Page 23 - CooperatorNews New York Expo May 2022

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Electronics Textiles nyc.gov/ sanitation | call 311 NYCsanitation See us at Booth 1809 transmission.” White also notes that “with people work- ing at home because of COVID, we’re receiv- ing a lot of calls about buildings that have and it’s dense to add fl exibility,” she says. concrete decks—which you fi gure would be “Th is doesn’t contain lead—remember lead soundproofed, but people are getting sound walls?—which they used to use. Th is vinyl transmission through the concrete. To cor- rect the problem, we anchor in a new ceiling lead to eliminate sound, and it’s only an grid—basically a support system to hold a eighth of an inch thick.” new ceiling—and decouple it, so it acts like a shock absorber and reduces the noise that’s very much built, and the sound just keeps traveling through the concrete.” Th e proliferation of glass residential put up a false wall between your place and buildings over the past two decades has the next apartment, which could cost you made sound problems both more com- mon and more acute. Glass does not act as well worth it for a good night’s sleep. Or you a sound reduction agent in any way. Many could build a closet along the off ending wall new buildings are constructed with shared and use it to store clothes and toys, which walls between units, as well as between units are sure to absorb the sound. She relates and common areas, which adds to the like- lihood of both airborne sound infi ltration lar schedule for his “personal life.” Saturday and structural transmission. Solutions So, back to the cups and the string. Dr. very noisy. Marsh suggested adding a false Bonnie Schnitta, a national expert on sound wall, which would have absorbed the sound. and president and owner of SoundSense, Ultimately, the client chose to do nothing. a national acoustical consulting and en- gineering company, says, “If we’re talking about a wall, a fl oor, or a ceiling, there are certain things that improve or are success- ful in inhibiting sound. Th e criteria are that than ever before,” says Schnitta. “Where it has to be dense, must have some level of before there wasn’t a solution, now we have fl exibility or resiliency to it, and has to have one. A good example is a type of pad that if a complete seal. You can have the best wall you put this down before you pour concrete in the world, but if it’s got a hole in it, it’s not for a foundation, it will even inhibit subway going to work.” Th e culprits when it comes to sound resiliency is an important piece of the so- transmission between apartments are oft en lution set for walls, there are new clips that single studs and back-to-back electrical out- lets, which do little to reduce or interrupt to prevent connecting drywall to channel the fl ow of unwanted noise. Th ough strongly sound. Also, a lot of attention to acoustic cautioned against by architects, developers leakage points like wrapping the backs of will oft en ignore these pitfalls for the sake of outlets helps. An acoustic muffl er will in- saving a bit on construction costs. Gaynor adds that “some soundproof- ing materials are used within the initial construction, and some installed aft er. Th e muffl er, notes Schnitta. It’s a special acoustic easy ones are aft er construction—things like plate that is connected to a diff user or vent carpeting and curtains. Resilient underlay- ment is used in fl oor construction to reduce ceiling or wall. Its purpose is either to in- sound conduction. It might be foam or fi ber. hibit mechanical noise that comes through It could also be roof felting, cork, or rubber.” Schnitta agrees, but cautions that “a thick or apartment to apartment through diff er- poured concrete fl oor itself is great for stop- ping sound, but if it’s not thick enough, it inates the eff ect\] of hearing people in your will be terrible for footfall,” or anything else bathroom from an adjacent apartment.” with an impact on the fl oor, such as dropped articles. She explains that in New York, there is sound attenuation paneling for fl oors and is a required minimum Impact Insulation ceilings. “Th ey are quite attractive,” he adds. Class (IIC) for newer buildings. “Many old “And they are eff ective. I’m using them in buildings were not subject to this require- ment. Th e requirement to cover 80 percent of your fl oor with carpet was enacted to clamor, every little bit helps. account for this, but if it’s not the right car- pet or padding, it won’t solve the problem. Th ere is a special carpet pad called Vibramat that is very eff ective for this. It raises IIC by 20 percent.” Along with Vibramat, Schnitta explains that there are many other sound-stopping options today. In new buildings, she rec- ommends loaded vinyl as a means to re- duce sound transference through studs. “It’s impregnated with non-toxic metals, has a better transmission loss factor than But what if your building is already on coming? Marsh suggests that you could a few square inches of space, but might be one client whose neighbor had a very regu- morning comes once a week, as the adage says. Th e neighbor was like clockwork, and Perhaps the neighbor changed his schedule. What’s New & Improving? “More innovative sound control prod- ucts have been patented in the last few years noise if there is one nearby. Knowing that have neoprene pads integral to the design hibit sound from coming through recessed lights that are not fully insulated cans.” Another new patent is known as an eaves with a one-inch space between it and the vents, or inhibit sound going room to room, ent conduits and vents. “Essentially, \[it elim- Another new product noted by Gaynor some of my current assignments.” Clearly, when it comes to shutting out the n AJ Sidransky is a staff writer/reporter for CooperatorNews, and a published novelist. He can be reached at alan@yrinc.com. See us at Booth 102