Soundproofing UK

If you feel like damp is regularly making its way into your roof, you may benefit from applying a tile sealer to reinforce your roof and protect from hairline cracks.

Dec

2017

The Hidden Danger Of Asbestos And How To Deal With It

The number of deaths resulting from exposure to asbestos has peaked according to statistics, however there may still be hidden asbestos dangers lurking in homes as well as commercial building and schools.

A type of lung cancer called mesothelioma can result from even low levels of exposure to asbestos fibres and in 2014 2,567 people died as a result of the disease. While most people are aware of the dangers of asbestos it can be unwittingly disturbed during renovation projects leading to fibres finding their way into the surrounding air.

The use of asbestos was banned in the UK in 1999 as a result of the risks, however this doesn’t mean that the risk is eliminated either now or in the future in older properties that have yet to be modernised.

While having asbestos in the home is ok if it is left undisturbed, the risk to health is acute when it is disturbed. The cost of having a professional remove the material safely, however, can be high and there will be significant disruption during removal works.

To avoid this, homeowners can opt for asbestos encapsulation which coats the asbestos preventing fibres from escaping. The process is cheaper and faster than removal and in most cases safer.

Nov

2017

Why Consider Asbestos Encapsulation?

The dangers of asbestos are well known, yet there are still many buildings in the UK that have some of this potentially deadly material which lies hidden in roof spaces in particular. Worse still, the material is often found in schools and other public buildings, particularly those built between the 1950s to 1980s.

While asbestos that remains undamaged and in good condition is often left in place, there is always the outside risk that it could be disturbed and emit particles that can cause all sorts of lung diseases from lung cancer to asbestosis, diffuse pleural thickening, and mesothelioma. This is why it was made illegal to use the material in construction in 1999.

If asbestos is present in a building, its removal is governed by strict regulations due to the considerable health risks. If these guidelines are not adhered to and lives are put at risk, this can result in hefty penalties including jail terms for those involved.

One way to avoid damage to asbestos and the associated risks is to use a process called encapsulation, which as the name suggests involves coating the asbestos. This prevents any disturbance which might damage the asbestos.

It is also cost effective in reducing the amount of down time and the associated costs of safe removal of the material.

Nov

2017

Asbestos Encapsulation Methods

If you have a building which contains asbestos and you want to deal with the problem before any damage occurs which might result in fibres escaping into the air, then one method is to use encapsulation.

Encapsulation acts as a seal to prevent asbestos fibres escaping and can be a cost effective and safer alternative to removing the material altogether.

The encapsulation process involves applying a thick material which resembles paint being sprayed onto the asbestos, which then dries and hardens over the material to prevent any of the harmful fibres escaping.

There are two types of encapsulation, one called ‘bridging’ and the other ‘penetrating’. Bridging acts as a protective coating over the asbestos while penetrating as the name suggests, penetrates into the material before hardening and sealing it.

Encapsulant must be sprayed onto the asbestos with a low pressure spray and care must be taken to remove any damaged or loose asbestos before the chemical is applied. As the process involves working with asbestos, there is still the danger that the person applying the encapsulant material can be exposed to fibres, so it is essential to wear protective clothing including a suit and a respirator.

If you wish to find out more about encapsulation contact one of our experts today.

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.

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.

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.

Aug

2017

Soundproofing Party Walls

One of the most common questions you get in the soundproofing business is how do I stop noise coming through my party wall?

Noise coming from next door in terraced or semi-detached properties is something countless people are left to put up with on a daily basis. From flushing toilets to people walking up and downstairs, loud music and voices, if you own this type of property you will hear them all at one point or another.

So what’s the solution, can you stop this noise travelling through the walls altogether?

The answer to this is a simple no if you are only dealing with part of the problem by treating a party wall itself.

Much can be done of course to add sound insulation to a party wall and this will help reduce sound proof panels made from materials which absorb sound better. Part of the problem with noise transfer between houses lies in the construction, which is designed to meet minimum standards.

Noise can also travel around walls and through roof spaces so it is difficult if not impossible to eliminate noise entirely unless changes are made to the structure which often isn’t possible. If you are adding sound proof panels then this will also require compromises on space.

However, if you have particularly noisy neighbours, losing that space can be a price worth paying for some peace and quiet.

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.

Jul

2017

Bad Acoustics In Restaurants Could Be Putting People Off Their Food

How many times have you been to a restaurant and been put off your meal by all the noise? Well studies indicate that noisy restaurants can have a much wider impact on the enjoyment of your meal than simply not being able to hear your fellow diner across the table.

Unless the owners of busy restaurants think carefully about acoustics the chances are most will have a problem with excessive noise. The nature of restaurants with hard surfaces such as tables and flooring means owners need to think creatively about how to reduce the impact of noise even if it might be welcome where the occasion demands a bit of celebration.

The problem when mixing excessive noise with food however lies not only with the eardrums but also the taste buds according to studies. A University of Manchester study in 2012 discovered that found that food was more enjoyable when there was pleasant background noise.

This is perhaps not surprising but if the noise level hit 80 decibels and many restaurants regularly top 100 decibels, then the perception of flavours was dulled. This isn’t an ideal impression to leave guest with.

If you would like to find out more about how sound insulation can help your business give us a call.

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.

Metropolitan Insulation Blog