soundproofing

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

23
Feb
2018

Soundproofing for Hospitals and Clinics

Hospitals and clinics have particular requirements when it comes to sound proofing and arguably it is of greater importance than in most other buildings.

Noise can lead to stress related illness and this isn’t something anyone wants in a healthcare setting, yet hospitals are often filled with people and activity day and night and this can make it hard to sleep which is not something a patient is going to appreciate.

Creating quiet, peaceful environments for patients will not only reduce the harmful effects of noise but also potentially speed up recovery which reduces costs.

Another factor to consider is privacy. Consultation rooms must provide the utmost privacy while details are being discussed. A patient is unlikely to want to communicate in an environment where they can be heard by passers-by.

Soundproofing solutions for hospitals and clinics might include insulated ceiling tiles and the installation of other special noise control products such as insulated wall panels that not only reduce the reverberation of sound in rooms but also the transfer of noise between them.

We have several years of experience working on sound insulation for healthcare settings and understand the unique requirements of the sector. If you want to find out more about us and our services, contact us today.

Posted by admin in Metropolitan Insulation, Soundproofing Commercial Property
20
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.

Posted by admin in Asbestos, Metropolitan Insulation
10
Dec
2017

Builders – The Cost Effective Way To Deal With Asbestos

Most builders will have come across asbestos at some point for the simple reason that asbestos was still being used in buildings up until the year 2000, which isn’t that long ago.

Asbestos was used widely in the years prior to 2000 mainly for its flexibility and magical ability to resist heat. Just as importantly it was also a cheap material which is why it remains so abundant in buildings all over the country from industrial buildings, to schools and even residential properties where it can be found in places such as behind boilers.

Asbestos continues to present a major hazard to people in the building trade when it is disturbed. The tiny fibres released can get into the lungs when protective equipment isn’t used at cause deadly illnesses such as mesothelioma.

Discovery of asbestos has often presented builders with a problem; do they arrange to have asbestos removed or find ways to contain it?

Removal requires a specialist team of people wearing the correct safety gear to ensure it is removed safely. This can take a lot of time and lots of safety procedures will need to be adhered to,, otherwise there is a risk of prosecution if people are exposed to the dust.

The solution to this is encapsulation which coats the asbestos and protects it from damage. It also happens to be a cheaper alternative to removal.

Posted by admin in Asbestos Encapsulation, Insulate Your Home, Soundproofing
10
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.

Posted by admin in Asbestos Encapsulation, Metropolitan Insulation, Soundproofing, Thermal Insulation
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
25
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.

Posted by admin in Soundproofing Party Walls
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
10
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.

Posted by admin in Bad Acoustics
10
Jun
2017

How Is Excessive Noise Bad For Your Health?

We’re all exposed to noisy environments from time to time, be it in the workplace or even at home.

Unfortunately, evidence has shown that too much of it can be bad for your health but how is this so? Let’s explain further how noise impacts on your health and wellbeing.

Let’s take the example of someone who works in a city centre office in an old building without adequate sound proofing installed. This person will be exposed to traffic noise as well as noise from phones and other staff members. The general hustle and bustle associated with city life will also add to this cocktail of noise the person will be exposed to on a daily basis.

In modern office buildings, architects should automatically factor in the level of noise a building’s occupants will be exposed to and install adequate sound insulation to reduce noise from internal and external environments.

If noise isn’t considered then that city centre office can soon become a health hazard, particularly to someone sensitive to its effects. It may surprise you to learn that exposure to noise of just 65Db on a daily basis can be enough to have harmful effects on your health.

The importance of sound insulation is now much higher on the agenda when architects are designing buildings because of the effects excessive noise can have on health and well-being. The level at which sound becomes potentially bad for your health is 65Db.

To put this measurement in perspective, 65Db is the level of noise you get from someone having a conversation or a phone ringing.

Exposure to this level of noise in people sensitive to it will raise levels of adrenaline which over time will have an effect on general health and wellbeing.

Posted by admin in Excessive Noise