design provides the best soundproofing properties. Conversely, if the soundproofing layer crawls onto the walls by a couple of centimeters, this will additionally dampen the sound waves.

We made repairs, did not think about soundproofing and now we hear the noise of our neighbors, how to fix it?

Unfortunately, you will have to make changes to the repairs that have already been made.

If soundproofing of the floor is required, remove the laminate (or other finish) and place the FONOSTOP DUO soundproofing membrane underneath.

If there are walls, then, as mentioned above, the coating must be removed, a frame made and a TOPSILENT BITEX material must be glued. Likewise for the ceiling.

What materials to use for soundproofing an apartment? How many do you need? How to calculate the required amount?

An integrated approach is required for soundproofing an apartment. A construction is assembled, a "sandwich" of several materials. The thickness of a quality construction is about 7-10 centimeters.

To calculate the required amount, send the dimensions of the room - length, width and height, the manager will make the calculation and tell you what materials will be needed.

What materials do you need for a recording studio?

For a recording studio, both types of materials are important and necessary - soundproofing and sound absorbing. First of all, high-quality sound in the studio is achieved through the use of sound-absorbing, acoustic panels made of expanded melamine or polyurethane with open cells. The cellular structure of the material "dampens" sound vibrations. We recommend using thick panels up to 100 mm, this will provide sound absorption in a wide frequency range. In addition, install "bass traps" up to 200-230 mm thick.

Soundproofing is simple - more layers and it is desirable to use two-layer materials with a lead layer, for example, AKUSTIK METAL SLIK.

What is the best soundproofing?

The best material is the one that will solve the problem. The same soundproofing materials manifest themselves in different ways depending on the volume, type of walls, ceiling of the room. We recommend that you consult with a specialist before starting repairs.

How is the installation of sound-insulating and sound-absorbing materials done?

The easiest way is to attach sound absorbing acoustic panels. Take any type of glue and attach it where necessary. The material is lightweight and easily adheres to the surface.

For the installation of soundproof materials, specially designed adhesives are used - OTTOCOLL P270 (for the floor) and FONOCOLL (for walls and ceilings).

Are you delivering materials? Is there a pickup?

Yes, we do. Choose a convenient delivery method: self-pickup from a warehouse in Lyubertsy, delivery by van within the MKAD and Moscow region (up to 100 km) or a transport company if you are far from Moscow.

Where can I see prices?

The price list for sound-proof and sound-absorbing materials is in the "Price-lists" section.

Constant noise is an indispensable companion for residents of large cities. Some people get used to knocking doors, footsteps overhead and working TVs outside the bedroom wall, but most townspeople try to protect themselves from too aggressive acoustics by installing soundproofing systems in their apartments. Modern soundproofing materials for houses and apartments allow to counteract practically all types of noise: airborne, shock and structural.

Peculiarities

It is not the presence of noise as such that brings discomfort to a person, but exceeding the permissible sound power values. With a noise of 25-30 dB, the human body feels most comfortable, as the sound stimuli increase, the attitude to noise changes to a tolerable one, which it remains until a power of 60 dB is reached. When this index is exceeded, noise becomes an aggressive irritating factor that can significantly affect the state of the psyche.

In modern cities, noise can be of a different nature:

• Airborne noise includes barking dogs, voices, mid and high frequencies of music, noise from cars, etc.
• Impact noise includes low-frequency music (subwoofer), furniture moving, indoor walking, hammer drill and other construction tools.
• Structural noise is a mix of the above-mentioned noises, which is the transmission of vibrations from all types of sound effects through the structures of buildings.
• Acoustic noise occurs in half-empty rooms, this is a familiar echo to everyone.

Accordingly, to protect against each type of noise, soundproofing materials with certain physical characteristics are required: sound absorption and sound insulation.

