#Ecore sound control underlayment code

For good acoustic performance, there are three basic choices to consider: JR: The variety of flooring materials may seem limitless, but narrowing down your options based on the acoustic needs of the space will help simplify the selection process.

I+s: What’s your best advice when it comes to specifying flooring for acoustic health? But designers can also choose treatments that reduce noise at the source, which is what performance flooring does. JR: An emphasis has been placed on adding absorptive materials to reduce reverberation in the workplace and to help protect workers from noise that originates across the room-rightfully so, as such treatments are an important part of acoustic design. i+s: What’s a top concern you’re hearing when it comes to acoustics in the workplace? STC is significantly affected by mass and is typically not significantly affected by flooring materials.

Sound Transmission Class (STC): a measure of how partitions and/or floor-ceiling assemblies reduce the airborne sound being transmitted through them.

It is important to know which floor coverings are tested in conjunction with an underlayment to generate an accurate Delta IIC rating. When evaluating the ratings, be sure to note what products are included in the testing.

Understanding this distinction helps simplify product comparisons. ĝelta IIC: a way of determining the rating of the flooring product itself, subtracting it from the total measurement for the rest of the building assembly.

#Ecore sound control underlayment code

Although IIC ratings may not be a code requirement for other types of buildings, they can be a useful tool when trying to reduce the effect of impact noise on noise-sensitive spaces such as offices and conference rooms. In fact, they are the most important for the accurate evaluation of acoustic flooring products, particularly when they are to be used anywhere in buildings of more than one story. IIC ratings are greatly affected by the flooring materials used in a space.

Impact Insulation Class (IIC): a measure of the reduction of impact noise provided by a floor-ceiling assembly.

Most of the sound from voices, laughter, footsteps and music are reflected back into the room and bounce around with other sound waves to cause echoes, reverberations and poor speech intelligibility. Rooms with very hard surfaces and low NRC ratings absorb very little sound.

Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC): measures how much sound a finish material absorbs when hit by a sound wave.

For flooring, there are four ratings designers should understand and use when selecting materials: Therefore, designers must understand the testing and rating of these materials to predict how products will impact sound and acoustics within the space. JR: Materials such as insulation, foam or rubber can mitigate, muffle or dampen noise, while hard surfaces like tile, stone and glass can dramatically increase noise levels. I+s: What do you wish designers knew about acoustics in the office?

Read on for their top tricks, tips, and favorite products in their category for developing an office environment that makes acoustic comfort for all a top priority. Here we spoke with three on-staff pros at some of your favorite suppliers who make it their business to help designers pitch acoustic solutions to their clients as “must-haves” and not “nice-to-haves,” as Slavka Younger Nightingale, co-founder of Fräsch, put it. Open-plan, loft-style interiors that feature higher exposed ceilings, paired with hard and/or reflective surfaces like poured concrete, glass partition systems and masonry wall finishes that must accommodate a variety of work styles and needs require some very careful design decisions to offset the noise pollution they can rouse up. It seems today’s aesthetic trends are working against us when it comes to acoustics in the workplace.