Soundproofing and Sound Reduction Library

Acoustic Cameras Used to Catch Criminals

2008-07-21T12:32:00.001-07:00

A gunshot goes off in the night. By the time the responding officer arrives, it may be difficult for the reporting parties to recall which direction it came from.

In areas with a high amount of gunfire, cities are installing acoustic gunshot detection systems. These sensors not only identify the difference between a gunshot and a car backfiring but then send information back to a sophisticated mapping system which triangulates where the potential suspect may be. This confirmation of gunfire and the immediate determination of the location allow deputies to quickly respond to shootings with a much greater level of confidence.

In some cities these acoustic gunshot detection systems are married with video surveillance; thus, a video camera can immediately zoom in on a location where gunfire has been detected, display the suspect information, and record events taking place immediately after the shot was fired. This information is then fed into a command center, located at the station. The command center contains video monitors for the video surveillance system and has the ability to download recorded video onto a DVD or CD to be used later as evidence.

Manufacturers of gunshot detection systems expect the technology to increase the ability of the police to get to the scene of random gunfire quickly, increase the number of people arrested for firing weapons, and reduce the detrimental effects (injuries, fear, disinvestment) of shots being fired in urban settings. Community advocates of gunshot detection systems believe the technology can deter would-be shooters and improve the quality of life in their neighborhoods.

Some cities are on installing the units in high crime areas. One would not know they were passing an acoustic sensor as many of them are hidden in assemblages that resemble birdhouses and heating vents and are enclosed in weatherproof containers approximately 1 cubic foot in size.

The technology of the sensors and cameras along with Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) system or Mobile ALPR, which consists of three cameras mounted adjacent to a radio car’s emergency light bar which automatically scans nearby license plates to determine if a vehicle is wanted or stolen, can greatly deter crime. ALPR systems can scan up to 8,000 license plates during the course of a single shift. Fixed ALPR systems are mounted primarily atop intersection signal poles and parking lots. These fixed systems scan each vehicle as it passes through the intersection and notify the concerned station when a stolen or wanted vehicle is detected.

As with all new technology, it can evolve and be used for other purposes. For those who are battling street sounds and not just crime, it is possible such systems could help track noisy offenders who exceed the legal noise level at night, giving everybody at least a decent nights sleep.

Mark Rustad is President of NetWell Noise Control, based in Minneapolis, MN. Founded in 1991, NetWell is a leading supplier of ceiling tiles, acoustic products, sound proofing treatments, and online acoustical consulting services. NetWell’s sound management skills are packaged into the industry’s premier website. For more information, please visit eSoundproof.com. 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.

Car Alarms and Noise Pollution

2008-07-09T11:27:00.000-07:00

You finally get to sleep and then it happens, somebody car alarm goes off. Do you look? Most likely you don’t because car alarms go off for many reasons and not because they are alerting anyone to theft.

For this reason, groups are trying to ban the use of car alarms. Liu's bill, which was introduced in 2002 with nine co-sponsors, would ban the sale and installation of audible car alarms in New York City. Moskowitz's bill, introduced in April with fifteen co-sponsors, would go further, banning the sale, installation, and use of the alarms. Moskowitz also proposes a mechanism for citizens to report annoying alarms to the police, prompting a warning letter to the car owner.

Would the discontinuation of car alarms lead to more thefts? Unlikely. According to the Highway Highway Loss Data Institute, in 1997, while new vehicle immobilizers cut theft rates in half, the study concludes that cars with alarms "show no overall reduction in theft losses" compared to cars without alarms. The alarms just don't work.

There are two main reasons that car alarms don't work. First, people know that the vast majority of blaring car alarms are false alarms, set off by passing trucks, electrical malfunctions, or nothing at all. So no one responds to them -- often, not even the car owners themselves. A recent survey by the Progressive Insurance Company found that fewer than one percent of respondents would call the cops upon hearing a car alarm.

Second, alarms are very easy to disable. About 80 percent of stolen cars are taken by professional car thieves, and they know how to deactivate an alarm in just a few seconds, according to police and criminologists.

What do car alarms provide? Noise pollution and health problems.
According to a recent Cornell University study, they found that traffic noise alone raises blood pressure, increases stress hormones, and leads to "learned helplessness" in schoolchildren. Many traffic sounds contribute to the problem, but car alarms, unpredictable and often exceeding 125 decibels, can be especially harmful.

How can you prevent auto theft if you disable your car alarm? There are many other types of anti-theft devices available such as the vehicle immobilizer, tracking systems or silent pagers. Whatever you choose, it will certainly quiet down the streets at night in contrast to the loud beeping of the car alarm that does nothing but annoy the neighbors and possibly truly protect your vehicle.

Mark Rustad is President of NetWell Noise Control, based in Minneapolis, MN. Founded in 1991, NetWell is a leading supplier of ceiling tiles, acoustic products, sound proofing treatments, and online acoustical consulting services. NetWell’s sound management skills are packaged into the industry’s premier website. For more information, please visit eSoundproof.com. 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.

How to Handle Noisy Neighbors

2008-07-09T11:25:00.000-07:00

Everybody has probably had them, noisy neighbors that is. Just as you are going to sleep they are starting the party. Or maybe they just have a loud dog or are just plain inconsiderate. The good news is that you have options in dealing with this situation beyond having to confront the person or put up with it.

1. CHECK YOUR LOCAL ORDINANCES

Get a copy of your local noise laws. Most cities and counties have ordinances that control the times, types and loudness of noise. For example, many local ordinances prohibit unreasonable vehicle noise (like honking the car horn early every morning for a carpool) or dogs barking all night long every night. Noisy neighbors are in for a warning or even a fine. You can look up your local ordinance at city hall, a public law library or the public library. Make at least two copies of it, one for your neighbor and one for yourself.

2. WARN YOUR NEIGHBOR IN WRITING

If things don't improve, ask your neighbor to tone it down. If this doesn’t work, put it in writing. Don't make threats, but state that if the situation doesn't improve you'll be forced to notify the authorities. Enclose a copy of the noise ordinance. Keep a copy of your letter; you'll need it if, as a last resort, you later sue your neighbor.

3. SUGGEST MEDIATION

Most cities offer free or low-cost mediation services, which means they provide an impartial mediator who will sit down with you and your neighbor and try to help you resolve your differences.

Just call the mediation service; someone there will contact the neighbor and suggest mediation. (These people are very good at convincing others to give mediation a chance.)

4. CALL THE POLICE

If you have done all of the above and your neighbor has responded by turning up the volume, now is the time to call the police (or the Animal Control officer if the problem is a barking dog). Try to get the police to come while the noise is occurring.

Of course, you can call the police on a noisy neighbor the first time the music gets too loud for your taste. But the police will be more sympathetic to your situation if they see that you have tried to solve the problem on your own.

If you are somebody who doesn’t want confrontation, here are some other tips to help you survive the noise:

1. Use white noise: White noise such as a fan or something that produces an even sound will help distract your attention from the noise and often help you go to sleep.

2. Soundproof your home. There are many professionals who can help you soundproof your home in a way that is efficient and effective.

3. Use earplugs. This may be your last resort before approaching your neighbor but for many people it works.

Mark Rustad is President of NetWell Noise Control, based in Minneapolis, MN. Founded in 1991, NetWell is a leading supplier of ceiling tiles, acoustic products, sound proofing treatments, and online acoustical consulting services. NetWell’s sound management skills are packaged into the industry’s premier website. For more information, please visit eSoundproof.com. 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.

Motorcycle Noise

2008-06-28T12:58:00.000-07:00

Motorcycles are growing in popularity, especially as the cost of gas increases. But with the growing use of motorcycles comes the growing concern of their noise.

Not all motorcycles are noisy and most new motorcycles are built with federally mandated noise control standards. When a motorcycle is noisy it is due to the rider’s modification to the muffler tailpipe or an aftermarket exhaust system that is not street legal. Such modified exhaust systems can be heard and felt over a wide distance, rattling windows and traveling through walls. In the end, millions of people are adversely affected by this noise.

So if the motorcycles are so noisy, why do riders modify them? Mostly it is due to the fact that riders feel their sound will make them more heard by other motorists, which in turn will keep them safer. But this may be more a myth than truth. The American Motorcycle Association discourages cyclists in modifying their exhaust systems and have gone so far to create a creed that reads:

• All motorcyclists should be sensitive to community standards and respect the rights of fellow citizens to enjoy a peaceful environment.

• Motorcyclists should not modify exhaust systems in a way that will increase sound to an offensive level.

• Organizers of motorcycle events should take steps through advertising, peer pressure and enforcement to make excessively loud motorcycles unwelcome.

• Motorcycle retailers should discourage the installation and use of excessively loud replacement exhaust systems.

• The motorcycle industry, including aftermarket suppliers of replacement exhaust systems, should adopt responsible product design and marketing policies aimed at limiting the cumulative impact of excessive motorcycle noise.

• Manufacturers producing motorcycles to appropriate federal standards should continue to educate their dealers and customers that louder exhaust systems do not necessarily improve the performance of a motorcycle.

• Law enforcement agencies should fairly and consistently enforce appropriate laws and ordinances against excessive vehicle noise.

• The motorcycle industry and the safety community should educate customers that excessive noise may be fatiguing to riders, making them less able to enjoy riding and less able to exercise good riding skills.

