ᐅ Exterior walls made of 24 cm hollow clay bricks: should I use external thermal insulation composite systems (ETICS) or Poroton T7 blocks?

As far as I know, there is already a difference of a few decibels. And structure-borne noise cannot be measured or evaluated, but physically it is almost completely eliminated.

During a renovation, we had an External Thermal Insulation Composite System (ETICS) installed. If we were to build again, I definitely wouldn't do it again. Styrofoam beads have spread all over the garden, and I will never fully get rid of them.

Manufacturer Data

Perlite (42.5):
- T7 ≥ 43 dB (very precise specification...)
- T8 46.4 dB
- S8 48.7 dB
- S9 48 dB

Mineral Wool:
- T7 48.3 dB
- T8 ? (no data found)
- S8 48.5 dB
- S9 49.3 dB

Unfilled:
- T18 24cm (9.5 inches): 48.6 dB
- T14 24cm (9.5 inches) L: 46.8 dB
- Hollow brick 24cm (9.5 inches): 54.1 dB ("Poroton-Planziegel-T 24.0-1.2 EB", soundproof brick)
- T8 42.5: 41.2 dB — this should definitely be avoided
- T9 42.5: 42.7 dB

With T18/T14 including mineral wool external thermal insulation composite system (ETICS), you should be well protected against outdoor noise (this statement explicitly does not refer to structure-borne sound). T8/T9 unfilled should definitely be avoided, as the values are really poor.

Even the unfilled T8 windows perform significantly better than standard windows. Standard windows have a sound reduction of around 32 dB and are the bigger issue.

Baranej schrieb:

T8/T9 unfilled should definitely be avoided, the performance values are really poor.

Yet, 90% of the general contractors, architects, and so on recommended this block to us, even though I repeatedly emphasized the need for sensitivity... With a 6,000 Euro (about $6,530) surcharge compared to perlite and countless horror stories about wet mineral wool, we unfortunately got talked into it.

But honestly, the difference between 42 and 48 dB is not that significant. On paper, this represents a doubling of sound pressure, but to the human ear, it’s less noticeable (a +10 dB increase corresponds to a doubling of perceived loudness). A +/- 3 dB change is generally the threshold for most people to actually perceive a difference in loudness.

As mentioned earlier, windows and doors are the real weak points. Inside the house, sound bridges caused by unfavorable construction details or poorly insulated openings cannot be ruled out either. It would be unwise to attribute everything solely to the choice of masonry, only to see clients disappointed by reality when, despite 40 cm (16 inches) thick sand-lime bricks inside and out, they are still disturbed by children's noise coming through the windows or by dryer noise transmitted through the soil pipe shaft...