ᐅ Sound Insulation – The Weakest Link? (Windows?)

sirhc schrieb:
The glazing provides 49 dB sound insulation. Depending on the size of the element, meaning the ratio of frame to pane, the overall rating of the entire unit decreases by another 1-2 dB. However, this is all pointless if the roller shutter box is not also upgraded with proper soundproofing. Each window has become about 230 EUR (around $250) more expensive because of this. Over a period of more than 30 years, I don’t consider that unaffordable.

Did you contractually secure windows with sound insulation class V?! At an average extra cost of 230 EUR (around $250)? That would be an absolute bargain.

mikiliki1232 schrieb:
Hello,

Does it actually matter what material the house is made of in terms of sound insulation? Usually, the standard window with less than 40 dB is almost always weaker than the wall itself.

Does a good dB value even make sense with a certain wall construction?

No, it is not irrelevant. It also depends on the sources of the noise. For effective sound insulation, you cannot simply add the performance of individual building components. It needs to be carefully *planned* as an overall concept. Obviously, you are far from that.

nightdancer schrieb:
You have contractually fixed windows with sound insulation class V?! That at an average of 230 euros more?! That would be more than a bargain.

The sound insulation class is not contractually guaranteed, but the glazing has a sound reduction index of 49 dB and is constructed as follows: laminated safety glass (VSG) 12 mm (0.5 inch) – 8 mm (0.3 inch) – laminated safety glass (VSG) 10 mm (0.4 inch) (instead of the “standard” 4 mm (0.16 inch) – 4 mm (0.16 inch) – 4 mm (0.16 inch)). In addition, heavy-duty foil is installed inside the roller shutter box, also with a sound reduction index of 49 dB. There’s not much more you can do than using an 88 mm (3.5 inch) profile anyway.

@sirhc
What advantage does 49 dB glass offer when installed in, say, a 44 dB frame surrounded by a 41 dB Ytong block?
Noise level category V is not insignificant. What does the sound insulation certificate say about the Ytong block?

Bauexperte schrieb:
What I mean is – we humans quickly get used to ambient noise; you probably do too when trains regularly pass by 😉

Try telling that to the residents of the Middle Rhine Valley. Statements like that will certainly not win you many friends there, some of whom might happily invite you to “test sleep” a night or two. Moreover, highway noise has a completely different character than rail noise.

ypg schrieb:
Not all noise that is labeled as such is truly disturbing! People don’t wake up because of a _distant_ passing train, especially if it’s every night.

See above. To those who say “it’s just a little noise,” I recommend the NORAH study.

MayrCh schrieb:
@sirhc
What good is a 49 dB glass in, say, a 44 dB frame surrounded by 41 dB Ytong?

First of all, better than 36 dB glass in the same frame.

In addition, the bare masonry is combined with interior plaster, external thermal insulation composite system (ETICS), and exterior plaster. For example, using polystyrene as ETICS reduces the overall sound insulation value of the masonry by 2 dB because its rigidity transmits vibrations to the masonry; mineral wool, on the other hand, improves it by about 6 dB thanks to its properties. That’s why we choose mineral wool. We prefer mineral-based plaster because it has more mass and therefore absorbs more sound than silicone resin plaster.

The complete system of interior plaster–Ytong–ETICS–exterior plaster reaches a sound insulation rating of 47 dB and is thus roughly equivalent in performance to the combined system of window frame–glazing–roller shutter box.

We have studied this intensively. It is very difficult to find knowledgeable experts on this topic. Ultimately, we rely on an 18-page calculation report prepared specifically for sound insulation in our house. I am confident that the results will meet our expectations.

MayrCh schrieb:

Tell that to the residents of the Middle Rhine Valley. Statements like that will surely earn you some “trial night” stays there. Furthermore, highway noise has a completely different character compared to rail noise.

By the way – the forum uses informal language ("you").

I don’t need any “trial stays”; I’m familiar with all kinds of noise, as I’ve described a bit earlier.

I rarely understand these discussions because everyone has a choice, right? What really annoys me the most, honestly: everyone wants to live right in the middle, with the best connection to train, bus, and highway, but wants the noise to just disappear into thin air. That doesn’t work, not even in the 21st century. It won’t be solved by the increase of electric cars, either, because then other problems will arise. Currently, these vehicles are simply inaudible.

I happen to know the study; it mainly deals with aircraft noise. That’s a completely different matter, well known to the residents near the Düsseldorf airport. In the immediate vicinity, years ago, today’s residents purchased very inexpensive building plots—in full awareness of all the surrounding conditions—only to complain actively years later. I don’t have to understand that...

Best regards, Bauexperte