Basics of sound and
noise protection

Sound insulation
with system

Space in cities is becoming scarce and expensive. More and more areas are being built on, houses are being extended and optimized. Classic examples are residential buildings next to highways or office buildings near airports. The issue of “noise protection” is rightly becoming disproportionately important, as the latest study by the European Environment Agency impressively demonstrates. Noise pollution makes people ill. This statement is no exaggeration. Many people feel considerably disturbed by noise. The employers’ liability insurance associations report that the number of noise-related injuries is on the rise. Exposure to aircraft noise at a continuous sound level of 40 dB already significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease.

It is therefore important to combat noise effectively as soon as it arises. However, sound insulation deficiencies are difficult to detect even for experts and can only be proven through extensive measurements and expensive expert reports.

There are two basic types of sound.

1. Structure-borne sound

Structure-borne sound encompasses various phenomena such as vibrations, earthquakes and the transmission of vibrations in buildings (impact sound, ventilation, rain pattering on the windowsill, vehicles, machines, etc.).

The bending waves excite the surrounding air into airborne vibrations and thus become audible to people. However, they can also be transmitted through connected materials, e.g. screed, concrete or steel structures, within a building or, in the worst case, between different buildings. A significant reduction in structure-borne noise is achieved, for example, by the direct separation of materials, such as with a floating screed without a direct bond to the masonry.

2. Airborne sound

Airborne sound refers to sound waves that propagate through the air. In physiology, this is referred to as air conduction. Airborne sound propagates through the air in spherical waves at a speed of 331 m/s. The intensity decreases with increasing distance from the sound source. The intensity decreases with increasing distance from the sound source. In common parlance, airborne sound is usually referred to as noise, e.g. road noise, aircraft noise, construction site noise. Good sound reduction of noise sources is achieved by using particularly dense materials, such as concrete or glass, as these materials have a high resistance to noise (airborne sound).

The Rw value (the weighted sound reduction index) is the characteristic value for window and façade construction. The required Rw value only takes into account the airborne sound transmitted via the components, façade, window and door. Sound transmission via secondary paths is not taken into account.

Together with Henkel, Fraunhofer IBP investigated these effects in detail between 2017 and 2020.

TEROSON Bautechnik offers TEROSON BT 2002 insulation mats that can be glued onto the metal panels to reduce noise. The insulation board products are impregnated wool felt boards, some of which are provided with a special additional damping layer with diamond embossing on the top to increase the structure-borne sound damping properties. They are used for efficient and weight-saving soundproofing of thin-walled sheet metal and provide an additional stiffening effect. Typical areas of application are façade elements, window sills, garage doors, but also ventilation and air conditioning systems and elevator cabins. These sound-absorbing boards are even used in mechanical engineering.

The sound insulation properties of windows depend primarily on the following factors:

The structure and thickness of the glazing.

A greater distance between the individual panes increases the sound insulation of soundproof windows.
If an insulating glass unit consists of panes of different thicknesses, this can also contribute to increased sound insulation.
In the case of insulating glass, the gas filled into the space between the panes has an influence on the level of sound insulation.

The acoustic quality of the frame and sash (cross-section and structure of the window elements), whereby the overall construction of glass, seals and frame is of great importance.

High joint tightness between sash and frame and between frame and masonry.

Sound insulation in a building connection joint is therefore becoming increasingly important. The design of the latest window elements has been significantly improved in recent years in terms of sound insulation, e.g. through multi-chamber systems and foamed or insulated profiles. They are equipped with special soundproofing glass, which is available as double or triple glazing.

Airtightness is crucial for sound insulation and sound transmission and therefore also for the tightness of the building connection joint. The insulating materials support joint sound insulation through their absorbent properties. The construction chemicals such as sealing foils and sealants therefore also seal the connection acoustically!

The sound insulation classes (SSK 1-6) indicate the sound insulation of windows in accordance with VDI guideline 2719.

Expert advice

People perceive noise differences of approx. 10 dB as either half or double the volume of a sound and are therefore crucial.

Sound insulation in the connection joint is crucial from SSK 3 and therefore relevant to planning. Airtightness is decisive for the sound insulation of the joint or for the SSK!

Sound insulation/noise protection requirements

Sound insulation requirements are placed on the entire external component when installed. In addition to the window, this applies to accessories such as roller shutter boxes and ventilators as well as the external wall including building connections.

The following regulations are used to derive requirements for the sound insulation of building connection joints:

DIN 4109 – Parts 1, 2 and 35, 2016-07 – “Sound insulation in buildings”
DIN 18005-1 “Sound insulation in urban development”
VDI guideline 2719 “Sound insulation of windows and their additional equipment”
DIN EN 12354 – Part 1 and 3 – “Building acoustics”

DIN 4109 deals with the protection of people in recreation rooms in all new buildings:

Noise from other rooms
Noise from building services installations
External noise (traffic noise, commercial and industrial noise)

DIN 4109 is generally binding for new buildings, whereby the minimum sound insulation (in the sense of a lower limit) is described here, but higher requirements are common!

TEROSON WT 112 DB

The TEROSON WT 112 DB sound deadening compound is a trowelable and sprayable sound deadening compound based on aqueous synthetic resin dispersions with flame retardant additives. TEROSON WT 112 DB meets the highest fire protection requirements “non-combustible” (A2-s1, d0) according to DIN EN 13501.

The coating is used for soundproofing and structure-borne sound absorption in thin-walled sheet metal constructions such as facade elements, sheet metal constructions in vehicle, wagon, ship and apparatus construction as well as ventilation ducts, elevators and waste disposal systems, but also in container construction.

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