Sound attenuation vs. sound insulation
Spatial situations that are often perceived as uncomfortable or disturbing can be managed with a few tricks, structural measures and the right materials. The important thing is that you realise what you want to achieve. We will now shed some light on the subject and show you what options there are for dampening sound within your own four walls.
Structural measures: Noise insulation
Sound insulation (also known as Sound insulation) is an acoustic separation of rooms that minimises the Reduce sound propagation should. Are you bothered by your neighbour's noise or do you simply want to enjoy your home cinema in peace without complaints from your neighbours? Or maybe you have your own studio or rehearsal room where you really want to let off steam?
Soundproofing measures are usually Structural measures such as soundproof windows, ceilings or walls as well as impact sound insulation make it possible to reduce noise as much as possible. Sound insulation is preferably taken into account during construction. However, subsequent sound insulation is also possible and special insulating materials then not only ensure peace and quiet, but also better thermal insulation at the same time.
Optimise surround sound: SOUND INSULATION
When we talk about sound attenuation (also Sound absorption), the aim is to Spatial sound within a room in order to improve the room acoustics. The following are used for this Sound absorber on the wall or ceiling made of a material such as acoustic foam or acoustic felt that absorbs certain frequency ranges.
This is required in recording studios, speaker booths, music rooms or simply in your own home to eliminate reverberation. This guarantees an improved sound within a defined range and eliminates disturbing background noise.
Eight measures to improve sound attenuation
Knowing how Sound The fact that the problem is transferred at all helps to understand the fundamental problem and to take the right measures.
Every noise source emits Sound waves that hit surfaces such as walls, doors or ceilings. This results in a conversion into structure-borne sound and subsequently vibrations or oscillations. The sound waves are therefore reflected back, creating the familiar reverberation effect.
Effective sound insulation helps to dampen the sound in the room. There are various products that can provide a remedy and ensure quiet and sonorous moments in your beloved home again. The choice of measure always depends on this, what you want to achieve and what the structural conditions are like in the room you want to optimise.
1. furniture and textiles
Furniture, carpets and curtains can help to improve poor acoustics in a room and dampen sound. Every one of us has at one time or another unfurnished flat and remembers the hall as if you were in a huge hall.
As soon as the first furniture and textiles are added to your own four walls, this impression changes and the room sound regulates itself almost automatically.
2. sound level of household appliances
The washing machine in particular is often seen as a source of noise, as it Vibrations which can even be transmitted into the next flat. The fact that it is often found in rooms that absorb little sound due to the hard surfaces also contributes to this.
Of course, the same applies to tumble dryers, fitness equipment and kitchen appliances. What few people realise: Better sound insulation for household appliances can be achieved quite easily and inexpensively with Sound insulation mats provide. The mats are made of foam and are placed under washing machines, tumble dryers and other appliances to provide additional sound insulation.
3. soundproof curtain
Curtains can also absorb sound and reduce reverberation times. Soundproof curtains can be used that thicker and denser than conventional curtains and are made of special materials, also to create a spatial separation. In any case, soundproof curtains should have an overhang so that as little sound as possible gets past them and sound absorption is optimised.
4. soundproof door
5. acoustic absorbers, acoustic pictures
How about improving the room acoustics and sound absorption with a picture? Special acoustic pictures allow you to choose your own motifs and give the room a personal touch. Even a single Acoustic image refines the overall situation and ensures a better indoor climate.
There are also Acoustic panelswhich can be arranged individually or in groups. Different frequencies are absorbed depending on the application.
6. acoustic panels
To insulate the ceiling, sound absorbers in the form of acoustic panels are also suitable, which are usually installed as suspended acoustic ceilings at some distance from the room ceiling. Here it is advisable to consciously Inner life as acoustic panels are often made of plastic. Panels made of wood wool or sheep's wool are better suited for this, as their Air purification function is permanently preserved.
7. acoustic wall
To prevent sound from being reflected back from large, blank walls, it is advisable to install acoustic felt where the sound source spreads. This acoustic wall can also be an elegant Alternative to conventional wallpaper be.