One of the most important is the sound absorption coefficient, which is determined on the basis of acoustic tests carried out for each building material. The maximum is 100% sound absorption, which is characterized by a coefficient value of 1. This indicator is directly related to the degree of density and allows you to distinguish the following categories:

• Solid materials, which include granulated or suspended mineral wool, as well as vermiculite, perlite or pumice. These materials have an average absorption coefficient of 0.5 and a fairly high bulk density of about 400 kg / m3.
• Semi-rigid: slabs of mineral wool or fiberglass wool, as well as materials with a cellular structure, for example, polyurethane foam, etc. The sound absorption coefficient varies between 0.5-0.75, the mass can be from 80 to 130 kg / m3, depending from the variety.
• Felt, fiberglass and mineral wool, which are not pressed into slabs, are considered soft. They have a high absorption coefficient - 0.7-0.95 with a bulk density within 70 kg / m3.

In order to successfully deal with noise, it is also necessary to take into account such an indicator as the sound insulation index of the material. It is measured in the same value as noise - in decibels (db) and is calculated for each type of building materials: concrete, gypsum board, brick, foam blocks, mineral wool, etc. A monolithic floor slab, which has a thickness of at least 200 mm, has a sound insulation index 74 dB. For a new brick wall with a thickness of half a brick (150 mm), the maximum index is 47 db, which decreases over time due to the appearance of cracks and cracks.

To prevent the audibility of human speech, the wall must have a sound insulation index of at least 50 dB. Accordingly, thin walls in panel houses that do not meet this indicator need to be further strengthened.

This can be done in several ways:

• build additional dense and massive walls or ceilings, for example, from foam blocks, while observing the maximum tightness;
• create a multi-layer structure of several soundproofing materials, alternating between soft and hard types for maximum suppression of all types of noise and observing the rules of tightness;
• use ready-made sound-insulating panels made of materials of various densities and structures and designed for a wide frequency range of sound waves.

Due to the fact that the arrangement of powerful walls / partitions made of brick or concrete requires the corresponding power of the foundation, these indicators must be included in the architectural calculations even at the stage of drawing up construction and project documentation.

In cases where it is necessary to enhance the soundproofing qualities of an already built wall or to erect soundproofing partitions in an apartment, either ready-made soundproofing panels are used, or prefabricated structures from various modern materials are installed directly on site.

Varieties

Modern types of materials for sound insulation are usually considered in terms of resistance to one or another type of noise.

Materials that successfully resist impact noise are called sound-repellent because they do not absorb, but repel sound waves. Most often, such materials are used in the construction of "floating floors" as a substrate.

Modern industry provides a huge selection of insulating substrates:

• Staple fiberglass. The material belongs to the class of durable, has a high impact noise reduction index - 42 dB, non-flammable. This category includes such material as "Shumostop - C2".
• The membrane is polymer-bituminous. The base is a soundproof layer made of non-woven polyethylene, on the surface of which a coating of bitumen with plasticizers-polymers is applied, reinforced with glass fiber. The material is resistant to decomposition and decay, vapor permeable, has an impact noise reduction index of 26-39 dB (depending on thickness). Flammability group - G2. FonoStop Duo and Izolontape are prime examples.
• Glass Felt Canvas with one-sided bitumen impregnation. Designed for a long service life, waterproof and fireproof material. The noise reduction index is within 23-29 dB. This variety includes Shumanet brand fiberglass, as well as Isofon-super.

• Extruded polystyrene foam. This is a durable material (designed for 50 years), which has a noise reduction index of 25 dB, is characterized by low water absorption and high compression resistance, the disadvantage is a high fire hazard index - G1. These are such brands as "Fomboard", "Penoplex", plates "TISpleks", etc.
• Composite. This material consists of three layers: foam polystyrene granules are located between the layers of polyethylene or aluminum film. The peculiarity of the composite is that the lower film has the ability to pass moisture into the inner space, from where it is removed along the expansion joints. Thus, the space is ventilated. The service life is 20 years, the noise reduction index is in the range of 18-20 dB, the material is not flammable. These are such brands as Tuplex, TermoZvukoIzol, Vibrofilter.
• Cork rubber backing... These are mats made of rubber granulate and cork chips. The material has an average fire safety (combustion class B2), however, it can contribute to the appearance of mold in structures, and therefore requires additional waterproofing. Noise reduction index - from 18 to 21 dB. These are materials such as UZIN RR 188, Utsin PP 188, Ibola.

