Sound Insulation
Sound insulation in buildings is of great significance to the health and well being of people. It is of particular importance in the construction of residential housing, taking into consideration the aspect of rest and relaxation as well as insulating the flat from the neighbors. The comfort of a flat is characterised largely by good sound insulation. Likewise, sound insulation is of primary importance in industrial and administrational areas where loud and quiet activities occur simultaneously.
The European standards have turned increased attention to sound insulation since around 1996. This has led to a major change in the concept according to which sound insulation is forecast. From 1996 to 2002, a fairly comprehensive body of knowledge came into being which can no longer be neglected.
The European standards have turned increased attention to sound insulation since around 1996. This has led to a major change in the concept according to which sound insulation is forecast. From 1996 to 2002, a fairly comprehensive body of knowledge came into being which can no longer be neglected.
The standard DIN 4109 in the version from 1989 is still applicable, describing the minimum level of sound insulation.
Requirements of DIN 4109
All requirements and certificates are described in DIN 4109. The aim of this standard is sound protection inside rooms. Protection against:
airborne and subsonic noise transfer from neighboring rooms,
noise from household equipment and from businesses in the same building or structually connected buildings,
outside noise such as traffic noise or noise from commercial or industrial enterprises in buildings not structurally connected to the residential rooms.
The requirements of DIN 4109 are to be understood as minimum requirements that are always to be met.
Walls made of solid calcium silicate blocks ensure the necessary sound protection, even at night,that a person needs for the rest and regeneration of his body. It is even possible to attain increased sound protection with slim walls. It is not the thickness, but the heaviness and density of the solid walls of calcium silicate block that provide a high degree of sound protection.
Suggestions for sound protection in personal living space.
Sound protection inside the personal living and working space is of importance for the inhabitants, for example in the case of:
Requirements of DIN 4109
All requirements and certificates are described in DIN 4109. The aim of this standard is sound protection inside rooms. Protection against:
airborne and subsonic noise transfer from neighboring rooms,
noise from household equipment and from businesses in the same building or structually connected buildings,
outside noise such as traffic noise or noise from commercial or industrial enterprises in buildings not structurally connected to the residential rooms.
The requirements of DIN 4109 are to be understood as minimum requirements that are always to be met.
Walls made of solid calcium silicate blocks ensure the necessary sound protection, even at night,that a person needs for the rest and regeneration of his body. It is even possible to attain increased sound protection with slim walls. It is not the thickness, but the heaviness and density of the solid walls of calcium silicate block that provide a high degree of sound protection.
Suggestions for sound protection in personal living space.
Sound protection inside the personal living and working space is of importance for the inhabitants, for example in the case of:
different usage of individual rooms and therefore different sound sources,
different working and resting times of residents, or
increased needs for protection.
Nevertheless, in DIN 4109:1989-11, there are no (building structural) requirements for sound protection in personal living space, e.g. in a single family home or in one's own flat;
likewise, there are no requirements for a dividing wall between a living room and child's bedroom. This should not lead to the false conclusion that it is not important to ensure sound protection in these cases.
General aspects for planning and installation
The familiar KS brickwork structures in exterior and interior walls do not need a special certificate as they are inspected regarding sound protection and are time-tested over decades.
Single-wythe walls.
For airborne noise protection in the case of single-wythe walls, the area-related mass is of primary importance. The heavier the single-wythe components are, the greater sound protection they provide.
Double-wythe walls.
In the case of double-wythe house dividing walls made of heavy, bending resistant shells with continuous separation joint, e.g. for row houses, sound propogation between adjacent houses is greatly reduced compared to single-wythe separation walls.
different working and resting times of residents, or
increased needs for protection.
Nevertheless, in DIN 4109:1989-11, there are no (building structural) requirements for sound protection in personal living space, e.g. in a single family home or in one's own flat;
likewise, there are no requirements for a dividing wall between a living room and child's bedroom. This should not lead to the false conclusion that it is not important to ensure sound protection in these cases.
General aspects for planning and installation
The familiar KS brickwork structures in exterior and interior walls do not need a special certificate as they are inspected regarding sound protection and are time-tested over decades.
Single-wythe walls.
For airborne noise protection in the case of single-wythe walls, the area-related mass is of primary importance. The heavier the single-wythe components are, the greater sound protection they provide.
Double-wythe walls.
In the case of double-wythe house dividing walls made of heavy, bending resistant shells with continuous separation joint, e.g. for row houses, sound propogation between adjacent houses is greatly reduced compared to single-wythe separation walls.