However, if the noise comes from the neighbours, it is advisable to install an additional wall in front of the actual wall for sound insulation and to fit it with insulating material.
8. acoustic sails and ceiling sails
Acoustic sails on the ceiling are a particularly good way of reducing the noise level in offices, where telephone calls and other background noise often prevent people from concentrating on their work. Long-term noise can even have a negative impact on health and lead to more frequent sick leave.
Ceiling sails are also ideal for schools and nurseries. In addition to sound absorption and a targeted reduction of the reverberation time Acoustic sails for walls and ceilings can also be used to set specific colour accents that create a pleasant atmosphere. Atmosphere provide. Ceiling sails are available in various designs. They provide the best sound insulation when they are installed at some distance from the ceiling.
What materials can be used to dampen sound?
To the favourably priced Acoustic foam such as pyramid or nubbed foam or foam is ideal for sound absorption. It is often used to optimise the sound in Sound and recording studios used
Particularly popular is Basotect Foam, which is also available with a smooth surface. Basotect is made of melamine resin, which has excellent absorption properties, does not yellow and is very flame-retardant. Disturbing reverberation is minimised by the open-pored fabric reduced. Thanks to its low weight, the foam is easy to install and bond.
Acoustic foam stands out due to its price, but it is not a favourite with everyone due to the melamine resin material.
PRO pyramid or dimpled foam:
- He dampens The sound of the radio is specifically focussed on certain frequencies - often the medium and high ones.
- The foam has Hardly any weight and is therefore also easy to process
- Acoustic foam is usually quite favourable to have.
CONTRA pyramid or dimpled foam:
- Unfortunately, the Transitions from one mat to the next is often clearly visible, which is generally seen as a visual shortcoming of nap foam.
- The foam is usually made from the Plastic melamine resin and contains formaldehyde.
Acoustic felts
Sheep's wool felts
- Sheep's wool felts are ideal for filtering and neutralising pollutants and irritants from indoor air. These are the best prerequisites for healthy indoor climate.
- In addition, the room acoustics improve, and unpleasant Sound is dampened.
- Due to the very high flash point and the high self-ignition temperature, sheep's wool felts offer maximum safety and also represent a sustainable alternative to polyester felts.
- The natural one, Dirt-repellent property of pure new sheep's wool also pays off when using acoustic felts. Light soiling is best removed by vacuuming.
Polyester felts
- Polyester felts are made of synthetic fibres and are therefore a good choice for successful sound absorption. Low-cost alternative to the wool felt.
- The synthetic fibre is colourfast, durable and easy to care for, due to its synthetic origin - polyester felts are made of Polyethylene - but not everyone's cup of tea.
Wood
Of course, wood is also suitable for improving the room sound and for sound insulation, e.g. as Diffuser as part of the studio equipment. It is no coincidence that wood is also used to make musical instruments.
In rooms, however, it cannot have the same effect as a resonance box. An exception to this is the wooden floor, where resonance is definitely desirable. Wood makes sense as a sound absorber in rooms, which reduces reverberation, dampens noise and improves speech intelligibility.
Acoustic fabric
Acoustic fabrics are also used for sound absorption, especially in cultural environments such as recording studios, rehearsal rooms, theatres and lecture theatres.
However, care should be taken when selecting the acoustic material, as some materials are permeable to sound. This is particularly useful when building an absorber to improve the sound in a home cinema. However, this material is not suitable for acoustic curtains.
Soundproofing: our conclusion
For a cosy home, you should always make sure to avoid unpleasant room acoustics, in addition to many other aspects. Soundproofing insulation material ensures good sound insulation during constructionbut it is also possible to retrofit sound insulation to protect you against loud music, noisy neighbours and noise from outside.
To combat poor acoustics caused by sound and reverberation in the living room, there are various measures and different materials available to you as described above. So you can also Improve the room acoustics retrospectivelyto dampen the sound and fight annoying reverberation.
You can always do something about poor room acoustics. You will immediately experience the big difference for yourself. It's worth giving it some thought. So that a new Feel-good experience at home.
