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

Created on: 8 Nov 2016 23:10
M
mikiliki1232
Hello,

is it actually irrelevant for soundproofing what material the house is made of? Because usually, the standard window with less than 40 dB is almost always weaker than the wall itself.

Does a good dB value for a specific wall construction even provide any benefit?
B
Bauexperte
9 Nov 2016 00:10
sirhc schrieb:

Bauexperte, I don’t quite understand the question...
What is there not to understand?

You spend a small fortune on soundproof windows and roller shutter boxes... but surely you enjoy your garden from spring onward...?

I am repeatedly surprised by some discussions about soundproofing... as if windows are never opened and outdoor leisure time never enjoyed...? For the same reason, I also don’t understand every requirement in a zoning plan (building permit / planning permission).

Regards, Bauexperte
L
Legurit
9 Nov 2016 00:14
I believe the building expert wants to say that the requirement also needs to match the product... if you live near a highway, 49 dB might be acceptable – but near a village street, definitely not.
sirhc9 Nov 2016 00:22
Sure, I will relax in the garden; during the day, it doesn't really matter. However, for me specifically, it’s important that noise from trains, which might pass by in the middle of the night, does not penetrate into the interior while sleeping.

Besides sound insulation, controlled mechanical ventilation has therefore been required for bedrooms. The keyword here is opening windows.

That said, we would do the same even without these requirements because we believe it is the right approach for us.
B
Bauexperte
9 Nov 2016 00:35
sirhc schrieb:
Sure, I will relax in the garden; during the day it’s not really an issue, but for me, it’s specifically about preventing noise from trains that might run in the middle of the night from entering the interior while sleeping.

Until a few weeks ago, I lived in the house where I was born just over half a century ago.

In my early years, there was little traffic; by elementary school, it increased—and when I attended secondary school, I could regularly catch up on sleep on what was then the two-lane A46. In recent years, traffic has increased dramatically—thanks to self-proclaimed environmentalists, a planned bypass has been blocked for years (the Erft River is being returned to its original course); still, I always slept well.

What I want to say is that people quickly get used to ambient noises; I’m sure you are also accustomed to regularly passing trains.

Regards, Bauexperte
Y
ypg
9 Nov 2016 01:05
Not all noise that is labeled as noise actually disturbs you! You also don’t wake up because of a _distant_ passing train, even if it runs every night.

But everyone has a different noise sensitivity threshold 😉

Regards
sirhc9 Nov 2016 09:31
Bauexperte schrieb:

What I mean is – people quickly get used to background noise; you too probably are accustomed to trains passing regularly 😉

We couldn’t reach an agreement on burglary protection, and it looks like we won’t on sound insulation either. That’s okay. 🙂

It’s true that people adapt to many things, but noise that doesn’t seem disturbing can still affect health. Our property is located in noise level category 5, meaning an outdoor noise level of 71–75 dB. With the measures we are taking, we reduce this to about 20–25 dB indoors. For comparison:

20 decibels: ticking of a wristwatch
30 decibels: whispering

The requirement is a reduction of 45 dB in living rooms and 50 dB in bedrooms. Meeting the 50 dB requirement will still be a challenge for us.

Best regards