Throughout our lives, we are exposed to various stimuli and polluting agents that directly impact our well-being. Although air and water pollution often attract greater attention due to the visible and negative effects they cause, noise pollution is sometimes underestimated, even though it represents a risk to physical and mental health, according to the Environment Agency.
Part of the strategies to address this challenge have focused on policies that control vehicular traffic and establish schedules for specific activities. In the field of architecture, within the Mexican context, local regulations address specific scenarios related to noise produced by machinery and specific uses, such as entertainment centers and services. This regulation contemplates a sound intensity limit of 65 dB (decibel). However, given that homes represent possibly the most archetypal manifestation of architecture and various sources of noise can affect them, it is necessary to ask yourself: How can I soundproof a home? In response to this question, Has developed several solutions to create a soundproof environment through the different elements that make up a house.
As sentient beings, humans give meaning to the sounds we hear. Although the sound is described in terms of intensity, frequency, and duration, noise includes psychological, social, and situational factors. Therefore, we can affirm that noise is negative and unwanted sounds, whether in the environment or in indoor spaces. From this perspective, in homes, noise can originate from various sources with different levels of intensity, which makes it important to soundproof floors, ceilings, walls and pipes. By soundproofing these elements, it is possible to improve the interior environment of a home. Where, although it is relative, acoustic comfort is generally in the range of 30 to 40 decibels (dB).
Floors and ceilings soundproof
Noise caused by impacts, such as everyday traffic, the use of electrical equipment, and household activities, is often a common source of noise in the indoor environment. A determining factor in this situation is the material used in the construction of the mezzanine systems. In these systems, materials such as concrete and mixed construction systems of steel and concrete are used to form the slabs. In specific cases, wood is used as a supporting substructure for other components.
Soundproofing solutions for floors and ceilings can be integrated using precast panel systems, which can replace additional concrete coatings on slabs. Additionally, acoustic membrane systems, made from elastomeric bitumen and recycled rubber, are versatile and effective. These can be used either under or without a 38 mm (1½ inch) self-leveling concrete layer , providing optimal performance in both situations. In the case of wood, membranes made of high-density polyethylene are designed to soundproof both floating laminate floors as well as different types of wooden floors, whether hardwood or engineered.
Other membrane systems, composed of self-adhesive elastomeric bitumen with polyester reinforcement or made with 100% recycled rubber, allow the direct application of polymer-modified mortar. This makes them appropriate for a wide range of coatings and compatible with various substrates, which makes them very useful elements to apply on mezzanines.
Walls
Currently, due to the high population density in cities, it is very common for noise coming from outside or from adjacent spaces to be a factor that reduces acoustic comfort in a home. To address this situation, walls play a vital role as they act as the skin of the buildings and also contribute to internal compartmentalization. Therefore, it is necessary to look for configurations in its stratification that can improve the internal atmosphere.
Thinking about walls as strata with specific characteristics is an approach that can improve the acoustic quality of construction. An example of this approach is the system made from cellulose, which is composed of small, loose gray fibers that are soft to the touch, odorless, and low in volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This system is placed inside the wall and acts as a protective layer, which is manufactured with more than 80% recycled paper and cardboard to reduce heat and sound transmission. This solution is effective and environmentally friendly, as it reduces energy consumption and improves comfort in various climatic conditions.
Drain and pipes
Items such as pipes may not be considered significant sources of noise. However, due to the presence of water pipes both inside and outside homes, it is common to hear noises generated by the passage of water through the pipes, especially in those that handle high volumes of water, such as sanitary drainage or storm drains.
To address this situation, it is essential to soundproof the pipes while keeping them accessible for maintenance. To achieve this, self-adhesive systems offer an easy-to-install acoustic solution that surrounds the circumference of the pipe, eliminating noise caused by the flow of water in interior pipes, whether sanitary drainage or storm discharge.
From a global perspective and understanding that soundproofing is the set of materials and techniques developed to isolate or attenuate the sound level in a space, to prevent sound from penetrating or leaving it, Solutions address the problems of noise pollution from a perspective in which, although it is not possible to completely control noise, whether generated by external factors or activities inherent to an indoor domestic environment, it is possible to implement strategies that improve the soundproofing of the home as a whole.