To help combat noise problems, The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets noise emissions standards for motorcycles. The standard for street-legal exhaust noise emissions is 80 dB(a). All motorcycles are required to display an EPA label on the chassis and exhaust pipe. The "label match-up" program was designed as regulatory measure for states and municipalities to control motorcycle noise.

Yet, the United States allow higher noise levels for motorcycles than in other regions and countries, notably Europe and Japan. In Australia, label match-up is also used in addition to annual inspections.

Affected residents are speaking up about the problem of motorcycle noise and lobbying their elected officials for better protection. There is increasing motorcycle restrictions on public lands, private roads and gated communities.

In California, police officers are forced to measure exhaust noise with a decibel meter using the dB(a) standard, which does not measure low frequency noise.

Citations are often challenged in court because the meters must be certified and calibrated for its readings to be used as evidence. In addition, police officers must be properly trained to use the expensive equipment. The result is that fewer riders are cited for noise violations.

Another enforcement measure is called 'plainly audible standard' that allows an officer to determine noise levels. In New York City, noise offenders can be cited if the motorcycle exhaust noise is plainly audible at 200 feet.

Because the problem has not been completely solved, residents of communities who have a larger than normal amount of motorcycle traffic are making efforts to help sound proof their homes. But in the meantime, maybe as motorcycle usage increases so will conscientiousness.

Mark Rustad is President of NetWell Noise Control, based in Minneapolis, MN. Founded in 1991, NetWell is a leading supplier of ceiling tiles, acoustic products, soundproofing treatments, and online acoustical consulting services. NetWell’s sound management skills are packaged into the industry’s premier website. For more information, please visit eSoundproof.com. 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.

Keeping It Quiet, Tips for Buying Your Next Home

2008-06-19T10:19:00.000-07:00

You are in the market to buy a new home. There is so much to consider, price, location, size and even the details such as carpeting, wood flooring, the number of bathrooms. One thing buyers often forget to consider when searching out their dream home is to make sure that humble abode is quiet and peaceful.

Determining whether a neighborhood or home is going to be quiet at night or even weekends can be difficult at first. Ways to help you determine the noise level is to be sure and drive around the area you like with the windows down.

If you run across railroad tracks, you better figure out how close they are to your prospective home. Make sure you are near the house when a train goes by, so you can get the full effect. While trains and plains are obvious sources of noise, you also need to consider more subtle situations.

Many homebuyers look at houses early on Saturday and Sundays. This makes sense since you have to work for a living, but it can result in some nasty surprises. The characteristics of a neighborhood on weekends are entirely different than during week days. Make absolutely sure you check out the property during both time periods. To guard against “partying” neighbors, make sure you check the area during evenings as well.

Examine your home’s proximity to a freeway or industrial center. If you are somebody with non-standard work hours, just simply looking at a home with the bedroom in the correct placement is important.

Spend some time inside of the home with the doors and windows shut to see how much sound is coming in. Some homes have better insulation than others. Dual-pane windows also help cut out some of the outside noise.

There are remedies that can be made to your home if you already purchased it and have discovered it is noisy. By consulting a professional rather than trying to do-it-yourself to no avail, you will find yourself with a quieter home and a better night’s sleep.

Mark Rustad is President of NetWell Noise Control, based in Minneapolis, MN. Founded in 1991, NetWell is a leading supplier of ceiling tiles, acoustic products, sound proofing treatments, and online acoustical consulting services. NetWell’s sound management skills are packaged into the industry’s premier website. For more information, please visit eSoundproof.com. 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.

Renting and noisy neighbors

2008-06-10T14:14:00.000-07:00

Noise can be a nuisance and worse of all it stalks us in our own homes, thanks to the neighbors. About 100 million Americans share walls with strangers, many in acoustical slums. In U.S. Census Bureau surveys, people consistently rate noise ahead of crime, traffic and other social ills as a primary reason they want to move.

Noise can be beyond frustrating. All this thumping, rock and roll and screaming that barges uninvited into our bedrooms is a known stressor. Noise also makes us ineffective and cranky, raises our blood pressure and robs us of decent sleep.

And now for the bad news: Much of what we've been doing to block the noise doesn't work. If you have tried carpet on the wall, blankets, corkboard or egg cartons, you have probably realized by now, they don’t work. While these materials do line makeshift music studios, they are meant to absorb sound already in the room, therefore improving the quality. Exterior noise still gets in. It just bounces around for a bit less time.

If the noise is enough to bother you, it will still bother you after stapling egg cartons to your ceiling. Even some products advertised as cure-alls on the Internet are far from it. Worse, some construction contractors, unversed in the complex details of soundproofing, have been known to choose or install ineffective soundproofing products, leaving the client with a bill but no relief.

But don't give up hope for peace just yet. It is possible to engage in a little "acoustical self-defense, so long as you understand how sound travels, can identify the source of the problem and know to hunt for the right combination of products.

To start, you need to understand how sound works. Sound is a vibration: the quiver of a violin string under a bow; the rattle of vocal cords; the impact of a shoe against the floor. The vibration excites molecules -- in air, liquid or solid -- that in turn excite the molecules beside them, and so on, forming a radiating wave of pressure. This pressure wave, received as sound, continues until it naturally dissipates or until it is:

• Blocked. This requires mass -- very high-density materials -- to act as a barrier. Lead works; foam doesn't.
• Absorbed. Uses insulation materials to absorb vibrations that would otherwise bounce around -- and echo -- in an air cavity like a drum.
• Dampened. Uses chemically engineered paste or strips to transform the energy of sound into heat.
• Isolated. Uses nonconductive materials, in wall clips or pads, to isolate the transmission of vibrations between objects.

There are several additional tactics you can use immediately:

Use white noise: That is, a consistent, rhythmic hum might help mask light sound and divert your attention. You can find machines or CDs, or try fans or water fountains.

Isolate the problem. Bass, that low boom from your neighbor's stereo, takes a lot of energy to produce. These low-frequency sound waves are especially hard to combat since they travel far and wide, bending easily around objects. It's why foghorns use them, and why when thunder is distant you hear only its low rumble.
Try to block the sound's path by putting special "isolation pads" or "noise-vibration pads" under your bedposts. Ask your neighbor if you can put pads under his TV, treadmill or washing machine to better attack the problem at the source.

If the noise is really bad sometimes the landlord will get involved because he realizes he can't get top dollar with these noise issues.

Know your rights: Learn about sound ratings required for buildings in your area before talking to the landlord or building association. The information will better arm you for coverage of upgrades. If needed, a real-estate lawyer might help you recover costs or get out of a lease.

What you should not do is:

• Knock under the influence (of anger): Yes, it's hard to wait, but it will serve your needs better if you can work calmly and pragmatically with your neighbor. Plus, these things can escalate.
• Save police for a last resort: Even nice people turn not so nice after you call the cops. It might fix a big event, but it could further amplify day-to-day noise problems.
• Avoid another bad situation: If you must move, don't rush. Take time to visit potential apartments at different times of day to evaluate their noise levels. You can find additional tips for quiet-apartment hunting here.

Mark Rustad is President of NetWell Noise Control, based in Minneapolis, MN. Founded in 1991, NetWell is a leading supplier of ceiling tiles, acoustic products, sound proofing treatments, and online acoustical consulting services. NetWell’s sound management skills are packaged into the industry’s premier website. For more information, please visit eSoundproof.com. 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.

Noise Management in City and Urban Planning

2008-06-02T10:29:00.000-07:00

Growing cities means growing noise. This is especially true in mixed-use urban environments that often contain commercial premises (entertainment, retail, office, hospitality or light manufacturing) sited close to residential uses such as apartments.

The need for local authorities to adopt sound land use planning is a growing practice.

Noise can be thought of as unwanted sound and can vary greatly in volume. Noise can cause annoyance, speech interference, affect performance and concentration, mental health and disturb sleep.

Difficulties often arise where noise-sensitive land uses (such as residential activities) move into or close to established commercial areas or major infrastructural assets such as ports or airports. This is often referred to as ‘reverse sensitivity’ for an explanation of reverse sensitivity and relevant case law).

One technique for dealing with the issue of reverse sensitivity is to ensure people are fully informed of the environment which they are proposing to move into.

Another consideration of factors planners are observing for mixed-use areas include:

* Time of day: There is less tolerance of noise by residents when it occurs at night. Therefore district plan noise limits are typically lower for night.
* Level of sound: Sound levels can range from loud (exceeding the normally occurring or existing background sound level by 10 dBA or more) through to relatively low level with bass or beat components. District plan provisions should allow for some noise to be emitted, but only up to allowable limits measured at the residential location (often around 45-55 dBA).
* Type of sound: Some sounds have a special audible character that can cause additional annoyance.
* Location of premises: Commercial and industrial areas located close to residential sites will often have more noise issues than those occupying sites well within commercial or industrial zones (further from residential sites). District plan noise provisions usually allow higher levels of noise (day and night) within commercial and industrial zones. Distance, and the placement of barriers between the source of the noise and those receiving, are mitigating factors but the ability to use these can be limited in mixed-use environments. Where residential activities locate in established commercial or industrial areas it is more practical for the new residential use to insulate itself from noise than it is for existing commercial uses to comply with acceptable residential noise levels.
* Body corporate and private undertakings: Complaints can arise where noise-sensitive residences are located in the same premises as a noise-making commercial activity. Clauses within leases or body corporate constraints covering noise nuisance often place such complaints beyond the scope of territorial authority action. However, many territorial authorities successfully deal with these matters in the same way as if the parties were located within separate buildings.

