Flanking transmission (sound which travels in any direction, other than directly through the separating element) is a frequent problem in flatted developments, with high-frequency resonances commonly occurring where dot & dab plasterboard linings have been employed.

The issue can be profound; the NHBC, for example, conducted an experiment where they removed the linings (such that the supporting blockwork was left fair-faced) and recorded an improvement in sound insulation of almost 10dB (between 1kHz to 5kHz – the frequencies where the ear is most sensitive). The full case study can be viewed at the foot of the page.

A common cause is faulty workmanship, i.e. BS8212 requires that for a 12.5mm plasterboard sheet of 1,200mm width: (i) adhesive dabs should make contact with at least 20% of the plasterboard, and (ii) at least three virtually continuous vertical lines of dab, with horizontal centres no less than 600mm, are adhered to each board.

Mute Soundproofing® was recently commissioned to remediate this very issue, reducing flanking noise at a prestigious flatted development in north London, designing and installing a room-within-a-room system for the most noise sensitive spaces, before reinstating the original luxury finish. 

Design and Installation of ‘Room-Within-A-Room’ System

Design and Installation of ‘Room-Within-A-Room’ System

This entry was posted on Sunday, May 20th, 2018 at 7:11 am and is filed under Soundproofing News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.