With commercial spaces being designed to be more open, airy and bright, noise is an issue that must be addressed to maintain healthy and inviting spaces. We have shared some advice below so that you can get optimise your noise levels and create a space that is functional and safe for everyone.
Basics of Soundproofing
Soundproofing is the process in which different types of insulation are used to reduce the noise level (decibels) in a space or to absorb the noise in a space. There are a range of materials that can do this, and the type you need will depend on the type of noise you are trying to reduce.
The materials used to soundproof a room work to:
To understand which soundproofing you need, you will need to first be aware of the different types of sound to choose the right materials for the job. The following categories will help you decide which sounds you need to insulate against:
Reducing Noise Through the Right Soundproofing Material
There are a wide range of materials that you can choose from when you want to soundproof a specific space, and there are a variety of options depending on the area you are working on. When it comes to understanding how effective a material is, you will typically find a dB rating on it to help you work out the total minimisation it can offer.
Some of the most common soundproofing materials include:
Effective soundproofing is only possible when you are able to seal as many sound inlets as possible, meaning that you will need to use a variety of the products mentioned to get the coverage you are looking for.
Commercial Sound Testing
The only way to know if your soundproofing efforts have been successful or not is to have sound testing completed by a local reputable supplier such as NovaAcoustics. These testscover the requirements as laid out in Part E of the Building Regulations and will provide you with the information you need to prove that your building provides the right level of sound insulation.
When you arrange sound testing, your building’s compliancewill be checked along with the party walls and floor insulationagainst Part E (Resistance to Sound) of the UK building regulations. Once complete, you can share the results with your building inspector ready for your building to be signed off.
