Noise Flanking Can Lead to Sound Test Failure

Noise Flanking Can Lead to Sound Test Failure

Noise flanking can be a huge problem and one of the main causes of excessive sound transmission. If your project fails the sound insulation testing, more often than not noise flanking will be the culprit.

To get an understanding for why the acoustic partitions are performing poorly a detailed diagnosis and invasive investigation, such as the removal of some of the wall and floor partitions will usually need to take place. In many cases a large amount of noise flanking is due to serious design faults such as the use of lightweight blocks in the construction of the walls in an apartment development, this allows the sound to travel along the walls and floors from dwelling to dwelling. In many cases a wall and/or floor partition may have a very good acoustic design and construction; however the partition will still fail as the sound is travelling along a noise flanking path.

 

 

The main noise flanking paths

We often get asked what ate the main reasons noise flanking on new and existing dwellings, in our experience they are:

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. Where lightweight blocks used in the inner envelope construction. This allows sound to travel along the lightweight blocks both vertically and horizontally from dwelling to dwelling.
                        2. Through dividing floors if there is lack of mass or acoustic insulation has not been installed and/or or direct fixing of plasterboard and/or floorboards to joists without using a resilient ceiling construction and/or floating floor.
                        3. Through Windows if they are no double glazed or have secondary glazing as a minimum
                        4. Through Fixtures & fittings such as light switches, telephone outlets and TV cable ducts where they sit back to back against the adjoining property.
                        5. Along structural joints along the perimeter wall and floor joint. These areas should be filled with acoustic mastic)
                        6. Structural steels that run through one property to the other without material isolation, i.e. plasterboard is screwed directly to the steel offering little or no noise isolation.

There are many quick and simple solutions to improve the acoustic performance of dividing wall partitions. One of the easiest wall solutions is to install a met-sec partition in front of dividing partition.

APT can help with your acoustic design and sound testing requirements  

It can be very difficult to identify the cause of a failed sound test; therefore, it is always best to hire an experienced consultant. APTs acoustic consultants have years of experience and will advise you on the best course of action to rectify any problems. We are also a UKAS accredited testing Laboratory, so you can be sure of a friendly and professional service providing a ‘one stop’ solution for all your acoustic requirements.

APT can advise on all types of acoustic design to party walls and floors to help you pass your sound testing at the first attempt, whether it is accomplished during initial construction or during a refurbishment or renovation project. Whatever the problem we can usually find an acoustic solution that will help you achieve Building Regulation compliance.

If you have a project that’s needs acoustic design advice or needs sound insulation testing then please contact us at: info@aptsoundtesting.co.uk. We should be able to offer you an expedient acoustic solution to help you achieve practical completion.