• Cork backing. The material, which is produced from pressed cork chips, is not subject to rotting and fungus, the service life reaches 40 years. Reduces impact noise by 12 dB. An example is Cork Roll, Corksribas plates, Ipocork, etc.
• Polyester foam. Material made of synthetic fiber, impregnated on both sides with a reinforcing fiberglass compound, has a high vapor permeability, allowing surfaces to "breathe", the sound insulation index is 8-10 dB. Combustible (class G2).
• Polyethylene foam ( foamed polyethylene). Distinguish between non-crosslinked polyethylene foam, which has the least soundproofing effect; physically stitched and chemically stitched, the soundproofing quality of the latest variety is the highest. The material has a high flammability class - G2, collapses when exposed to ultraviolet radiation, sags under prolonged loads, and is not resistant to mold. Sound insulation index varies from 12 to 15 dB. These are such brands as "Isopenol", "Plenex", "Izolon" and many others.
• Tecsound. Thin synthetic material on an elastic polymer base, used to isolate two types of noise: airborne and vibration (shock). It is a self-extinguishing and moisture resistant material, has a sound insulation index in the range of 25-30 dB. Effective in suppressing noise from metal roofs.

Separately, it is worth considering the materials that dampen impact noise and are used for the installation of acoustic ceilings:

• Perforated sound-absorbing Knauf slabs... It is a drywall-based material with a synthetic fabric backing on one side with resonator holes. Thickness 8.5 mm, fire hazard class - NG. As shown by tests, these slabs are designed to damp low-frequency waves.
• Plates "Ecophone", which are a "sandwich" of high strength fiberglass, additionally reinforced with a textile mesh. Produced in thickness from 15 to 40 mm, non-flammable.

In the event that airborne noise is the main concern, it is worthwhile to start identifying cracks and cracks in the wall structure and eliminating them. If, having ensured the maximum possible tightness of the existing wall, it is not possible to achieve the desired effect, it is necessary to create additional sound insulation.

Modern noise-absorbing materials:

• Mineral (basalt) wool. This material is the result of the remelting of rocks of the basalt group, metallurgical slags, as well as their mixtures. It is produced in the form of slabs (mats). Having a fibrous structure and a short fiber length (15 mm), mineral wool provides a high absorption coefficient of sound waves - from 0.87 to 0.95; has good vapor permeability and belongs to non-flammable, inert and biologically passive building materials. The following brands are most popular: Rockwool "Acoustic Butts", "Shumanet", "Isolight", "Basaltin", "TermozvukoIzol".

• Glass wool. A fiberglass-based material (average fiber size 50 mm) with a sound absorption coefficient of 0.85 to 1 (for the Knauf "Insulation" acoustic partition, which has a special combination of fiber lengths). It is produced in the form of plates, non-flammable, vapor-permeable, biologically and chemically inert. Compared to mineral wool, glass wool has a lower weight. In the Russian Federation there are such varieties as "Knauf Insulation", Ursa "Pureone 34 PN", Isover, etc.

• ZIPS(soundproof sandwich panels). These are frameless systems that can be purchased off-the-shelf, effective against all types of noise. The composition is usually the same: GVL + fiberglass (mineral wool) + attachment points to the wall. These systems have a high sound insulation index, which largely depends on the thickness of the structure (ZIPS can have a size of 40 to 130 mm). When using a panel with a thickness of 70 mm, this is 10 dB. At the same time, the panel also has a high sound absorption coefficient due to the presence of mineral wool or glass wool inside. The disadvantage is the significant weight, which requires partitions with a high load-bearing capacity.

The next type of soundproofing materials are those that "work" against the propagation of structure-borne noise. They are gaskets or compounds used in the process of installing adjacent structures: ZIPS systems, wooden or "floating floors", frame partitions and claddings. Among them:

• Fiberglass. It is made of super-thin fiber in the form of tape strips of various widths. It has a high impact noise reduction index - 29 dB. An example is such material as "Vibrostek M" or "Vibrostek V300", as well as stitched fiberglass mats "MTP-AS-30/50".
• Vibroacoustic sealant. Most often it has a silicone base, it can be both non-solidifying and hardening. Possesses excellent adhesion to all types of building materials; when filling joints, it reduces the spread of structure-borne noise. The following brands are most familiar to the domestic buyer: Green Glue, Vibrosil, Bostic 3070, Silomer, as well as vibration-absorbing mastic.

