Soundproofing

Sometimes noise can fall into both airborne and impact sound categories when sound vibrates from a surfaces.

20
Oct
2017

What The World’s Noisiest Cities Tell Us About Excessive Noise

Depending on which study you find, the noisiest cities in the world tend to be found in cities that are densely populated with high volumes of traffic with poor planning which exacerbates the effects of noise on their populations.

The worst city in the world for noise pollution is Guangzhou in China and the effects on residents are really quite frightening. The average hearing loss in proportion to age in the city stands at nearly 17 years. In Delhi where noise pollution levels are not too far behind the hearing loss is 20 years.

In Western Europe, however, the effects of noise on the local population is in some cases considerably less at 10 years in proportion to age. Vienna tops the list in Europe followed by Zurich and Hamburg.

However Barcelona and Paris have the misfortune of appearing in the worlds top 10 worst cities for noise pollution at 7th and 9th respectively.

While studies have focused on actual hearing loss, the more subtle underlying effects are still a fertile area of study where links to dementia, cardiovascular disease and depression are only just coming to light.

Of course the best way to deal with noise if you live in a city is to insulate your property to keep it out. If you want to find out more about sound insulation for your home of business then contact us today.

Posted by admin in Excessive Noise, Metropolitan Insulation, Soundproofing
10
Oct
2017

Hidden Noise Hazards That May Be Lurking in Your Home

Have you ever been irritated by the noise of a vacuum cleaner or the rumbling of a washing machine? You may be surprised to hear that these noises can sometimes be comparable to the noise you would hear on a factory floor or building site.

When you consider that even low levels of noise can have an impact on health and wellbeing over time, then insulating against noise can do much more than create a more peaceful environment.

According to studies carried out on how noise impacts on our health, anything over 85 decibels can damage hearing. Of course most people are going to be wearing ear protection if noise is regularly exceeding these levels but with lower level noise, the effects can be more subtle and accumulate over time.

The World Health Organisation’s studies on noise found that 40% of the people they surveyed were regularly exposed to the kind of noise levels found in noisy offices. A noisy office will typically see noise exceeding 50dB.

The noisiest appliances in the home most likely to reach and exceed this noise level include vacuum cleaners with some emitting more than 80dB of noise. Washing machines can also contribute 50dB or more. A food processor will see noise levels reach 90dB and even the flush of a toilet will come in at 85dB.

DIY and garden maintenance are the main culprits when it comes to excessive noise. The 120dB noise level from hammering a nail is equivalent to that of a chainsaw while an electric drill comes in at 95dB.

Posted by admin in Hidden Noise Hazards, Metropolitan Insulation, Soundproofing
10
Sep
2017

Acoustic insulation against noise from loud machinery

If your office building contains noisy mechanical equipment then there can be a problem not only with internal noise but also complaints from neighbouring properties. Fortunately, there are ways to reduce the volume of noise from machinery if you fit the right type of sound insulation measures.

Build an enclosure
This may be one of the more expensive options to insulate against sound from loud machinery but it will be the most effective.

Erect barriers or a partial enclosures
If you fit barriers at double the height of the machinery producing the noise then this can be an effective step towards reducing the amount of sound that escapes.

Fit sound insulation and absorption materials to walls behind the machinery
If fitting barriers and enclosures proves to be difficult or expensive, insulating the wall behind the machinery will help bring a small reduction in sound travelling. The key is to reduce the sound being reflected.
If noise is becoming a problem in your workplace and you need further advice on fitting sound insulation or ways to reduce noise in particular circumstances, then please contact one of our experts who should be able to help.

Posted by admin in Commercial Property, loud machinery, Metropolitan Insulation, Soundproofing, Soundproofing Commercial Property
12
Aug
2017

3 Ways To Soundproof Your Home Cinema

If you’re planning to introduce a home cinema room into your home then you will naturally want to achieve that real cinema experience. Unfortunately, the challenge with most homes is to insulate a room enough to reduce or ideally eliminate any external noise and also prevent noise escaping and disturbing the people living around or close to you like the neighbours.

Soundproofing is a difficult and complex subject to understand so we’ll just cover the basics of soundproofing a home cinema here.

Building a room within a room
One of the best ways to sound proof a home theatre is to build a room within a room. This is technique is often used when modifying an existing home for the purpose.

The importance of air mass and distance
Air, mass and distance are the 3 important things to consider when you want to block sound waves entering a building. For example, a 6 inch thick concrete wall for example will prevent a lot of sound entering a room due to its mass and weight. An exception to the light materials rule is fibreglass which is effective at absorbing sound when used to fill cavities between walls.

Replace hollow-core doors
One of the biggest challenges with soundproofing is to reduce the level of sound travelling through less well insulated areas. Doors can be a particular problem if they are hollow. Replace the door to your home cinema with a solid wood door and the passage of sound will reduce considerably.

Posted by admin in Insulate Your Home, Metropolitan Insulation, Noisy Neighbours, Soundproofing, Soundproofing Apartments
20
Jun
2017

How To Cut Down Noise In An Open Plan Office Environment

Most large corporates have equally large open plan offices that can be great to work in if you enjoy the collaboration, hustle and bustle and space. But what happens if you’re the kind of employee who gets easily distracted from work or you’re more productive working in the peace and quiet?

This is something that can often leave employers puzzled over what to do and how to please everyone. Of course, everyone knows that pleasing everyone in a large office is unlikely when even small things like air conditioning settings can cause open conflict.

The temperature can get even more heated of course when the environment turns noisy. People can often become very irritated by their fellow staff members when phones are going off every 10 minutes or the sound of lunches being eaten at desks.

