C
Curzon Dax5 Aug 2020 09:09Hello! This year, I renovated an old wooden house located directly on a regularly trafficked street (urban area). The thermal renovation is now complete, and on the street-facing wooden wall, 16 cm stone wool insulation (6 inches) as well as a ventilated larch wood cladding have been installed. The triple-glazed windows are new. Now, only the finishing touches around the window frames remain.
However, I have the impression that I hear more street noise than before the renovation, which shouldn’t be the case. It seems to me that I hear the higher frequencies of the street noise more clearly than what is usually expected behind an insulated wall. I believe I do not hear the sounds "through the window," but rather from the side where the window was foamed in. My carpenter tells me I have unrealistic expectations... and I don’t want to hold him responsible for something he can’t control. So, I spent an evening researching noise levels and learned that the ambient noise level (quiet room) is about 25-30 dB, while street noise at my location is estimated to be around 65 dB (according to a noise calculator from the Austrian Ministry for Climate).
From several other sources, I've found that the sound insulation performance of modern triple-glazed windows is approximately 25-30 dB. As the bedroom window in question is relatively large (about 140 x 100 cm (55 x 40 inches)), I am apparently not able to expect as much as with smaller windows, since the window apparently represents the weakest point of the facade when it comes to sound (photos attached).
Well, using three different apps (all on the same phone), I conducted measurements and repeatedly recorded roughly the following levels:
Ambient noise level: approximately 30 dB
Traffic noise outside the window: about 65 dB (fluctuations plus or minus 3 dB)
Traffic noise inside the window: about 50 dB (fluctuations plus or minus 3 dB)
My question now is: what is considered "normal" under these circumstances? Does anyone have opinions, comparison values, or experience? Thank you very much!
However, I have the impression that I hear more street noise than before the renovation, which shouldn’t be the case. It seems to me that I hear the higher frequencies of the street noise more clearly than what is usually expected behind an insulated wall. I believe I do not hear the sounds "through the window," but rather from the side where the window was foamed in. My carpenter tells me I have unrealistic expectations... and I don’t want to hold him responsible for something he can’t control. So, I spent an evening researching noise levels and learned that the ambient noise level (quiet room) is about 25-30 dB, while street noise at my location is estimated to be around 65 dB (according to a noise calculator from the Austrian Ministry for Climate).
From several other sources, I've found that the sound insulation performance of modern triple-glazed windows is approximately 25-30 dB. As the bedroom window in question is relatively large (about 140 x 100 cm (55 x 40 inches)), I am apparently not able to expect as much as with smaller windows, since the window apparently represents the weakest point of the facade when it comes to sound (photos attached).
Well, using three different apps (all on the same phone), I conducted measurements and repeatedly recorded roughly the following levels:
Ambient noise level: approximately 30 dB
Traffic noise outside the window: about 65 dB (fluctuations plus or minus 3 dB)
Traffic noise inside the window: about 50 dB (fluctuations plus or minus 3 dB)
My question now is: what is considered "normal" under these circumstances? Does anyone have opinions, comparison values, or experience? Thank you very much!
Even if the windows are good quality, proper installation is also crucial.
A useful checklist can be found under
KNOWLEDGE ABOUT SOUND INSULATION OF WINDOWS
by Dipl.-Ing. Wolf-Dietrich Kötz, Berlin
(Linking not allowed, please search yourself)
Also, the roller shutter boxes need to be carefully considered; otherwise, more noise will enter through them than through the windows.
A useful checklist can be found under
KNOWLEDGE ABOUT SOUND INSULATION OF WINDOWS
by Dipl.-Ing. Wolf-Dietrich Kötz, Berlin
(Linking not allowed, please search yourself)
Also, the roller shutter boxes need to be carefully considered; otherwise, more noise will enter through them than through the windows.
Similar topics