For schools, proper acoustic performance creates a quiet atmosphere (even if children are running in the corridors) to help children learn. In offices, it reduces stress and aggressiveness. And for hospitals and elderly homes, more peaceful environments help people recover – even if the medical staff is active and noisy.
The best way to reduce sound is at the source. That’s why acoustic floors are key when it comes to reducing noise in buildings.
Forbo Flooring is a specialist in acoustic flooring. We have more than 32 years’ experience and specific industry knowledge that allows us to deliver best-in-class acoustic flooring for every application.
How does it work?
Sound is generated by almost all everyday activity. Impact sound is generated by traffic contacting the floor surface. The floor is therefore also the main area where acoustic performance can be influenced.
Impact sound made on the floor in 1 room is transmitted through the floor into rooms below. To measure the impact sound reduction achieved by a floor covering, impact noise is generated with a hammer machine directly onto a concrete floor slab in an emission room and the sound level (S1) is recorded in the reception room below.
The floor covering is then laid onto the concrete slab, and the same impact noise is made on the floor covering, and the new sound level (S2) is recorded. The impact sound reduction (EN ISO 717-2) is the difference, measured in decibels, between the 2 sound levels recorded.
The impact sound reduction of Forbo's acoustic project vinyl and linoleum floors varies from 14 to 19 dB.
Whether at work, or at home, excess noise can become a real nuisance if left unchecked. Incessant noise is not only distracting, affecting productivity and concentration, but it can manifest in physical ailments. In light of this growing concern, noise-reducing solutions are becoming increasingly commonplace in domestic and commercial properties. To this end, there is now an expectation that buildings should incorporate solutions that can effectively deal with excess noise.
For many, this endeavour will require an enhanced understanding of acoustics. For this reason we created a whitepaper were we will highlight the different types of sound that can occur in a building, the relevant regulations applicable to acoustic design and the benefits of installing acoustic flooring solutions.
Go to the acoustics whitepaper
