Do intrusive noises steal your peace and disrupt your comfort? Unwanted clatter from mechanical rooms, the drone of HVAC equipment, even the muffled sounds of everyday life – these intrusive echoes can turn any home into a chaotic battleground.
Create serene spaces that block unwanted noise and embrace the warmth of radiant heat
Warmboard makes this serene reality possible, not just with its unparalleled radiant warmth, but also with its sound attenuation capabilities. Sound attenuation needs to be applied to the panels and architectural assembly of the house.
What is Sound Attenuation and why is it important to manage?
Sound attenuation in HVAC systems tackles the unwanted noise generated by the equipment like heat pumps, compressors, and ductwork. This noise can be disruptive, impacting comfort, sleep, and even concentration. Here’s why attenuating sound is crucial:
- Comfort and Well-being: Unwanted noise can be a major stressor, leading to fatigue, headaches, and decreased productivity.
- Regulatory Compliance: Building codes often have noise level limitations for various locations. Choosing the right sound attenuation solution can prevent potential fines or legal issues.
- Increased Property Value: A quieter home is generally more attractive to buyers and can command higher prices. Sound attenuation becomes a valuable upgrade, adding to the overall aesthetic and value of the property.
By investing in sound attenuation, you can ensure your home is peaceful and calm, mitigating and preventing noise from one area of the house, impacting other rooms.
Understanding Sound Ratings
The Building Industry is concerned with two types of sound transfer:
- STC (Sound Transmission Class): Measures how well a floor/ceiling assembly blocks airborne sounds like conversations or music. Higher ratings mean better soundproofing.
- IIC (Impact Insulation Class): Measures how well a floor/ceiling assembly reduces impact sounds like footsteps or dropped objects.
Meeting Code Requirements and Exceeding Expectations
IBC Section 1207 mandates a minimum STC and IIC rating of 50 for multi-residential buildings. Warmboard, paired with our recommended sound attenuation products, can help you achieve and surpass these requirements, ensuring exceptional sound control for multi-family projects and private homes alike.
Sound Attenuation for Warmboard installations
Whether you seek to mitigate disruptive noise transfer or create a haven of peace, Warmboard empowers you to achieve your desired sound control goals with expert guidance and specialized solutions.
For Warmboard applications, we have several solutions that help increase STC and IIC numbers. Rubber mats interface easily and can be installed directly over our panels before installing the finish floor. The mats should not be penetrated by any type of fasteners. Carpet, tile, and floated engineered hardwood are easy to install. For nail down hardwoods, a 3/4″ floating plywood underlayment is needed. These mats have very low R-values and are available in 1/4″, 3/8″ and 1/2″ thicknesses.
We recommend a range of effective products to enhance sound attenuation in your Warmboard installation:
- Sound Shark by Sound Seal
- QTSCU by QT Sound Control
- Privacy Ultimate Underlayment by Sound Isolation Company
- Homasote 440 Sound Board Barrier
- Iso Max by Kinetics
- Quiet Clips by Sound Isolation Company
- Genie Clips by Acoustigard
Warmboard can be successfully incorporated into these assemblies to ensure a quiet home.
Expert Guidance for Optimal Results
Navigating sound attenuation products can be complex. We’re here to help you choose the right solution for your specific project to achieve your desired sound control goals. If required, we can connect you with qualified acoustical consultants to ensure optimal results.
Related blog post:
How to manage Sound Attenuation with Warmboard