IMPROVING SOUND INSULATION
There is no simple remedy (such
as overlaying hardboard or an acoustic mat) for improving the
airborne and impact insulation of a separating floor system.
The usual approach is to construct either a floating floor over
the existing floor or to install an independently supported ceiling
system beneath the floor, such techniques being described in more
detail on the AIRO Information link below. Proprietary treatments
for improving the sound insulation of floors are also available,
care should however be taken when selecting such systems as some
only improve the impact insulation of a floor whilst providing
only marginal improvement to the floors airborne insulation characteristics.
Equally there is no simple remedy (such as applying
'acoustic tiles') for improving the sound insulation of a separating
wall. The usual approach is to construct a supplementary independent
leaf to the wall such as is described on the AIRO Information link below.
Alternatively proprietary liner boards comprising plasterboard
laminated or bonded to mineral fibre may also be used. These
liner boards are easier to fix to the existing wall and offer
some improvement but are usually not as effective at attenuating
low frequency sounds (bass beat etc) as the independent leaf approach.
Before embarking on a scheme of improving sound
insulation it may be worth considering one or two other courses
of action. First, if you believe your neighbours are causing
a nuisance through unreasonable behaviour, then you could complain
to the Environmental Health Department of the local authority
who should investigate the matter and, if they agree with you, are
empowered to take action to abate the nuisance. Secondly, if
your house is fairly new and covered by a guarantee and if
you believe that the sound insulation is inadequate, then the
builder or the guarantor may respond to a complaint about sound
insulation by investigating the matter to ascertain whether the
construction complies with the requirements of The Building Regulations.
The observations made here are of course particular to the UK situation.
Other Sources of Information:
'Bothered by Noise'
Available from the Defra Website
www.defra.gov.uk
or from:
Defra Publications
Admail 6000
London
SW1A 2XX
United Kingdom
Improving sound insulation of separating floors
Improving sound insulation of separating walls
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