• Self-adhesive elastomeric gaskets for doors and windows. They are produced from porous rubber, microporous polyurethane, etc. in the form of plates or tapes, installed between structural elements and along the perimeter of openings to reduce vibration, have a noise reduction index within 23 dB. Examples include brands such as Varnamo, ArmaSound. Recently, such materials have been actively produced by Russian enterprises, for example, Obninsgazpolimer LLC.
• Silica fiber. This material is the most fireproof, while having a high sound insulation index - 27 dB. Available in mats and rolls. The following brands are most popular: Vibrosil-K, Supersil, Ekowoo.

Scope of application

The properties of soundproofing materials have the widest range of applications. Most of them are used not only for their intended purpose, but also as insulation. Basically, this applies to all types of mineral wool, glass wool, fiberglass, polyester foam, sandwich panels and cork substrates.

How exactly to use this or that soundproofing material, so that it "works" as fully as possible, must be decided by a professional who is able to correctly assess the acoustic features and problems of a particular room. The room may need sound-absorbing flooring to avoid conflicts with downstairs neighbors, or completely insulate the walls for home theater installations. It may be necessary to shield the bedroom from outside noise.

Therefore, it is recommended to seek advice from a construction and repair company dealing with sound insulation issues at a professional level, because it is easier to pay for services for a competent expert assessment than to invest in repairs without having confidence in the final result.

The greatest effect can be obtained by integrating one or another material into building structures directly in the process of erecting buildings, constructing floors, walls and partitions:

• when laying slabs of mineral wool in the cavity of partitions;
• by installing plates or tape spacers between building elements to absorb structure-borne noise;
• when installing soundproof panels on the surface of the walls with their subsequent plastering;
• when arranging "floating floors", at the base of which there is a sound-insulating material, with the subsequent installation of a reinforced cement-sand screed.

To improve sound insulation in already built rooms, the following methods are used:

• Creation of a soundproof layer on the surface of interfloor floors by placing mineral wool (glass wool) mats, covered with either a cement or prefabricated screed.
• Installation of soundproof frame structures, which are an alternation of gypsum boards, mineral wool or glass wool slabs, as well as a superdiffusion membrane (if necessary), a damper tape and a vibroacoustic sealant.

• Placement of soundproof sandwich panels on the walls. These are frameless systems that are sold ready-made. They usually consist of sheets of gypsum fiber board, between which there is fiberglass (mineral wool) and assemblies are mounted for fastening to load-bearing walls. Sealing of the structure is carried out by means of damper gaskets and sealant.
• Arrangement of "acoustic ceilings", which are mounted on a frame made of galvanized metal profiles. The structure consists of sheets of plasterboard and mineral wool slabs and is fixed on vibration-isolating suspensions. For sealing, gaskets are used in combination with a vibration sealant. It is also worth considering the possibility of installing stretch ceilings with a soundproofing effect.
• Installation of a "ventilated facade", which is carried out on the outer wall of the building and additionally also performs a heat-saving function.

How to choose?

The choice of any building material must be approached rationally. This fully applies to noise-absorbing materials, the properties of which should correspond as much as possible to the tasks that need to be solved. In this case, it is desirable that the cost of the work does not "strain" unnecessarily the wallet of the owner of the apartment.

When arranging sound insulation, you should either trust a time-tested (and friends' reviews) repair company, or study the issue yourself or follow the recommendations of sales consultants. You can save money in each of these options.

Advantages of contacting a construction and repair company:

• the assessment of the problem and the ways of its elimination is carried out by a specialist-repairman (foreman), who recommends certain soundproof materials;
• serious repair companies give a guarantee for the work performed (usually 3 years), therefore they offer materials and technologies in which they are confident;
• when contacting the company at a time of the year that is not considered the construction season (late autumn, winter, early spring), the customer is offered a discount on the cost of work;
• large firms usually have proven suppliers who often sell materials to customers at a discount.

