Satisfaction with sound insulation in residential dwellings – concrete walls vs. drywalls
Invited paper
Institute of Occupational Health
Wednesday 3 june, 2015, 10:40 - 11:00
Auditorium 2 (592)
Abstract:
AIM. The aim of this study was to compare the acoustic satisfaction in two building types having different sound insulation in horizontal direction: monolithic concrete wall) and lightweight double walls (drywalls).
MATERIALS AND METHODS. Four buildings were chosen with concrete walls. Two buildings were chosen with drywalls. The 7-page questionnaire was distributed to each dwelling. Seventy two and eighty-seven respondents were obtained from buildings having concrete and drywalls, respectively. The response rates were 62 and 54 %, respectively. The sound insulation measurements were carried out in both building types.
RESULTS. As desired, the airborne sound insulation of drywalls was significantly worse below 160 Hz. However, both building types were in conformance with the building code, i.e. R’w=56 dB. The satisfaction with sound insulation was, however, equal in both building types. Different sound insulation values in the low frequency range did not affect the subjective ratings of noise. In overall, the satisfaction with sound insulation was relatively good in both building types and the detriments of noise were minor.
CONCLUSIONS. The results suggest that when the airborne sound insulation requirements are at a level of 55 dB R’w, which is the case in many countries, it does not affect the residential acoustic satisfaction, whether the partition walls are constructed using light-weight or heavy weight structures providing the same R’w value. The use of R’w+C50-3150 instead of R’w in Building Codes was not supported at such sound insulation levels.