This results in a bit of a conundrum for bosses. How can noise be reduced to a level that keeps those who like a bit of noise happy and those who don’t like distractions equally at peace?

Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to reduce noise in an open plan office. One of the easiest is to add carpets if you don’t have them already. While the trend is all for solid wood floors, these will only add to the noise.

A further way to bring down the volume is to add plants and soft furnishings not just for how nice they look but also for their sound absorption properties.

You can then think about more advanced measures such as reconstructing walls so that they have larger air gaps.

Posted by admin in Building Trade, Commercial Property, Metropolitan Insulation, Sound Absorption, Soundproofing, Soundproofing Commercial Property
10
May
2017

Steps To Getting An Accurate Soundproofing Quote

At Metropolitan Insulation we pride ourselves on helping customers find the right sound proofing solutions for their needs whether it’s in domestic dwellings or commercial buildings.

Over the years we have seen our fair share of soundproofing challenges and sometimes clients who have been unsure about what type of soundproofing they need until they came to us for advice.

Most people naturally assume that soundproofing means just that and Google it accordingly to find a supplier but finding the right kind of supplier is important, if you want more than just a bit of extra insulation in your walls and ceilings.

You also need to have answers to questions such as, Is noise coming from the walls, the ceiling or both? Does your space echo or does sound reverberate? Having answers to these questions before you request a quote can help you get a more accurate price and give your soundproofing technician a more accurate idea of what you need.

If you own a commercial building then the likelihood is you will be dealing with bigger problems such as the restaurant where noisy footsteps and background noise become a real issue for customers who might be put off.

The important thing to remember is only you will know how big a problem noise is and once this is established then we will help you find the right solution.

Posted by admin in Metropolitan Insulation, Soundproofing, Soundproofing Apartments, Soundproofing Commercial Property
29
Apr
2017

What Is The Difference Between Sound Proofing And Sound Absorption

It is common for people who don’t have knowledge of the science of acoustics and sound to get confused about what is meant by sound proofing and sound absorption. The two are actually very different and have very different purposes so it is important get basic understand of both before deciding what’s required.

So let’s start with sound insulation. Sound insulation is all about blocking sound waves and preventing them travelling from one room in a building to another. If for example you imagine a fish tank, the water in that fish tank is kept inside by some strong glass.

Now if that same fish tank was made of cardboard, then water would soon start leaking through. Sound behaves in a similar way to water so the materials you choose for sound proofing should be aimed at preventing sound coming through altogether.

Sound absorption material on the other hand converts sound into friction. It also tends to be lighter in weight and has properties that act to prevent sound reverberating around a room. If a room is fitted with sound absorbent material, people in the room will be able to hear what other people in that room are saying better. In other words sound quality will be better.

Posted by admin in Insulate Your Home, Metropolitan Insulation, Sound Absorption, Soundproofing
25
Apr
2017

Thinking Of Redecorating?

Now Might Be A Good Time To Soundproof Your Walls

At this time of year thoughts often turn to redecorating projects. This may include painting walls or hanging wallpaper but before pressing ahead with any of these projects it may be worth considering sound proofing your walls, particularly if noise is a problem in your property.

Besides cutting down noise from neighbours or noise from roads outside your property, soundproofing your walls can also bring the added benefit of better insulation. Soundproofing will help reduce heat loss and reduce your fuel bills significantly particularly on older properties.

Alongside the more obvious benefits of soundproofing your walls, there are also the unseen benefits such as stress reduction. Excessive, irritating noise can be a cause of all sorts of health issues linked to stress such high blood pressure and anxiety.

If your property is old and has solid walls then cavity wall insulation won’t be an option as it is in newer properties. The cost of insulating walls internally will be higher than cavity wall insulation but the savings on fuel bills and the better quality of life you will gain from the peace and quiet will more than cover the investment over time.

Posted by admin in Home Insulation, How To Soundproof Doors, Insulate Your Home, Soundproofing
21
Apr
2017

Another Commercial Success – The Radisson Blu

Metropolitan Insulation recently completed sound insulation services at The Radisson Blu Edwardian Hampshire Hotel:

Post Install 1

Post Install 2

Post Install 3

Posted by admin in Commercial Property, Construction, Environmentally Friendly Materials, Hotel Soundproofing, Metropolitan Insulation, Radisson Blu, Soundproofing, Soundproofing Commercial Property
15
Apr
2017

Common Soundproofing Myths

Like most other things in life that require a significant investment of cash to achieve, there are plenty of myths about how to save money on soundproofing. However, as we will show, most of them will only be partially effective at best.

Use egg cartons
One of the most common myths about soundproofing is that you can collect a load of egg cartons and use them to soundproof your walls. Using egg cartons for soundproofing will not only look unappealing they are likely to be completely ineffective because they won’t stop the transfer of energy through solid walls, which is what causes noise in the first place.

Hang some thick curtains
Having thick curtains will reduce sound coming through your windows as will double glazing but it won’t stop sound coming through walls and ceilings. To soundproof an interior, you will need to install soundproofing to all these areas.

Use mattresses
You often hear about cash strapped rock bands setting up their own recording studios using mattresses to sound proof walls. These can be partially effective in absorbing sound because they create that natural barrier and mass between sounds being emitted and walls. This kind of setup is only really a temporary fix as it unlikely you will get mattresses to shut out sound coming from all parts of the room.

Posted by admin in Commercial Property, Common Soundproofing Myths, Environmentally Friendly Materials, Home Insulation, Insulate Your Home, Metropolitan Insulation, Noisy Neighbours, Soundproofing