Soundproofing a Residential Dwelling with Tecsound

Impact and Airborne Noise Pollution Explained

Noise pollution in residential dwellings is a common problem that many residents face, regardless of whether they live in an apartment, 2-storey house or a bungalow. Whether the property is fully detached, semi-detached or terraced, some noise pollution is always present in a form of annoying and unpleasant sounds coming from adjacent rooms or upstairs (if present), which can have a long-term negative impact on residents’ health, leading to stress, insomnia, cardiovascular and metabolic problems and having a detrimental effect on productivity because of the distraction, fatigue and interruptions in communication it causes.

The unwanted sounds can be divided into two categories, impact and airborne noise. Airborne noise is generated by vibrations that are transmitted to other spaces through the air. It originates from within a room or area – for example, voices, music or television sounds coming from an adjoining rooms or upstairs. Impact noise is generated when one object hits another. The impact produces a vibration that is transmitted to the building structure, traveling through the structure to a state of airborne transmission. It usually can be heard inside a room as footsteps, objects falling and chairs or furniture being dragged around in the other room.

The Problem Experienced By the Client

This was the exact problem that the residents of a terraced house with a double brick partition and a ‘Dot & Dab’ plaster finish in Hall Avenue, Widnes were struggling with when they called Floorscan Acoustics, who sell various soundproofing and acoustic solutions to homeowners across the UK. The residents complained about a noisy neighbour and after conducting a site visit, the technical experts from Floorscan Acoustics detected high levels of impact (footfall) and airborne (conversational) noise coming from the neighbour’s house. The source of the underlying issue was a lack of mass between the dividing walls of the terraced houses.

The Solution Offered

To combat the impact and airborne noise pollution experienced by the client, Floorscan Acoustics recommended TECSOUND SY from Soprema as the best solution. It is part of our TECSOUND range, an acoustic insulation range developed to offer soundproofing and sound absorption solutions for the complete building envelope.

TECSOUND SY is self-adhesive polymer based, bitumen-free, high-density synthetic soundproofing membrane that is flexible and adaptable to uneven surfaces and is easy to handle and cut. The combination of its viscoelasticity and its high-density offers good sound-insulation in different construction elements without increasing thickness. TECSOUND SY membranes can be used on vertical partition walls with low surface mass (plasterboard partitions, timber partitions etc.), floating floors, ceilings and lightweight roofs to soundproof against airborne and impact noise pollution.

For this project, TECSOUND SY 100 was chosen to deaden the wall. At just 5mm thick, it added 10kg per sqm, creating a minimum build up and taking up less depth from the existing wall compared to traditional acoustic boards. The self-adhesive backing of the membrane allowed for a quick and easy installation, saving both time and labour without the need of direct fixings. The acoustic membrane was easily cut with a Stanley blade into metre long strips for ease of installation. The results were immediate – a dramatic reduction in airborne and impact noise pollution was recorded upon completion, with conversations made completely inaudible, allowing the residents of the house to finally enjoy their lives in peace, without unnecessary noise interruptions from the neighbours.

Learn More and Get in Touch

To learn more about the impact and airborne noise pollution, please visit our dedicated Acoustic Insulation Solutions for Airborne and Impact Noise page. If you are a homeowner looking to find our more about Soprema’s TECSOUND range, please contact Floorscan Acoustics. If you are an architect or a contractor, looking for more information about the soundproofing solutions offered by Soprema, please contact our dedicated technical experts.