Managing noise in the city usually starts at its source. For new noise generating activities, control can be achieved by incorporating appropriate buffer distances. However, as buffer distances are often not practical in inner-city areas where differing land uses tend to be located in close proximity, measures such as the use of noise barriers or insulation may present a more realistic management method.

Barriers may include such features as:

* solid walls or fences to stop or deflect sound
* bunds
* other non-noise sensitive structures
* topography (locating activities in depressions or behind hills for example).

Barriers to control noise emission or to reduce noise received can be effective, but the effects of reflected sound need to be considered within the design and orientation of barriers. Factors such as orientation and materials used in the construction of barriers should be considered. Acoustic consultants can provide detailed guidance to match the specifics of individual sites.

Vegetation is not considered a good sound barrier as it will not block noise emissions unless plantations are very dense. Within inner-city mixed-use environments there are few opportunities to provide planting capable of mitigating noise.

Noise control is most effectively achieved on smaller sites by paying particular attention to design before constructing any buildings. The layout of premises…the location and orientation of openings, loading bays, doors, windows, and car parks…and on-site vehicle circulation patterns are all important for good noise control.

The use of noise management plans may be incorporated into a district plan through permitted activity standards associated with particular (usually known) land uses, or their formulation and compliance with them made a condition on a resource consent. Some district plans actually specify that a noise guidance plan must be prepared to comply with rules.

Other considerations within such districts include:
* Providing indoor living spaces in mixed-use areas with a reasonable standard of acoustic protection is emerging as an effective method of addressing reverse sensitivity.
* Specifying the standard required for acoustic insulation (for example the materials to be used, or the level of sound reduction to be achieved).

As the world’s population grows and cities become denser, the necessity of noise ordinances and the consideration of soundproofing residential areas is becoming a must.

About the Author: Mark Rustad is President of NetWell Noise Control, based in Minneapolis, MN. Founded in 1991, NetWell is a leading supplier of acoustic products, soundproofing 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.

Noise and Its Affect On Your Health

2008-05-26T10:11:00.000-07:00

Noise is a nuisance; there is no doubt about it. But more than that, it can cause health problems. For this reason, many are working at reducing the amount of noise in our everyday environment by creating new laws and regulations.

How does noise affect our health? The first and most noticeable affects are hearing loss. Hearing loss is easy to connect with noise because it is observable and measurable.

Hearing loss is often gradual and the first awareness of the damage unfortunately comes once it has started. One first notices hearing loss when they are unable to hear particular words during conversation and then speech on a telephone. Unfortunately, this recognition comes too late to recover what is lost. By then, the ability to hear the high frequency sounds of, for example, a flute or piccolo or even the soft rustling of leaves will have been permanently diminished. As hearing damage continues, it can become quite significant and handicapping. And there is no cure. Hearing aids do not restore noise-damaged hearing, although they can be of limited help to some people.

People with partial deafness from exposure to noise do not necessarily live in a quieter world. The many sounds still audible to them are distorted in loudness, pitch, apparent location, or clarity. Consonants of speech, especially high frequency sounds such as "s" and "ch," are often lost or indistinguishable from other sounds. Speech frequently seems garbled, sounding as if the speaker has his or her "head in a barrel." When exposed to a very loud noise, people with partial hearing loss may experience discomfort and pain. They also frequently suffer from tinnitus -irritating ringing or roaring in the head.

There is even further pain the hard-of-hearing person faces: the emotional anguish caused, perhaps Unintentionally, by friends and associates who become less willing to be partners in conversation or companions in other activities.

Noise also affects our bodies subconsciously. In readiness for dangerous and harmful situations, our bodies make automatic and unconscious responses to sudden or loud sounds. Of course, most noise in our modern society does not signify such danger. However, our bodies still react as if these sounds were always a threat or warning.

In effect, the body shifts gears. Blood pressure rises, heart rate and breathing speed up, muscles tense, hormones are released into the bloodstream, and perspiration appears. These changes occur even during sleep.

The idea that people get used to noise is a myth. Even when we think we have become accustomed to noise, biological changes still take place inside us, preparing us for physical activity if necessary.

Noise does not have to be loud to bring on these responses. Noise below the levels usually associated with hearing damage can cause regular and predictable changes in the body.

In studies dating back to the 1930s, researchers noted that noise developed marked digestive changes which were thought to lead to ulcers. Cases of ulcers in certain noisy industries have been found to be up to five times as numerous as what normally would be expected.

Similar research has identified more clearly the contribution of noise to other physical disorders. A five-year study of two manufacturing firms in the United States found that workers in noisy plant areas showed greater numbers of diagnosed medical problems, including respiratory ailments, than did workers in quieter areas of the plants.

From a study done with animals, researchers concluded that noise may be a risk factor in lowering people's resistance to disease and infection.

To prevent aggravation of existing disease, doctors and health researchers agree that there is an absolute requirement for rest and relaxation at regular intervals to maintain adequate mental and physical health.

Sleep is a restorative time of life, and a good night's sleep is probably crucial to good health. But everyday experience suggests that noise interferes with our sleep - in a number of ways. Noise can make it difficult to fall asleep, it can wake us, and it can cause shifts from deeper to lighter sleep stages. If the noise interference with sleep becomes a chronic problem, it may take its toll on health.

Human response to noise before and during sleep varies widely among age groups. The elderly and the sick are particularly sensitive to disruptive noise. Compared to young people, the elderly are more easily awakened by noise and, once awake, have more difficulty returning to sleep. As a group, the elderly require special protection from the noises that interfere with their sleep.

Other age groups seem to be less affected by noise at bedtime and while asleep. But their apparent adjustment may simply be the result of failing to remember having awakened during the night. Sleep researchers have observed that their subjects often forget and underestimate the number of times they awaken during sleep. It may be that loud noises during the night continue to wake or rouse us when we sleep, but that as we become familiar with the sounds, we return to sleep more rapidly.

The most obvious price we pay for living in an overly noisy world is the annoyance we frequently experience. Perhaps because annoyance is so commonplace, we tend to take our daily doses of it for granted - not realizing that the irritability that sometimes surfaces can be a symptom of potentially more serious distress inside us. When noise becomes sufficiently loud or unpredictable, or if the stress imposed is great enough, our initial annoyance can become transformed into more extreme emotional responses and behavior. When this happens, our tempers flare and we may "fly off the handle" at the slightest provocation.

Indeed, noise can strain relations between individuals, cause people to be less tolerant of frustration and ambiguity, and make people less willing to help others. Although no one would say that noise by itself brings on mental illness, there is evidence that noise-related stress can aggravate already existing emotional disorders.

Is noise a problem? It seems it is one we often don’t recognize. Fortunately it is also one that can be remedied with the proper treatment of your home or work place with soundproofing. As for recreation, maybe a trip out into the country will be the ticket there.

Mark Rustad is President of NetWell Noise Control, based in Minneapolis, MN. Founded in 1991, NetWell is a leading supplier of ceiling tiles, acoustic products, sound proofing treatments, and online acoustical consulting services. NetWell’s sound management skills are packaged into the industry’s premier website. For more information, please visit eSoundproof.com. 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.

Call Centers and Sound

2008-05-13T10:56:00.000-07:00

If you have worked in a call center, you know how noisy it can get with numerous operators and telephones. If you are on the other end of the phone with somebody at a call center, it also can be quite frustrating with all of the background sound. There are solutions for those who own or operate call centers that will help provide low background noise for operators so they can work at peak efficiency. Such solutions would be a professional soundproofing treatment.

In soundproofing, there are two distinct treatment options that can clean your room acoustically and help protect the phone operators from one another's voices in a call center design. No it doesn’t mean putting rugs on the ceiling or egg crates on the walls. Even though some say such quick fixes work, they don’t.

For a professional treatment that does work, the first line of order would be to install a sound masking system designed to raise the level of background noise and protect each operator by disguising one another's voices. This form of background noise is soothing, not irritating, much like the sound of airflow from a low running fan. By raising the background noise, individual voice reflections become less distinctive, affording better protection for a room filled with phone bank operators.

The alternative treatment is to attack the background noise, capture it and convert it out of the room. This is accomplished through the installation of a set of sound panels designed to be anchored to the perimeter walls around the room and as backdrop insets within the cubicle desks. This treatment lowers the amount of sound reflection in the room, cleaning out the background noise, and delivering less voice reflection from one operator to the next.

What are the results? Any sound isolation or containment treatment will deliver a stronger acoustic break between operators. Results will vary depending on several options including the size, shape and surface texture of the room. Those opting for absorption panels can reasonably expect to absorb up to 85% of human voice reflections, delivering cleaner acoustics in the room with less background noise interfering with the phone work. The sound masking system will manufacture greater oral privacy by disguising human voice conversations and produce the targeted background decibel level of 45 dBa.

In the end, your operators can hear the people they are trying to communicate with and focus on their call without being distracted by the operator next to them. This in turn leads to better communication and results for all.

Mark Rustad is President of NetWell Noise Control, based in Minneapolis, MN. Founded in 1991, NetWell is a leading supplier of ceiling tiles, acoustic products, sound proofing treatments, and online acoustical consulting services. NetWell’s sound management skills are packaged into the industry’s premier website. For more information, please visit eSoundproof.com. 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.