Advantages of self-selection of materials and work:

• in the process of studying the issue, useful knowledge is acquired that can be useful in the future;
• the buyer saves a significant amount on workers' wages;
• you can spend the savings on the use of more expensive soundproofing materials.

Analyzing the problem of noise on your own, it is worth finding out what its nature is and whether the noise is airborne or impact noise.

These types of noise can be eliminated in almost any room and at any stage of repair / construction, in contrast to structure-borne noise, which is required to be insulated at the stage of building construction.

Most often, both types of noise are present in residential premises. For example, in the apartment downstairs there is an office, the visitors of which are constantly slamming doors and talking. In this case, we can talk about the totality of all three types of noise, which can be extinguished by soundproofing the floor, including the use of two types of material - noise-absorbing and noise-repelling, with the obligatory use of damper gaskets, which can partially damp structure-borne noise. This provides for the installation of acoustic "floating floors" with at least 100 mm layer of mineral wool at the base and an obligatory strong screed on the surface.

Soundproofing "cardboard" walls is usually required to protect against airborne noise. This issue is solved thanks to the use of frame or frameless systems made of gypsum plasterboard and mineral wool, the thickness of which is the greater, the stronger the sounds disturbing the residents. In the event that music is heard from behind the walls, noise-repelling material, for example, extruded polystyrene foam or staple fiberglass, must also be added to the structure.

You can also enhance the effect by increasing the layers of gypsum board. In the case of using factory-made ZIPS, it is necessary to select a brand with high noise-repelling characteristics. Such structures have significant weight, so you need to make sure in advance that the walls are able to withstand such a load.

For a wooden house, materials are used that have the lowest flammability class (NG), resisting the appearance of mold and mildew, resistant to rodent attacks and, of course, vapor permeable.

How to do it yourself?

It is necessary to understand that the acquisition of even the best soundproofing materials in itself will not provide silence in the room if the technology of their installation is violated. Achieving this will require proper installation, which professional acousticians can provide. In the event that, for some reason, contacting a construction company is impossible, you should carefully study the recommendations in order to carry out the soundproofing work with your own hands. The use of improvised means as an insulating material, most likely, will not give the desired result.

For the correct installation of the sound-insulating cladding, exactly those materials are needed that are provided for by the technology.

Necessary materials:

• guide and post galvanized profile, which can replace wooden blocks;
• suspensions (preferably the use of vibrating suspensions);
• self-tapping screws, which should be equipped with rubber washers for better sound insulation of structural noise;
• damping pads in the form of a tape;
• vibroacoustic sealant;
• sheets of gypsum board or gypsum plasterboard with a thickness of 12.5 mm;
• fibrous plates: mineral wool, glass wool, having a thickness of 50 mm.

Relative wall soundproofing will take 50 to 120 mm of free space, which will have to be sacrificed for acoustic comfort.

The sequence of work on the installation of structures of sound-insulating frame-sheathing partitions:

• Installation of a cushioning (damper) tape with a thickness of at least 4 mm along the contour of the partitions to be mounted. The gaskets are glued to walls, floors and ceilings with a sealant.
• The installation of the frame is carried out on a level, the guide profiles are set at a distance of at least 10 mm from the surface of the walls to be insulated.
• Rack profiles are mounted with a pitch of 600 mm, their length should be less than the height of the room by 10 mm.
• Vertical racks intended for a doorway must be reinforced by means of a locking connection of two elements of a rack profile; it is possible to use wooden blocks for these purposes.

• The internal space in the rack profiles is filled with mineral wool or glass wool slabs, while the slabs must be inserted as tightly as possible to avoid gaps.
• The frame is sheathed with GKL sheets with a pitch of 500 mm. In the case when 2 or 3 layers of cladding are mounted, it is recommended to choose a GVL sheet that is more resistant to loads for the primary layer. The finishing cladding is installed with a pitch of 200-250 mm.
• A technological gap is left between the sheathing sheets and the ceiling / floor, which is filled with a vibration sealant.
• The excess damper tape is trimmed flush with the finishing layer of the gypsum board sheets.
• When installing the door, the joints between the frame and the door frame are filled with sealant; on the surface of the box, at the points of contact with the door leaf, it is necessary to install a sealing tape.

