Stop Noise Bleed Through a Common Wall
Stop Noise Bleed Through a Common Wall
By Mark Rustad
Preventing noise bleed through a common wall is the goal of one of the most frequently sought soundproofing endeavors. The issue of unwanted noise transmission through common walls occurs in the same way whether the application is residential, industrial or commercial. To implement the sound reduction techniques that adequately prevent noise from traveling through common walls in a home, office or industrial setting, understanding why noise travels throughout a home or building in the first place is beneficial.
What we interpret as sound is simply a collection of structured vibrations that travel from molecule to molecule through medium such as air and water as well as solids such as wood, concrete and glass. Untreated common walls between rooms are not generally equipped to prevent noise transmission between the rooms, and in fact tend to provide an ideal common surface through which sound can easily travel. Therefore, the goal in controlling sound transmission between rooms is to inhibit the ability of sound waves to pass through these common surfaces and into adjoining rooms.
Reducing the transmission of sound waves through the walls of a room involves isolating the room by increasing the density of the structure and establishing a disconnection from the original wall. An effective way to increase density is to line each wall in a room with a mass loaded vinyl such as dB-Bloc, which is a heavy membrane designed to be stapled or screwed over the entire wall surface. Adding density to a wall reduces its ability to vibrate, thus reducing the ability for sound vibrations to pass through.
The second phase of isolating a room to reduce sound transmission through its walls is establishing a disconnection from the original wall surface. The common walls adjoining one room to the next provides a means for sound waves to travel directly through the surface and into the next room. By creating a secondary surface and thus space between the walls, this treatment can force sound waves to collapse between the walls and significantly reduce the amount of noise that is audible in the next room. Creating a secondary wall surface involves affixing evenly spaced horizontal furring strips from floor to ceiling, and adding a new layer of drywall in front of each wall of the room.
Additional measures, such as sealing joints among walls, floors and ceilings with acoustic caulk and doubling up on the density + disconnection method described above can increase the effectiveness of a wall sound proofing project. For example, using two separated (not touching) layers of dB-Bloc and creating a third layer of drywall at a different depth than the second can improve the results that can be expected from a wall soundproofing project.
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The need for wall soundproofing treatments span a wide range of applications, such as homes, doctor s offices, school classrooms, sanctuaries and countless others. At the inception of any soundproofing project, consulting with a knowledgeable soundproofing professional is recommended to ensure that all variables are considered and the most effective treatment is applied.
About the Author: Mark Rustad is President of NetWell Noise Control, based in Minneapolis, MN. Founded in 1991, NetWell is a leading supplier of soundproofing products, sound reduction treatments, and online acoustical consulting services. NetWell s sound management skills are packaged into the industry s premier website. Discover first hand why so much of NetWell s business stems from the referrals and repeat orders they receive from satisfied clients around the world.
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Related Tags: sound vibrations, sound waves, noise transmission, sound transmission, wall surface
