65Chapter 4
Acoustical Treatment for Indoor
Areas
by Doug Jones
4.1 Noise Criteria........................................................................... 67
4.2 Site Selection............................................................................. 69
4.2.1 Site Noise Survey...................................................................... 69
4.2.2 Transmission Loss...................................................................... 71
4.2.3 Sound Barriers........................................................................ 71
4.2.4 Sound Transmission Class (STC).......................................................... 72
4.3 Isolation Systems.......................................................................... 74
4.3.1 Wall Construction...................................................................... 74
4.3.2 High-Loss Frame Walls.................................................................. 74
4.3.3 Concrete Block Walls................................................................... 77
4.3.4 Concrete Walls........................................................................ 77
4.3.5 Wall Caulking......................................................................... 77
4.3.6 Floor and Ceiling Construction............................................................ 78
4.3.7 Floor Construction...................................................................... 79
4.3.8 Summary of Floating Floor Systems........................................................ 82
4.3.9 Acoustical Doors....................................................................... 83
4.3.10 Windows............................................................................ 84
4.3.11 Transmission Loss of a Compound Barrier.................................................. 87
4.3.12 Isolation Systems Summary............................................................. 89
4.4 Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Systems for Low Noise.......................... 89
4.4.1 Location of HVAC Equipment............................................................ 90
4.4.2 Identification of HVAC Noise Producers.................................................... 90
4.4.3 Vibration Isolation...................................................................... 90
4.4.4 Attenuation of Noise in Ducts............................................................. 91
4.4.5 Tuned Stub Noise Attenuators............................................................ 92
4.4.6 Plenum Noise Attenuators................................................................ 92
4.4.7 Proprietary Silencers.................................................................... 93
4.4.8 HVAC Systems Conclusion.............................................................. 93
References.................................................................................. 93