Soundproofing is the process of reducing or blocking the transmission of sound from one space to another. It involves using materials and techniques to absorb, dampen, or isolate sound waves, thereby minimizing their impact on the receiving space.

Soundproofing focuses on preventing sound from entering or leaving a space, while acoustic treatment is about improving the sound quality within a room. Soundproofing deals with sound transmission, while acoustic treatment addresses sound reflections and reverberations.

Yes soundproofing can be done in existing rooms

Sound can be categorized into various types, including airborne sound (like voices and music) and impact sound (like footsteps). Sounds also have different frequencies, ranging from low-frequency bass to high-frequency treble.

Sound Transmission Class (STC) and Outdoor-Indoor Transmission Class (OITC) ratings are used to evaluate and specify the sound insulation or sound transmission properties of building materials, walls, windows, and other elements within buildings.

These ratings are important for various professionals and individuals involved in the construction and design of buildings, particularly those concerned with noise control and acoustic performance.

Here are some of the key users and contexts for STC and OITC ratings:

1. Architects and Building Designers: Architects and building designers use STC and OITC ratings to select materials and building assemblies that will provide the desired level of sound insulation in various building types, such as residential, commercial, and industrial buildings. They design spaces with the goal of meeting specific acoustic requirements and minimizing noise transmission between rooms and from outside sources.

2. Acoustic Consultants: Acoustic consultants (that's us!) are experts in designing spaces with optimal acoustic performance. We utilize STC and OITC ratings to assess and recommend building materials and construction techniques to achieve specific sound isolation goals in our projects.

3. Construction and Building Contractors: Contractors are responsible for implementing the designs and specifications provided by architects and designers. They need to understand and work with materials that have specific STC and OITC ratings to ensure that the intended level of sound isolation is achieved during the construction process.

4. Manufacturers and Suppliers: Manufacturers of building materials, windows, doors, and other sound-insulating products provide STC and OITC ratings for their products. These ratings help customers, including architects and builders, choose the right materials to meet their sound insulation needs.

5. Building Owners and Facility Managers: Building owners and managers are concerned with maintaining a comfortable and quiet indoor environment. They use STC and OITC ratings to assess and upgrade the sound insulation of their buildings as needed, especially in multi-unit residential buildings, hotels, and commercial properties.

6. Acoustic Engineers and Researchers: Acoustic engineers and researchers use STC and OITC ratings to study and improve the acoustic performance of building materials and assemblies. They may develop new sound-insulating materials and test their performance based on these ratings.

7. Regulatory Authorities and Building Codes: Some building codes and regulations specify minimum STC and OITC requirements for certain types of buildings, such as residential dwellings or healthcare facilities. Compliance with these standards is essential to ensure occupant comfort and safety.

STC and OITC ratings provide standardized methods for assessing the sound insulation properties of building elements, helping professionals and individuals make informed decisions to create spaces with the desired level of noise control and acoustic privacy.

For more information about STC and OITC Ratings, check out our blog post!

The term "NRC rating"  refers to the Noise Reduction Coefficient, a measure of how well a material or surface can absorb sound and reduce its reflection. NRC ratings are used in the fields of architecture, interior design, and acoustics to assess and specify materials for the acoustic performance of a space.

Here are some of the primary users and contexts where NRC ratings are important:

1. Architects and Interior Designers: Architects and interior designers use NRC ratings to select materials such as wall panels, ceiling tiles, flooring, and furniture that can improve the acoustic environment within a building. They choose materials with specific NRC ratings to achieve the desired level of sound absorption and control in various spaces, such as offices, conference rooms, auditoriums, and residential homes.

2. Acoustic Consultants (That's us!) : Acoustic consultants are professionals who specialize in designing spaces with optimal acoustic properties. We use NRC ratings to recommend suitable materials and construction methods to meet specific sound control requirements. This is often for projects like theaters, recording studios, and concert halls.

3. Building Owners and Facility Managers: Building owners and facility managers are responsible for maintaining and improving the acoustic performance of their properties.

4. They use NRC ratings when renovating or retrofitting spaces to enhance their acoustic qualities, which can have a significant impact on occupant comfort and productivity.

5. Manufacturers and Suppliers: Manufacturers of acoustic products, such as acoustic panels, ceiling tiles, and flooring materials, provide NRC ratings for their products. These ratings help customers, including architects and designers, make informed decisions when selecting materials for their projects.

6. Acoustic Researchers and Engineers: Researchers and engineers in the field of acoustics use NRC ratings as part of their studies and experiments. They may also develop new materials and technologies to improve acoustic performance and test them against established standards, including NRC.

7. Regulatory Authorities: Some building codes and regulations may stipulate minimum NRC requirements for specific types of spaces to ensure occupant comfort and safety.

8. Consumers: Homeowners and individuals looking to improve the acoustics of their living spaces may also refer to NRC ratings when selecting acoustic products for personal use.

NRC ratings provide a standardized way to assess the sound-absorbing properties of materials, helping professionals and individuals make informed decisions when designing, constructing, or renovating spaces with specific acoustic requirements.

For more information about NRC Ratings, check out our blog post:  

The Impact Insulation Class (IIC) rating is a measure of a floor assembly's ability to reduce the transmission of impact noise, such as footsteps or objects being dropped, from one level of a building to another. IIC ratings are particularly important for professionals and individuals involved in the construction, design, or renovation of buildings, where noise control between floors is a concern. Here are some key users and contexts where IIC ratings are relevant:

1. Architects and Building Designers: Architects and building designers use IIC ratings to select flooring materials and systems that can help achieve the desired level of noise control between different levels of a building. They may specify flooring solutions with high IIC ratings to reduce impact noise transmission in multi-story residential, commercial, or institutional buildings.

2. Acoustic Consultants: Acoustic consultants (That's us!) specializing in architectural acoustics use IIC ratings to evaluate and recommend floor assembly designs, materials, and construction techniques to achieve specific impact noise reduction goals in our projects. We work on a range of buildings, including residential, commercial, and industrial.

3. Construction and Building Contractors: Contractors are responsible for implementing the design and specifications provided by architects and designers. They need to understand and work with flooring materials and assemblies that meet or exceed certain IIC ratings to ensure effective impact noise control during construction.

4. Manufacturers and Suppliers: Manufacturers of flooring materials and systems provide IIC ratings for their products. These ratings help customers, including architects and builders, choose appropriate flooring solutions to meet their impact noise reduction needs.

5. Building Owners and Facility Managers: Building owners and managers are concerned with maintaining a comfortable and noise-free indoor environment. They use IIC ratings when selecting or upgrading flooring materials and systems to reduce impact noise transmission within their buildings, particularly in multi-unit residential buildings, hotels, and commercial properties.

6. Acoustic Engineers and Researchers: Acoustic engineers and researchers may use IIC ratings to study and improve the impact noise performance of flooring materials and systems. They may develop new products or construction methods and test them based on these ratings.

7. Regulatory Authorities and Building Codes: Some building codes and regulations may stipulate minimum IIC requirements for specific types of buildings to ensure that noise transmission between floors meets certain standards.

IIC ratings play a crucial role in ensuring that buildings provide effective impact noise control, which is essential for occupant comfort and acoustic privacy in multi-story structures. Professionals and individuals involved in the construction and design of buildings rely on IIC ratings to make informed decisions about flooring materials and systems.

For more information about IIC Ratings, check out our blog post!