COMMON SOUNDPROOFING MYTHS

2008-05-13T10:54:00.000-07:00

Peace and quiet is something we value as we are constantly barraged with the sounds around us. When we are home, the last thing we want is to hear the noisy neighbor, the children upstairs playing their guitar or traffic on the street.

Understanding how sound works and ways people have tried soundproofing their homes to no avail, will help you understand that with a professional, you can be on your way to making your home a place of more serenity.

In order to effectively reduce or eliminate the noise in your home, you must first understand the difference between sound absorption and sound reduction. Each of these two types of soundproofing utilizes its own techniques for handling unwanted noise that stems from inside or outside the home.

Sound absorption involves changing the character of the sound waves by ridding a room of the echoing that’s intrinsic to its design, rather than addressing noise that penetrates your home from the outdoors. Sound reduction is a way of blocking sound so that it doesn’t get into or out of a room.

People over time have come up with many creative solutions to reduce the sound in their home. To help you identify these solutions that ‘don’t’ work, and to save you money and time, see the following:

• Eggcrate" cardboard egg holders. You have no idea the number of people who tell us their trials and tribulations to find quantities of it, buy it and install it only to find it does little or no soundproofing! Some have told us that some sound transmissions seems to be somewhat enhanced!
• Foam rubber of the common sort, such as that of which rubber mattresses are made. While this has some possibilities, other disadvantages are durability and the cost isn't all that much different than "made for soundproofing" products when so much more of it is needed to be the equivalent of professional materials. Most important, foam rubber is highly flammable in contrast to professional safe products.
• Rubber Floor Mats. One would think a rubber material would be good for sound proofing and perhaps it is if properly used, but simply laying it on the floor will do little against noise coming in (or going out). Rubber and Neoprene are in the same class here.
• Old mattresses nailed to the walls. This technique has it's followers, but unless butted well together with no spaces, caulked edges, and only if you are willing to put up with the possible odor, mold and moisture they have or can accumulate, not to mention unwanted rodent critter type "guests" that may take up residence - are they a possibility.
• Cellulose, the material that is pumped into walls. While it's not useless, it's not very effective.
• Carpet - Old or New. Doesn't make much difference, it will all deteriorate and begin to stink. The newer will take longer, that's all. Same problems as with the mattress as explained above and carpet will increase the acoustic absorbency of a room, but do little in the way of soundproofing.
• Common fiberglass insulation makes a great thermal insulator, but not a very good acoustical insulator.
• Plywood panels/ particleboard are not good for soundproofing as wood transfers sound very well.
• Hay bales make fine soundproofing units, but are rather temporary, subject to fire and vandalism and obviously for outdoor use.

Mark Rustad is President of NetWell Noise Control, based in Minneapolis, MN. Founded in 1991, NetWell is a leading supplier of ceiling tiles, acoustic products, sound proofing treatments, and online acoustical consulting services. NetWell’s sound management skills are packaged into the industry’s premier website. For more information, please visit eSoundproof.com. 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.

Soundproofing Your Bedroom

2008-04-29T10:35:00.000-07:00

There is nothing more stressing than to be woken up in the middle of the night from sound or to not even get a good night’s sleep. Soundproofing your bedroom from either other rooms in your home, outside sounds, or, if you are in an apartment, your neighbors, can help you get a better nights rest and lower your stress level.

The goal in soundproofing a room correctly is to block the transmission of sound from bleeding through a common wall. Ultimately you want to impair the wall's ability to conduct vibration. This is accomplished by adding two components to your wall assembly. The first is density, the second is disconnection. The combination of these two ingredients will help force the collapse of your sound wave inside your wall, and can trigger up to a 90% drop in sound transmission.

Your treatment will depend on your starting point, but a treatment can reasonably trigger a 10-12 dB drop in noise levels bleeding through a common wall. Much of the success of a sound isolation wall will depend on the quality of the installation, the disconnected framing techniques, and the number of holes in your wall surface that will impair your noise reduction efforts.

Open air holes in a wall are called "flanking" paths and will serve to deteriorate results. Flanking paths include switch plates, electrical outlets, supply vents, return vents, light canisters, pipes, windows, doors, and a host of other possible paths that cannot block noise bleed. For soundproofing common walls, using a product such as dB-Bloc minimizes the flanking paths and can trigger up to a 90% drop in noise bleeding through.

Another way to soundproof is through combating the bleed of noise through the ceiling. This offers greater sound isolation and privacy between rooms that share this common surface. Ceiling tile treatments are designed to capture unwelcome sound reflections in the room.

A good sound barrier ceiling treatment can deliver up to a 90% reduction in plenum noise, foot noise or noise bleeding into or out of your room through the ceiling. A sound absorption ceiling treatment can restore your room to good quality sound by collapsing your reverberations times down to under 2.0 seconds.

Another consideration is your floors. Deadening noise that transmits through a common floor/ceiling assembly system is accomplished by either raising the floor up above or lowering the ceiling down below, lining with a soundproofing substrate, and applying the finished surface. This creates a disconnection that forces transmitting sound waves to collapse structurally and protects the adjoining space from noise.

Floor underlayment treatments target the reduction of foot noise and squeaking floors for stronger floor sound control

Last are windows. Soundproof Windows are acoustical windows designed to affix directly over your existing window treatment to help block noise and produce a soundproof window. These sound insulation windows serve as a sound barrier for soundproofing a window against street traffic noise, loud neighbors, barking dogs, as well as protecting neighbors from garage bands, home theaters, drum rooms and music room noise. These are attractive acoustic windows that will anchor directly in front of your existing windows to combat sound transmission. These are not replacement windows, they are acoustic windows that are applied over your existing windows. Soundproof Windows are available in many color options or can be custom painted for a decorative window soundproofing treatment.

So if you aren’t getting a good night’s sleep or are even a light sleeper, soundproofing your bedroom will certainly be worth the investment

Mark Rustad is President of NetWell Noise Control, based in Minneapolis, MN. Founded in 1991, NetWell is a leading supplier of ceiling tiles, acoustic products, sound proofing treatments, and online acoustical consulting services. NetWell’s sound management skills are packaged into the industry’s premier website. For more information, please visit eSoundproof.com. 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.

Soundproofing Your Animal Kennel

2008-04-18T16:18:00.001-07:00

If you own a kennel or manage an animal shelter you know how loud it can get inside. This is not only a nuisance for the occupants such as the employees, but it also can be a nuisance for those who may live within earshot of you. Since it is nearly impossible to eliminate the sound of barking dogs and other such animal noise, reducing noise level by making all of your walls, ceilings, floors and other structures less reflective is the next best solution.

With a kennel, you often may have outside areas to soundproof as well such as dog runs. Similar fixes do apply that are mentioned below.

To control sound levels within the animal shelter itself, you can install a set of acoustic sound panels, ceiling tiles or VET baffles. These fixes are designed to interrupt the reflections of the barking dogs, capture and absorb their energy, and deliver slower reverberation times within the kennel room

Treating your walls will help block the transmission of sound bleeding through a common wall. Your ultimate goal is to impair the wall's ability to conduct vibration. This is accomplished by adding two components to your wall assembly; the first is density, the second is disconnection. The combination of these two ingredients will help force the collapse of your sound wave inside your wall, and can trigger up to a 90% drop in sound transmission.

By following these isolation techniques, a 10-12 dB drop can be triggered. For treating the acoustics within the room, controlled reverberation times will drop background noise and the corresponding decibel level exposure in the room. Remember, the treatment for soundproofing a kennel makes the room less loud, not the dogs. They'll still bark, it just won't sound as loud.

You can also treat the ceiling. There are two goals with sound proofing a ceiling. The first is to combat the bleed of noise through the ceiling for greater sound isolation and privacy between rooms that share this common surface. The second is to improve the room's acoustics with ceiling tile treatments designed to capture unwelcome sound reflections in the room.

A good sound barrier ceiling treatment can deliver up to a 90% reduction in plenum noise, foot noise or noise bleeding into or out of your room through the ceiling. A sound absorption ceiling treatment can restore your room to good quality sound by collapsing your reverberations times down to under 2.0 seconds.

With a little research and even professional consultation if necessary, you can reduce the sound in your animal facility significantly. Your employees and neighbors will appreciate it greatly.

Mark Rustad is President of NetWell Noise Control, based in Minneapolis, MN. Founded in 1991, NetWell is a leading supplier of ceiling tiles, acoustic products, sound proofing treatments, and online acoustical consulting services. NetWell’s sound management skills are packaged into the industry’s premier website. For more information, please visit eSoundproof.com. 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.

Gun Range Noise

2008-04-06T14:40:00.000-07:00

If you enjoy frequenting the local gun range or maybe you just live by one, you can appreciate the necessity for sound control.
The impact blast from firing a weapon at a shooting range can represent a severe hearing loss threat to its operator, and trigger complaints from unhappy neighbors.

The soundproofing materials used must be impervious to smoke and gunpowder residue and must be resilient (able to take a round without disintegrating) and easy to clean. Some folks feel that convoluted foam mat (bedding or egg crate foam) will work in such applications. This is a completely wrong assumption because convoluted foam is an open celled foam and has no sound proofing qualities whatsoever. Providing an adequate soundproofing treatment will require a specialist who can assess your operation and recommend a fix accordingly.

For instance, with outdoor shooting ranges, suspending QBO sound control blankets around the firing station area will help contain the noise and protect neighbors near and far, as well as control the exposure levels to the operator firing the weapon.

