ᐅ Impact Sound Insulation – Which Values Are Important for Impact Noise?
Created on: 9 Jan 2018 21:16
3
305er
Hi,
we have now ordered laminate flooring for our house.
We still need to get impact sound insulation as well as this PE vapor barrier (vapor-tight foil).
We have a warm water underfloor heating system embedded in a cement screed.
What should we pay attention to when choosing the impact sound insulation?
The weight per square meter?
The reduction of walking noise?
The reduction of impact noise?
Thermal efficiency?
All of the above?
At least I am not convinced by those very lightweight impact sound insulations (like Styrofoam sheets and similar materials).
We have already found insulation with 2.8 kg/m² (0.57 lb/ft²), but also options with half the weight at 1.4 kg/m² (0.29 lb/ft²).
We also found an insulation that costs €6 per m² with an integrated vapor barrier, walking noise reduction of 46.8%, and overall quite good properties.
At the same store, an insulation without integrated PE foil, with much less walking noise reduction and lower weight per m², costs €3 more...
How is that possible?
So, how do you recognize good impact sound insulation?
Apparently, not by the price?!
Looking forward to your recommendations.
Best regards and thanks
we have now ordered laminate flooring for our house.
We still need to get impact sound insulation as well as this PE vapor barrier (vapor-tight foil).
We have a warm water underfloor heating system embedded in a cement screed.
What should we pay attention to when choosing the impact sound insulation?
The weight per square meter?
The reduction of walking noise?
The reduction of impact noise?
Thermal efficiency?
All of the above?
At least I am not convinced by those very lightweight impact sound insulations (like Styrofoam sheets and similar materials).
We have already found insulation with 2.8 kg/m² (0.57 lb/ft²), but also options with half the weight at 1.4 kg/m² (0.29 lb/ft²).
We also found an insulation that costs €6 per m² with an integrated vapor barrier, walking noise reduction of 46.8%, and overall quite good properties.
At the same store, an insulation without integrated PE foil, with much less walking noise reduction and lower weight per m², costs €3 more...
How is that possible?
So, how do you recognize good impact sound insulation?
Apparently, not by the price?!
Looking forward to your recommendations.
Best regards and thanks
Hello questioner.
The fact that no one has responded to this topic so far may suggest that the question is difficult to answer. However, this is not actually the case!
The correct, fully effective impact sound insulation is always installed below the load distribution layer, that is, under the screed.
What is marketed as so-called "impact sound membranes" usually does not deserve that name. These underlays are more like "grit protection" when there are still sand particles between the laminate floor panels and the screed surface. The impact sound values required by standards for living spaces cannot realistically be achieved by thin membrane-like layers.
Impact sound insulation beneath the screed, usually at least 25mm (1 inch) thick, provides the required impact sound protection in building construction.
Membranes under laminate floors do not.
Therefore, it really does not matter which type of underlay you choose in the future. It will not provide significant help (not even for structure-borne sound), but it will not cause any harm either!
---------------------
Regards, KlaRa
The fact that no one has responded to this topic so far may suggest that the question is difficult to answer. However, this is not actually the case!
The correct, fully effective impact sound insulation is always installed below the load distribution layer, that is, under the screed.
What is marketed as so-called "impact sound membranes" usually does not deserve that name. These underlays are more like "grit protection" when there are still sand particles between the laminate floor panels and the screed surface. The impact sound values required by standards for living spaces cannot realistically be achieved by thin membrane-like layers.
Impact sound insulation beneath the screed, usually at least 25mm (1 inch) thick, provides the required impact sound protection in building construction.
Membranes under laminate floors do not.
Therefore, it really does not matter which type of underlay you choose in the future. It will not provide significant help (not even for structure-borne sound), but it will not cause any harm either!
---------------------
Regards, KlaRa
Answer:
No, you really can’t notice it.
What matters is the total mass. And this can only be marginally increased in the overall construction of a floor covering by a membrane, whether thick or thin.
Years ago, I tested a system that secured a (heavy) protective mat made of resin-bound recycled rubber granulate to the back of laminate floor panels using a dry adhesive.
It worked! However, the price for the rubber granulate mat could no longer be justified on the market later, as laminate floor prices dropped significantly.
No, you really can’t notice it.
What matters is the total mass. And this can only be marginally increased in the overall construction of a floor covering by a membrane, whether thick or thin.
Years ago, I tested a system that secured a (heavy) protective mat made of resin-bound recycled rubber granulate to the back of laminate floor panels using a dry adhesive.
It worked! However, the price for the rubber granulate mat could no longer be justified on the market later, as laminate floor prices dropped significantly.
Hello KlaRa,
the idea of using a protection mat sounds interesting. I had the same thought and, in my search for tips, I have only found your post on this topic so far.
I wanted to lay either vinyl or pine floorboards as a floating floor directly on the protection mat. Do you think that would work, or does it have to be glued down? Does a dry screed need to be installed underneath?
Best regards
Sowela
the idea of using a protection mat sounds interesting. I had the same thought and, in my search for tips, I have only found your post on this topic so far.
I wanted to lay either vinyl or pine floorboards as a floating floor directly on the protection mat. Do you think that would work, or does it have to be glued down? Does a dry screed need to be installed underneath?
Best regards
Sowela
Hello "Sowela".
Impact sound insulation is generally not suitable for the direct installation of a floor covering. This is because impact sound insulation materials need to flex (to absorb impact noise) and therefore do not have the rigidity required to withstand high point loads.
For this reason, a prefabricated screed made of gypsum fiberboards, OSB, or wood chipboards is necessary as a subfloor.
This applies equally to thin-layer PVC planks and multilayer engineered hardwood flooring (formerly called prefinished parquet), as the locking system (tongue and groove) must not be subjected to significant bending forces!
Regards, KlaRa
Impact sound insulation is generally not suitable for the direct installation of a floor covering. This is because impact sound insulation materials need to flex (to absorb impact noise) and therefore do not have the rigidity required to withstand high point loads.
For this reason, a prefabricated screed made of gypsum fiberboards, OSB, or wood chipboards is necessary as a subfloor.
This applies equally to thin-layer PVC planks and multilayer engineered hardwood flooring (formerly called prefinished parquet), as the locking system (tongue and groove) must not be subjected to significant bending forces!
Regards, KlaRa
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