Soundproofing the ceiling requires a sufficient height in the room because the structure takes up approximately 120 mm of the room height. Stages of work:

• A damper tape is glued to the surface of the walls adjacent to the ceiling.
• A guide profile is temporarily fixed along the perimeter of the walls with dowel-nails.
• Vibration-isolating suspensions are mounted on the ceiling surface, the pitch is 800-900 mm. The distance from the wall to the first suspension should be no more than 150 mm.
• The supporting profiles of the frame are fixed to the suspensions, the distance between which should not exceed 600 mm.
• Secondary profiles are mounted on the profiles of the first level, providing an air gap between the floor slabs and the insulating material.
• The dowel-nails holding the guide profile are removed (this is done to avoid the appearance of noise bridges).

• Sound-absorbing plates are installed in the frame.
• The first layer of ceiling cladding is being carried out, while GVL sheets with a thickness of 10 mm are used.
• Seams between sheets are filled with vibroacoustic sealant.
• A second layer of cladding is installed using gypsum board, which is mounted with a spacing of the joints.
• Excess damping tape is trimmed with a construction knife, the seams are filled with sealant.

When installing floor sound insulation, several different technologies can be applied, depending on the materials used. The most popular technologies of "floating floors" Rockwool and the method of the company "Acoustic Group", based on the use of plates "Shumostop".

Noise insulation of the floor (according to the "Shumostop" system):

• The surface of the floors is being prepared: irregularities are smoothed out, construction debris is removed, adjoining communications are isolated using elastic gaskets or tape.
• Around the perimeter of the walls, a soundproof slab material of the Shumostop brand is laid to prevent the leveling screed from coming into contact with the enclosing structures. The height of the edge should slightly exceed the thickness of the screed. It is permissible to use a damper tape to minimize the thickness of the joint between the screed and the wall.
• A layer of denser material is laid along the perimeter of the room - this is "Shumostop K2".
• The floor surface is covered with the main working material - "Shumostop C2". Laying is done as tightly as possible, without cracks and gaps.

• The surface is covered with reinforced polyethylene film, which is also lifted along the wall to the edge height. The joints are overlapped and glued with tape.
• A mortar from a sand-concrete mixture of a brand not lower than M-300 is laid out on the film, which is then reinforced with a reinforcing mesh (mesh fragments are necessarily fixed to each other).
• A concrete solution is poured over the mesh, which is leveled using a plastering rule.
• After the screed gains strength (on average, it takes 28 days to dry), the film edge layer and the damper strip are trimmed to the screed level.
• The formed seam between the wall and the screed is filled with a vibroacoustic sealant.

There is no point in taking such statements at their word, all the more unreasonable to check fashionable innovations on our own experience, since the cost of such sound-proof materials is usually quite high.

• If the size of the room allows, then it is better to use a frame sound insulation system as having the greatest number of positive reviews.
• In the event that frame sheathing partitions are built in the room, you can also worry about soundproofing equipment in advance: in this case, the mineral wool slabs are mounted inside the partition and do not take up additional space.
• In cases where it is required to save the space or height of the room as much as possible, it is worth using ultra-thin materials from trusted manufacturers, for example, Rockwoll Acoustic Butts Ultra-thin or ultra-thin ZIPS sandwich panels.

• When carrying out work, it is necessary to achieve maximum tightness of structures, which will prevent both the appearance of sound bridges and the ingress of the smallest dust particles of mineral wool or fiberglass into the respiratory system.
• To fix the vibro-suspension to the ceiling, it is advisable to use a special type of fastener - a wedge anchor with a plastic nozzle.
• When the communications are adjacent, they must be bound with a sealing tape in order to avoid the preservation of the so-called "sound bridges".
• It is not recommended to erect sound-insulating partitions in wooden buildings earlier than a year after the construction of the building. This is due to the process of primary shrinkage at home, during which it is impractical to carry out work.

When purchasing materials through online stores, you should not rely on the rating; it is better to compare the characteristics given in the tables that are present on the pages of all major trading platforms.