QBO Blankets are sound control blankets used for outdoor soundproofing treatments, high moisture environments, and strong UV ray exposure. These acoustical blankets are comparable to the QBV blanket, but the skin is upgraded to a silicone facing, which repels moisture and heat. The QBO noise control blankets are a classic sound enclosure treatment for stationary outdoor noise sources such as loud pool pumps and noisy air conditioners. They are suitable for use in hearty industrial applications or lighter residential sound control treatments. By adding grommets the top and bottom of these waterproof sound blankets, they can easily be added to an existing frame or fence system.

For indoor shooting ranges, the QBS blankets can suspend from the top of the wall around the perimeter of the room to guard against the bleed of noise out. FireFlex panels can be adhered to the ceiling to help absorb the energy trapped in the room.

With indoor shooting ranges you are dealing with high decibel levels and generally hard reflective surfaces all around the gun range. Sound absorption can be added to the walls of the shooting range to lower the reverberation (echo) level within the room. Sound barriers can also be added to indoor shooting ranges to lower the sound that is traveling through the walls and ceilings to outside sources such as neighbors. When building an outdoor shooting range you can use acoustical blankets to reduce noise levels at the property line.

What is the acoustic result? Applying a sound barrier treatment to surrounding walls can trigger the 12-15 dB drops. Applying absorption panels to within the room's interior will protect the operator of the weapon by reducing the sound reflections inside the room.

Mark Rustad is President of NetWell Noise Control, based in Minneapolis, MN. Founded in 1991, NetWell is a leading supplier of ceiling tiles, acoustic products, soundproofing treatments, and online acoustical consulting services. NetWell’s sound management skills are packaged into the industry’s premier website. For more information, please visit eSoundproof.com. 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.

Street Traffic Noise

2008-03-25T14:12:00.000-07:00

Excessive traffic noise is one of the most common complaints among American residents. Millions of people are affected by constant traffic noise in their own home. In fact, traffic noise impacts more people than any other environmental noise source. Traffic noise can affect the ability to work, learn, rest, relax, sleep, etc. Excessive noise can lead to mental and physical health problems. If your home is near a major road or you are experiencing problems with traffic noise, you may be able to limit the impact on yourself and your family.

The proper way to combat a sound problem is not to treat the recipient of the noise, but to treat the source of the noise. In this case to contain the noise, enclosing the automobile, airplane, barking dog or rail car, is ideal but impossible. The best you can do is control the amount of exposure that is bleeding in and even then, you will never be able to completely soundproof your living quarters from this noise unless you move.

How does street noise enter the house? The noise enters both through structure borne and airborne energy paths. By adding density to your walls and disconnecting the inner surface from the exterior or your home, you can force much of the structure borne noise attempting to vibrate through to collapse inside your walls. This will control you exposure to loud trains, noisy street traffic and airplane noise.

To combat the airborne noise, there is less you can do to guard against noise bleeding in through vents, outlets, pipes, exhaust fans, chimneys, and other "flanking paths" that noise can take. For windows, apply Soundproof Windows atop your existing windows for greater sound insulation.

To combat noise through walls, the use of a product such as dB-Bloc will help tremendously. dB-Bloc is a thin mass loaded vinyl sound barrier material designed to layer behind drywall and other finished wall or ceiling surfaces to help combat against the bleed of noise transmitting through a common surface. This sound deadening material is designed as sound insulation for blocking noise transmitting through common walls. dB-Bloc measures just 1/8" thick, but weighs more than 1 pound per square foot to produce the density required for a soundproof wall. dB-Bloc will impair a wall's ability to vibrate to reduce sound transmission.

Such soundproofing techniques for your home can be applied to new build or existing homes. With the use of various applications, just a simple drop of3 dB in your sound exposure levels is equivalent to a 50% drop in perceived street traffic noise. Results will vary greatly in attempting to treat external noise from entering into a residential home. Much of it has to do with the quality of the home, the exterior surfaces, the windows and doors, the flanking paths, the extent of the soundproofing treatments you apply, and the proximity to the sound source.

The primary goal in soundproofing your home from traffic noise is to impair the wall's ability to conduct vibration. By combining density and disconnection, you can force collapse sound waves inside your wall, and can trigger up to a 90% drop in sound transmission. While you may not get rid of all the outside street traffic noise, reducing it significantly will certainly prove to be worthy for your nerves and sense of peace on a daily basis.

Mark Rustad is President of NetWell Noise Control, based in Minneapolis, MN. Founded in 1991, NetWell is a leading supplier of ceiling tiles, acoustic products, soundproofing treatments, and online acoustical consulting services. NetWell’s sound management skills are packaged into the industry’s premier website. For more information, please visit www.eSoundproof.com. 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.

Soundproofing Your Strip Mall Space

2008-03-13T11:57:00.001-07:00

You just opened your new business, or maybe it is an existing business and somebody has moved into the commercial space next to you – the only problem, they like to play loud music or are loud and the sound invades your space. If you have this experience, you know how frustrating such a situation can be. But don’t despair, there are soundproofing techniques available that can be done in a tasteful and yet effective way.

Isolating one room's noise from the next is accomplished by a combination of disconnection plus density which will help collapse the transmission of sound through these common surfaces. Sound proofing products, including sound barrier, sound panels and ceiling tile options, are all useful products. Such treatments will typically result in a 10-12 dB drop in transmission of sound straight through your common walls or ceiling, this could represent a 90% drop in noise bleeding through. Results for soundproofing a strip mall will vary depending on leakage and the quality of the installation method employed.

For noise bleeding through a direct common wall within a strip mall, dB-Bloc works in that it is a thin mass loaded vinyl sound barrier material designed to layer behind drywall and other finished wall or ceiling surfaces to help combat against the bleed of noise transmitting through a common surface. This sound deadening material was designed specifically block noise transmitting through common walls.

dB-Bloc measures just 1/8" thick, but weighs more than 1 pound per square foot to produce the density required for a soundproof wall. dB-Bloc will impair a wall's ability to vibrate to reduce sound transmission. An ideal treatment for combating sound bleed in thin walls between loud neighbors or room isolation in any residential or commercial setting. This mass loaded vinyl is shipped in 30' rolls measuring 54" in width. Each roll will cover 135 square feet and weigh nearly 150 pounds.

For noise bleeding out through an existing drop-grid ceiling tile system, simply rest these caps atop your existing tiles to create an acoustic "lid" over the room and hold the noise inside. Ceiling Caps are acoustic ceiling lids that rest atop existing ceiling tiles for sound deadening a drop grid ceiling tile system. These sound barrier tiles combat sound transmission through a ceiling as a weighted ceiling tile. Cut as 2'x2' or 2'x4' acoustical ceiling tiles, the Ceiling Caps will help deaden sound bleed and combat foot noise for a soundproof ceiling treatment. These acoustical barrier tiles will require doubling the hangers used to support the ceiling tile grid system. They weigh one pound per square foot.

For a new grid system, or to replace your existing ceiling tiles, lay these weighted barrier ceiling tiles in place to both absorb energy within the room and block the bleed of noise out of the room.

Granite Tiles are sound barrier ceiling tiles designed to rest in an existing ceiling tile grid system and combat the bleed of noise through the ceiling. These weighted ceiling tiles are finished with a smooth white nubby facing, and lined with a layer of mass loaded vinyl geared to block the transmission of noise bleeding from either direction through the ceiling. These sound barrier tiles will protect against the transmission of unwanted noise from transmitting in or out of your room.

For existing walls where the framing treatments is not practical, consider lining the surface of your wall with full coverage using this combination panel. These panels block noise bleeding back and forth through the wall while controlling reverberations within your room. Be sure to cover 100% of your common surface. FabricBloc Panels are sound barrier panels made from two 1" thick compressed fiberglass acoustic barrier tiles laminated together with a thin layer of mass loaded vinyl sandwiched in between. This composite sound barrier tile product is then wrapped in 48 colors of Guilford cloth to produce this sound isolation panel for a common wall treatment.

These acoustic barrier tiles combine to both absorb unwanted sound reflections within your room, and help block noise from bleeding through the common wall surface that the sound protection panels are attached to. This combination of sound absorption and sound blocking make the FabricBloc Panels a popular choice for soundproofing a common wall.

These blankets are ideal for lining against a common wall in the back room of a retail location, or a mechanical room. They are fire rated, portable, and work great to deaden the transmission of sound through your wall. Custom cut to the cavity size of your wall, they will typically cut your noise bleed by 10-15 dB. QBS sound control blankets are custom cut fiberglass acoustical curtains designed to suspend as an acoustical enclosure around loud sound sources. These fire rated noise control blankets hang vertically from a floor mounted frame, fence or ceiling of a room to isolate noise and serve as a sound barrier wall

With a few specialized fixes designed by a professional, you can get your strip mall space virtually noise-free.

Mark Rustad is President of NetWell Noise Control, based in Minneapolis, MN. Founded in 1991, NetWell is a leading supplier of ceiling tiles, acoustic products, soundproofing treatments, and online acoustical consulting services. NetWell’s sound management skills are packaged into the industry’s premier website. For more information, please visit www.eSoundproof.com. 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.

