March 29, 2024

Justice for Gemmel

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Tips On How To Soundproof Windows

Noise, or noise pollution as it is known in modern days, is a major nuisance for many people today. Noise, be it at a place of work or at home, can be the source of many problems for some people and has been known to cause anxiety and sleep deprivation. Fortunately, with advances in noise management technology, you no longer have to stress over the pollution caused by noise.

In this article, we will be looking at what noise pollution is and how having the right soundproof windows and conservatories installed can help bring a stop to it.

Sound travels through solids, air, and liquids like the ripples you see on the surface of a pool when you throw an object in it. It is worth noting that sound waves travel in all directions and gradually reduce in intensity the further they move from the source. It’s these sound waves that cause eardrums to vibrate before being interpreted as sound by our brains.

Most of us have heard of or even own noise-cancelling headphones. However, not many people know how they work. Speakers emit sound waves with a similar amplitude but using antiphase or inverted phase to the original sound. These waves then combine to create a new wave of sound that causes interference. When these waves are created, they cancel each other out through an effect known as phase cancellation, resulting in the cancellation of noise. The science behind this can be rather complex!

Things that Cause Noise Pollution

Common sources of noise pollution in workplaces or at home include:
– Pets
– Neighbours
– Transport including road trains, planes and traffic
– Industrial sites like factories
– Restaurants, pubs, clubs and bars
– Maintenance and building (like building projects or road works)
– Town or city noise in general
– Passers-by on public footpaths

Why Window Type Matters

Windows are the weakest points of any property since they are generally made or consist of thin glass and other structural materials that are easily influenced or affected by sound wave energy. Windows that don’t have enough protection essentially end up behaving like speakers and become agents of noise transmission. At the same time, windows that don’t properly close because they aren’t well-sealed can also become a source of sound leakage.

This doesn’t apply to traditional single-glazed windows. Triple-glazed and single-glazed windows often struggle to offer notable noise reduction as the glass’ vibration compress the gas or internal air inside the sealed unit. Since glass layers in triple or double-glazing are so close to each other (about 16 to 20mm apart), it becomes easier for sound waves to continue travelling without too much interference. So, is there a way for this to be improved?

A solution to this problem is using acoustic glass which is basically two or more sheets of glass sandwiched together. The interlayers of the glass act as noise dampers – they weaken sound wave energy as they travel through the piece of glass.

Acoustic glass is made in such a way that it absorbs and disperses sound more effectively than standard glass.

Noise reduction, in simpler terms, can also be measured in terms of distance. Every 3 decibels of noise reduction double the distance from where the noise originates. So, if you live about 10 metres away from a noisy road and can get 3 decibels of noise reduction, that theoretically means that distance from the source of noise doubles to 20 metres.

Improving a double-glazed window’s sound insulation can be achieved by:

– Using thicker glass
– Using specially laminated acoustic glass
– Having the widest possible cavity between glass panes
– Using an effective/efficient insulating window frame
– Differing the thicknesses of the glass panes used