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The Fundamentals of Sound Control
Sound Passage Through Air
Sound is created by the oscillation of an object. This movement is then transmitted through the air in the form of waves of pressure. This pressure is made up by the movement of air particles against one another and is picked up by us as vibrations within the ear.
The basis of sound transmission
Airborne Sound
Air Tightness
Noise transmission through buildings travels in two main ways. The first is airborne sound, which is transferred from the sound source along a continuous path to a listener. Examples of how sound can be transmitted could be through small holes or openings in the construction, along ductwork, forced transmission through partitions or with open voids i.e. doors, windows for example.
Airborne sound is affected by
- Gaps in joints
- Cracks in masonry or plasterwork
- Insufficient sealant around pipes etc passing through the wall.
Impact Sound
The creation of structure borne sound
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The creation of structure borne sound |
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The second means of sound transmission is impact or structure borne sound. This is where mechanical or kinetic energy in the form of steady vibrations or impacts are being imparted directly to a building structure. These are then transmitted throughout the structure to other rooms in the building where a partition, structure or surface is forced into vibration thereby creating sound.
Main sources of structural borne sound are people (footsteps, slamming doors etc), plant, machinery, services and household appliances.
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