Toning Down The Home Workshop Sound

2008-02-22T11:54:00.000-08:00

It’s a simple fact that power tools are noisy. Table saws, thickness planers, and routers, for example, can put out 80 decibels (dB) or more of sound. That means if your shop is located in a basement or attached garage, you'll need to keep those loud noises from invading the living areas of your home or your neighbor’s home.

By simply soundproofing your workshop, you can help prevent the noise from escaping into places that are meant to be quiet.

To start, first one must understand how sound works. There are two types of sound: structure-borne noise (footsteps, slamming doors, the knocking of valves and pipes), which travels through walls and ceilings to create vibrations that travel through studs and other rigid joints; and airborne sound, which travels through the air before generating vibrations in walls, ceilings and windows (the buzz of power tools, voices, bass-driven music).

Sound is measured in decibels (db), but for workshop purposes, sound transmission class (STC) is the most appropriate measurement. STC rates the minimum sound resistance of a floor, ceiling or wall; the greater the material’s STC, the better it will be at blocking or absorbing sound. A 24" wall covered in 1/2"-thick drywall, for example, has an STC of about 30—not even enough to muffle your voice, let alone a thickness planer. And a standard basement ceiling, with exposed joists and subfloor, is even more transparent.

To deal with the two types of sound, you need to do two things: absorb sound and block its path (structure-borne noise), and add mass and eliminate leaks (airborne sound).

Sound barrier treatments for workshop noise can trigger 10-12 dB drops outside the Workshop. Results will vary per treatment based on coverage, leakage, installation, etc. Sound pressures held to within the room can also drop 3-6 dB through the use of wall or ceiling absorption material.

To address the whole sound problem, one must address three elements, blocking, breaking and absorbing the sound.
Just padding your ceiling will not fix the problem, the walls and floor also must be looked at.

Your ultimate goal is to impair the wall's ability to conduct vibration. This is accomplished by adding two components to your wall assembly. The first is density, the second is disconnection. The combination of these two ingredients will help force the collapse of your sound wave inside your wall, and can trigger up to a 90% drop in sound transmission.

The strategies above will dramatically reduce how much noise escapes the shop. Reducing tool noise as described above will help, but you still need to take precautions to protect your hearing while you work. Earplugs or earmuffs are a must anytime you use loud machines.

Once you have protected your ears and the ear’s of others, you will have a workspace everyone can appreciate.

Mark Rustad is President of NetWell Noise Control, based in Minneapolis, MN. Founded in 1991, NetWell is a leading supplier of ceiling tiles, acoustic products, soundproofing treatments, and online acoustical consulting services. NetWell’s sound management skills are packaged into the industry’s premier website. For more information, please visit www.eSoundproof.com. 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.

Noise in The Office Can Cause Stress

2008-02-14T10:15:00.000-08:00

Noise can be an irritant and the underlying cause of stress. According to a study by a Cornell University environmental psychologist, low-level noise in open-style offices seems to result in higher levels of stress and lower task motivation.

The study also suggest that even moderately noisy open offices might contribute significantly to health problems such as heart disease (due to elevated levels of epinephrine, a stress hormone) and musculoskeletal problems.

A study by the American Society of Interior Designers also showed that office productivity would increase if workspaces were less noisy. They also say that prolonged exposure to loud noise can contribute to high blood pressure levels, as well as everyday aggravation, annoyance, and loss of tranquility.

Mark Rustad is President of NetWell Noise Control, based in Minneapolis, MN. Founded in 1991, NetWell is a leading supplier of ceiling tiles, acoustic products, soundproofingtreatments, and online acoustical consulting services. NetWell’s sound management skills are packaged into the industry’s premier website. For more information, please visit www.eSoundproof.com. 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.

Although some people may think that they function best in a noisy, hectic environment, research shows that decibel levels over 60 can reduce a person's attention span. Interestingly, a normal conversation takes place at about 60 decibels. The usual office background noise is about 45-55 decibels, but when workers are placed close together, or in rooms with many people talking at the same time, decibel levels can rise to 70 or higher.

Noise problem can be more than the sounds within your office, sometimes your office will share thin walls allowing noise to come in from your neighbors. If you can hear conversations or work sounds, it most likely is interfering with your own productivity. But don’t despair. There are acoustical fixes that can help.

There are office design sound proofing treatments out there and they should address two distinct office sound control goals. The first is the need to contain and isolate one room's noise from the next for greater office privacy. The second is the need to protect a group of employees in an office cubicle environment from one another's voices for better office room acoustics.

For isolating one office from the next, the goal is to block the transmission of sound from bleeding through a common wall. Your ultimate goal is to impair the wall's ability to conduct vibration. This is accomplished by adding two components to your wall assembly: the first is density, the second is disconnection. The combination of these two ingredients will help force the collapse of your sound wave inside your wall, and can trigger up to a 90% drop in sound transmission.

If the noise is coming from above you, then there is the issue of soundproofing the ceiling. To do this, the first goal is to combat the bleed of noise through the ceiling for greater sound isolation and privacy between rooms that share this common surface. The second is to improve the room's acoustics with ceiling tile treatments designed to capture unwelcome sound reflections in the room.

When noise in your office is due to people within the office and their cubicles, your options include: replacing your cubicles with more a more sound attenuating cubicle system, installing a sound masking system designed to disguise one another's voices for greater oral privacy and a better office sound system, or placing a set of sound absorption panels, acoustical panels or ceiling tiles around your room's perimeter to combat the unwanted sound reflections spreading around the room.

Noise doesn’t have to be a deterrent, irritant or a barricade to productivity in your office setting. With a professional assessment, you can find a way to reduce the stress of your staff and create a more efficient office space.

Mark Rustad is President of NetWell Noise Control, based in Minneapolis, MN. Founded in 1991, NetWell is a leading supplier of ceiling tiles, acoustic products, soundproofing treatments, and online acoustical consulting services. NetWell’s sound management skills are packaged into the industry’s premier website. For more information, please visit www.eSoundproof.com. 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.

Soundproofing an Inplant Office

2008-02-04T16:37:00.000-08:00

Putting inplant offices within industrial areas is a common practice as it helps shelter employees from temperature extremes, dust and sometimes noise. Depending upon your industrial environment, the inplant office’s construction, whether modular or site built, may or may not provide you with enough protection from unwelcome noise.

If your industrial inplant office is far too noisy, don’t despair, there are soundproofing treatments that work.

Ideally, to block sound, one would want to enclose the noise source rather than treat the path or recipient of noise. However, in industrial situations this is not always possible. The next best solution is to line the common surfaces of your inplant office with what is called the density+ disconnection formula. The goal is to block the transmission of sound from bleeding through a common wall or impair the wall’s ability to conduct vibration. This is accomplished by adding two components to your wall assembly; the first is density, the second is disconnection. The combination can force the collapse of sound waves and trigger up to a 90 percent drop in sound transmission.

To do this you can use dB-Bloc, ceiling caps and QBV blankets. The dB-Blocks line the walls or your existing office with this mass loaded vinyl. You can apply a set of horizontal firring strips or resilient channels, and sheet rock over the entire assembly.

If you have an existing drop grid ceiling tile system inside your Inplant Office, simply rest these Ceiling Caps atop your existing ceiling tiles to help place an acoustic "lid" over your room and combat the plant noise spilling in through your ceiling.

If you are unable to add dB-Bloc to your walls and frame them out, consider a custom cut set of QBV blankets to simply free hang against your common walls. The blankets are portable and can trigger 12-15 dB drops.

By properly applying the formula of "disconnection + density" to the walls and ceiling of your inplant office, you can reasonably expect to trigger an average 12-14 dB drop inside the office. Results will vary depending on a variety of issues such as original dB levels, frequency of the noise source, structural transmission through the floor, and airborne leaks through doors, windows, vents, fans, etc.

Most sound control products range in price from $2 to $14 per square foot. The cost associated with your project will clearly depend on the strategy you implement, the size of your facility, the strength of your noise source, and so on. There is no way to predict in advance what your treatment will go for, but protecting your employees work environment and increasing their productivity is well worth the investment.

Mark Rustad is President of NetWell Noise Control, based in Minneapolis, MN. Founded in 1991, NetWell is a leading supplier of ceiling tiles, acoustic products, soundproofing treatments, and online acoustical consulting services. NetWell’s sound management skills are packaged into the industry’s premier website. For more information, please visit www.eSoundproof.com. 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.

Soundproofing A Multipurpose Room

2008-01-24T15:28:00.000-08:00

A multipurpose room, such as a gymnasium or meeting hall is often subjected to a high volume of noise. Because of the size, this general-purpose room is often a magnet for unwanted sound reflections. Finding a way to cut down on the reverberation while complying with building and fire codes takes careful consideration.

Controlling the reverberation time in a multi purpose room should result in background noise that subsides while normal conversational tones return to the room. With a soundproofed multipurpose room, acoustics should be perfect for speech clarity, blending harmonic musical tones, and making the room comfortable for large groups of people..

One way to address the issue is through the installation of a series of wall or ceiling mounted acoustical panels or wall coverings that results in the reflecting sounds produced within the room collapsing reverberation time.

Your ultimate goal isn't to deaden your room, or even dampen it really, but simply to control the sound being produced within it. What you should try to aim for is a room that will accurately portray the spoken word, maintain the quality of musical tones and disperse sound throughout the room.

One example of how a multipurpose room was designed to do just this would be the Bound Brook High School, a building that needed to deliver good acoustics to every seat in the facility.

With the installation of NetWell Fabric Panels applied to the back and sidewalls of the facility, the sound waves reflected around the room and the panels captured and converted the unwanted energy, delivering a reverb time of under 2.0 seconds. As a result, the original sounds produced became clearer as the background noise died off. The acoustics in the room are now under control, delivering quality speech and music evenly throughout the room.

The sound treatment for the multipurpose room is dependent on the design of the room and the need. Other sound treatments that can and have been used in multipurpose rooms include: Suspended Ceiling Clouds, which can convert the sound energy into kinetic energy and deliver a controlled sound environment back into the room; QBS Blankets that trap energy and noise; VET Baffles, Pyramids Plus Foam panels made from class A fire rated melamine foam; Strike Panels, Wedge Foam Panels, dB-Block, NetLag and FabricBloc Panels.

There is no one ‘cure all’ fix for improving acoustics in your multipurpose room, but if you want a space that can be used for nearly any event you have space for, making sure the sound is of utmost quality will be well worth the investment.

Mark Rustad is President of NetWell Noise Control, based in Minneapolis, MN. Founded in 1991, NetWell is a leading supplier of ceiling tiles, acoustic products, soundproofing treatments, and online acoustical consulting services. NetWell’s sound management skills are packaged into the industry’s premier website. For more information, please visit www.eSoundproof.com. 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.

Cafeteria Sound Control – Is it Possible?

2008-01-08T13:21:00.000-08:00

Cafeterias in schools, workplaces and hospitals can serve hundreds, even thousands of diners on a daily basis. Besides providing a convenient dining location, a cafeteria also takes on a social outlet as diners enjoy a brief break from work or school. Cafeterias share a noise control challenge common to many dining establishments—the presence of numerous reflective surfaces which amplify sound reverberations produced by voices throughout the cafeteria.

The abundant hard, reflective surfaces present in cafeterias facilitate ease of cleaning but are also a source of diminished acoustical quality. As multiple people begin to converse within a cafeteria, a portion of the sound produced by their voices will reverberate from the reflective surfaces throughout the room. These sound reverberations reflect back into the room, resulting in background noise that can interfere with sound quality within the cafeteria. As more diners converse within the cafeteria, background noise is heightened and people begin to speak more loudly in order to counteract higher noise levels. Understanding reverberation makes it easy to see how noise levels within a cafeteria are exacerbated as the number of people present increases.

What can be done to alleviate the issue of cafeteria noise? The goal in improving acoustics within a cafeteria is capturing excess reverberations such that background noise is cleared out, in turn allowing conversation among diners to return to normal levels. Treatments which serve to absorb excess sound reverberations are surprisingly easy to implement within a large dining area such as a cafeteria.

Sound absorption panels are the key to clearing out background noise in a cafeteria such that diners can enjoy comfortable, audible conversation. Treatments can be in the form of wall panels or coverings situated throughout the cafeteria, or the more common arrangement of absorptive ceiling panels suspended from above. Several products are available today to serve just this purpose, and treatments can be easily self installed. There is even some flexibility with regard to the positioning of each panel. In applying sound absorption treatments within a cafeteria, the quantity of panels present is more important than their positioning. This flexibility makes it simple to adapt a treatment to accommodate individual characteristics of a cafeteria, such as doors and windows.

With information about the size and unique characteristics of a cafeteria, a soundproofing consultant can provide invaluable guidance as to the quantity and type of sound control products necessary to achieve the desired results. Due to the individual nature of each sound control project, it is advised to consult with an expert prior to attempting to install a soundproofing treatment.

About the Author: Mark Rustad is President of NetWell Noise Control, based in Minneapolis, MN. Founded in 1991, NetWell is a leading supplier of acoustic products, soundproofing treatments, sound reduction products 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.

Noise Relief for Apartments, Townhomes and Condos

2007-12-20T11:35:00.000-08:00

Apartment life involves numerous inhabitants sharing a common living structure, a formula for sound control challenges. Anyone who has ever lived in an apartment unit will attest that sound transmission between adjoining units is a common problem in apartment communities. Most apartment and condo construction is such that numerous units share a common structure, and that structure serves as a means of transferring sound wave energy among multiple units.

Implementing effective soundproofing treatments in an apartment, townhome or condo involves making permanent modifications, and thus is not typically feasible for renters. But if you are the owner of a unit, you can certainly affect a large drop in the noise levels in your unit by implementing treatments aimed at the reduction of sound transmission.

First, why does sound travel freely among different units in an apartment community? The answer has to do with the natural sound wave behavior of sound transmission. In order to travel, sound waves need molecular mediums through which sound energy can be transferred from cell to cell. Air, for instance, is a medium through which sound waves travel through a room. But when a sound wave traveling through the air reaches a different medium, a wall, for instance, it exhibits certain changes in behavior. A portion of the wave will be reflected from the wall surface back into the room, while the balance of the wave energy will try to pass through the wall, where surviving sound becomes audible in the adjoining room or unit. Surprisingly, sound waves travel more quickly through material such as wood than they do through air, which explains why your neighbors can hear noise from your apartment and vice versa.

Treating your apartment for sound transmission involves targeting all of the surfaces through which sound easily transmits—including the walls, ceilings, and floors. Even with a thorough treatment, shared sound will not be completely eliminated due to the presence of openings such as vents, light fixtures, ductwork, windows and doors, for example, but a significant reduction in sound transmission can be achieved through treatment of major surfaces as described below:

-Walls: Treating shared walls of your apartment unit can be accomplished by increasing density and establishing a separated wall surface that will force sound waves to collapse. The addition of density and a disconnection work in synergy to deaden both incoming and outgoing vibrations, preventing outside sound from transmitting in and affording you privacy from neighbors. Increasing density is commonly accomplished through the application of a layer of soundproofing vinyl such as dB-Bloc over the complete surface of all walls being treated. Then, a set of horizontal furring strips can be applied atop the membrane, and a second drywall layer affixed to the newly created frame. The result is a separated wall surface that prevents sound from transmitting directly through common contact points.

-Ceiling: One way ceilings can be treated for sound transmission is through application of the density+disconnect formula, implemented similarly to the method described for wall treatments. However, numerous ceiling soundproofing products are available to accommodate various types of ceilings. For instance, grid style ceilings can be treated with ceiling caps, which rest on top of tiles, or with heavier weight tiles designed for use in place of regular tiles.

-Floors: If you are fortunate enough to live on the first floor of a building, you can probably avoid treating the floors for sound control. But if your unit is on an upper floor, neighbors below are likely contributing to the noise level in your apartment. Soundproofing materials are available which serve as an underlayment to existing flooring, including carpet, hardwood, linoleum and tile.

Because of the specialized nature of soundproofing treatments, it is advised to consult with an experienced soundproofing supplier prior to beginning a sound reduction project.

About the Author: Mark Rustad is President of NetWell Noise Control, based in Minneapolis, MN. Founded in 1991, NetWell is a leading supplier of acoustic products, soundproofing treatments, sound reduction products 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.

Improve Acoustics and Academics – Noise Control for the Classroom

2007-12-18T11:15:00.000-08:00

The ideal classroom is one in which students can clearly understand the instructor during lecture and focus on assignments, projects and tests in an environment free of distractions. Here we outline some of the soundproofing challenges faced within classrooms:

-Outside sound transmission into the classroom. A classroom left untreated for sound transmission will not only allow sound to escape, but will allow the transfer of outside noise into the classroom. Audible outside noise can be a major distraction and interfere with the quality of any learning environment. Additionally, excessive outside noise such as outdoor construction or students in a hallway can eliminate a teacher’s ability to communicate effectively with the students in the class altogether.

-Numerous hard, reflective surfaces: A major soundproofing challenge arises from an issue common to most classrooms—the presence of walls, desks and a ceiling, each of which reflects sound waves back into the room. As a teacher delivers a lecture, a portion of the sound waves produced by his or her voice reflects from the numerous hard surfaces within the room, a behavior known as sound reflection. Reverberations delivered back into a classroom interfere with the intended sound, and is thus one of the sound wave behaviors targeted in soundproofing a classroom.

-Multiple voices competing within the room. Students can strengthen important fundamental skills by working with a team or partner on a project, but a noisy classroom environment can make group work difficult. With numerous people speaking at the same time, a jumble of voices reflects from the hard surfaces in the classroom, and the resulting reverberations interfere with audibility throughout the room. Heightened noise levels are exacerbated as students speak more loudly in order to be heard.

In order to prevent outside noise from bleeding in and combat reverberations created within a classroom, soundproofing treatments must target both sound transmission and sound reflection. Now let us take a look at how each of these sound behaviors can be alleviated in a classroom environment:

-Controlling sound transmission: Eliminating noise transmitting in from outside a classroom (and vice versa) involves isolating the room such that the ability of sound waves to transmit through the walls and ceiling is compromised. Sound waves travel freely through common contact points, such as the studs and walls surrounding the classroom. Isolating a classroom can be accomplished by adding density to each wall and creating a separated wall surface parallel to each. Adding density is often accomplished by covering walls completely with a heavyweight vinyl soundproofing membrane such as dB-Bloc. Once increased density is established, a set of horizontal furring strips affixed to the wall creates a foundation for a new layer of drywall that will make up the second wall surface. This separation forces outside sound waves to collapse within the space between the two surfaces rather than transmit directly into the classroom, and also serves to protect adjoining classrooms from sound transmitting out of the treated room.

-Absorbing sound reflections: Controlling sound reverberations caused by voices and other sounds within a classroom can be accomplished quite easily through the installation of absorptive sound panels along the walls and potentially the ceiling of the room. Absorptive sound treatments are available in a variety of styles to meet the requirements of different applications, including Class A Fire Rated panels ideal for the classroom environment.
Properly implemented, soundproofing treatments can affect a major improvement in the quality of a learning environment. Combating sound transmission and reverberation in a classroom results in better acoustics for lecture and group work while minimizing outside distractions that could otherwise hinder academic performance.

About the Author: Mark Rustad is President of NetWell Noise Control, based in Minneapolis, MN. Founded in 1991, NetWell is a leading supplier of acoustic products, soundproofing treatments, sound reduction products 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.

Exploit your Basement's Potential - Combat Sound Transmission and Poor Acoustics

2007-12-10T13:46:00.000-08:00

A finished basement is a valuable asset to a household, providing functional space for a family and potentially adding value to the home. Basements can be quite large in many homes, affording homeowners the option to personalize the space for a wide range of purposes. Possibilities abound for converting the basement of a home; they often serve as family rooms, home theaters, recreation rooms, offices, even additional bedrooms.

Left untreated for sound transmission, the walls and ceiling of a basement will serve as mediums through which structural sound vibrations are delivered throughout other parts of the home. Additionally, sounds originating within the room, from sources such as a home theater or people conversing, will reverberate from surrounding wall and ceiling surfaces, interfering with the intended sound and diminishing the quality of acoustics within the room. Both sound transmission and sound reverberation are natural sound wave behaviors which should be targeted in comprehensive basement soundproofing project.

The goal in controlling sound transmission is to isolate the basement such that its ability to conduct vibration is compromised. This is accomplished in part by increasing density and establishing a disconnected wall surface that will serve to collapse sound waves rather than deliver them structurally throughout the home. Treatments for unfinished versus finished walls vary slightly, but are aimed at the same sound behavior and thus utilize similar methods.

The treatment of a basement lined with exposed studs not yet fitted with drywall should begin before the wall is constructed. Applying the density + disconnect configuration in this case involves first applying a heavyweight vinyl soundproofing membrane such as dB-Bloc to the existing studs, taking care to cover the entire wall surface. This technique fulfills the first objective of the project—adding density. Next, a separated wall surface should be constructed through the application of a new layer of drywall affixed to a set of horizontal furring strips that have been secured atop the vinyl layer. The space created within the wall assembly causes sound waves to collapse rather than traveling directly through the studs and into other parts of the home. Though it is only necessary to treat one side of the exposed frame, exterior foundation walls of a basement may also need to be treated for optimal results.

It is not necessary to deconstruct finished walls and expose the frame in order to apply soundproofing treatments. A finished wall can be covered with a layer of heavyweight soundproofing vinyl, forming the foundation for the framing technique and additional drywall layer as described for the treatment of an unfinished wall.

Controlling sound transmission from a basement necessitates that the ceiling be treated in addition to the walls. The appropriate ceiling soundproofing treatment is dependent on the unique characteristics of the basement being treated. For instance, specialized soundproofing panels and caps are available for the grid type ceilings common in basements. Alternatively, finished or unfinished ceilings can be outfitted with a separated surface, similar to the way a secondary wall surface is created as described above.

About the Author: Mark Rustad is President of NetWell Noise Control, based in Minneapolis, MN. Founded in 1991, NetWell is a leading supplier of acoustic products, soundproofing treatments, sound reduction products 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.

Bar and Nightclub Noise Control

2007-12-07T09:41:00.000-08:00

Bars and nightclubs give people across America a place to gather, relax and be merry. Atmosphere is of utmost importance in such establishments, and can make or break a bar or nightclub’s ability to attract patrons time and time again. Variety abound in the realm of nighttime entertainment, from high energy dance clubs to casual bars promoting comfortable conversation among guests. Noise levels bleeding from bars and nightclubs can be a major concern for club owners, the communities surrounding them and alas, law enforcement. In July 2007, a new noise code took effect in New York City, imposing limits on the decibel level that may be emitted from nightclubs into neighboring homes and businesses. Whether a club owner is motivated by courtesy, retaining clientele or adhering to regulations, the elimination of excess noise is becoming a forefront concern for many in the bar and nightclub industry.

The goal in soundproofing a bar or nightclub is twofold. The first major objective is controlling the amount of noise generated by loud music and patrons that becomes audible outdoors and within neighboring homes and establishments. Additionally, club owners seek to improve the quality of acoustics experienced within their establishments.

Reducing the amount of noise that escapes a bar or nightclub involves isolating the area to better control sound transmission. Sound transmission refers to the tendency of a portion of a sound wave to pass through when it reaches a new medium, in this instance the walls, doors and ceiling of the club. Ideally, treatments aimed at reducing sound transmission would target all openings as well as each wall, ceiling, door and window of the bar or club, though improvement can be achieved without treating every means through which noise escapes. Several products are on the market for night club owners who seek to minimize sound transmission, and many can be self-installed.

One option in controlling sound transmission is to construct a second wall surface that is separated from the original, giving sound waves a space in which to collapse rather than transmit through the wall. A foundation for the second wall surface should be created through the application of a layer of soundproofing vinyl, such as dB-Bloc, to the entire wall surface. This technique adds density to the wall. The second wall surface can then be constructed by affixing a new drywall layer atop a series of horizontal furring strips. This combination of density and disconnection provides an effective remedy for sound transmission through walls.

Untreated walls are not the only medium through which sound escapes a nightclub. Windows and ceilings also provide means through which sound can escape. The need for window and ceiling treatments is determinant upon the goal of the project as well as the unique characteristics of the bar or club. For instance, specialized panels are available for treating drop grid type ceilings.

In addition to controlling sound transmission out of an establishment, many bar and night club owners wish to improve the quality of acoustics within. With the loud music and multiple conversations characteristic of bars and nightclubs, reverberations reflecting from the numerous surfaces can interfere with intended sound and diminish acoustical quality. Numerous products are available to trap excess reverberations, from foam panels to free hanging baffles to urbane suede panels in multiple colors designed to coordinate with existing décor. The appropriate treatment again depends on the goals of the project as well as the unique characteristics of each establishment, for instance the presence of low bass tones.
Because of the individualized nature of each soundproofing project, it is advised to consult with an experienced soundproofing provider prior to implementing any soundproofing treatments to ensure that all variables are addressed.

About the Author: Mark Rustad is President of NetWell Noise Control, based in Minneapolis, MN. Founded in 1991, NetWell is a leading supplier of acoustic products, soundproofing treatments, sound reduction products 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.

Welcome Winter by Eliminating Excess Furnace Noise

2007-12-05T15:44:00.000-08:00

The arrival of colder temperatures is evident everywhere you look—sweaters and scarves have replaced shorts and sandals, the colorful leaves of autumn are long gone from the trees, and breezy open windows have given way to the familiar roar of the home furnace. But for some, starting up the furnace on that first chilly night of the winter season brings a grim reminder of a problem that has been pleasantly absent over the past few months: a disturbingly loud furnace.

Furnace noise originates from several sources. A loud furnace motor can be a major nuisance, and is the sound source targeted in most furnace soundproofing projects. Airflow through ducts can also be a source of unwanted noise, particularly when components are old or otherwise in poor condition. Even with a furnace situated in a basement or remote mechanical room, unwanted noise can travel easily through walls, ceiling and openings and carry throughout the home.

Furnace rooms are usually surrounded at least partly by a system of ducts and pipes within the walls and ceiling of the room. At the inception of any furnace sound reduction endeavor, it is important to realize that the presence of such openings makes it impossible to completely eliminate the transmission of furnace noise into other parts of the home. Therefore, the goal in controlling furnace noise is to minimize unwanted sound transmission by isolating the furnace room from the rest of the home as much as possible. If your furnace is particularly loud, it may be a good idea to rule out any mechanical defects before implementing a sound reduction treatment. Performing preventative maintenance, if needed, is better than an emergency repair on a frigid day.

Fortunately, combating noise from a furnace can be accomplished inexpensively and with minimal effort. Controlling furnace noise involves containing noise within the furnace room, a task that can be approached in a couple of ways. One option for blocking the transmission of furnace noise is lining all wall surfaces with a heavyweight soundproofing membrane such as dB-Bloc, and establishing a disconnected surface by adding a layer of drywall onto a set of horizontal furring strips that have been attached atop the vinyl membrane. The added density coupled with the disconnected wall surface serves to collapse a majority of sound waves before they have the chance to enter adjoining rooms. An even simpler and more popular solution is to line walls with sound control blankets, which can be custom cut by a soundproofing supplier to match the dimensions needed for optimal sound control in your furnace room. Such blankets are a simple and cost effective solution, and can even be customized with openings to fit snugly around pipes and ductwork to optimize results. Such sound control blankets may also be affixed to a ceiling for added noise control.

An important aspect of sound reduction treatments aimed at decreasing unwanted furnace noise is ensuring that adequate protection is afforded for the application. An experienced soundproofing consultant and supplier can provide recommendations as to what treatments would be most effective based on the individual characteristics of your project.

About the Author: Mark Rustad is President of NetWell Noise Control, based in Minneapolis, MN. Founded in 1991, NetWell is a leading supplier of acoustic products, soundproofing treatments, sound reduction products 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.