Soundproof Room Insulation Performance
One of the indicators of how well a soundproof room blocks out sound is its sound insulation performance, measured in decibels (dB). There are two main purposes for using a soundproof room:
- 1. To block outside noise from entering the room.
- 2. To prevent sound within the room from leaking outside.
For both cases, it is essential to specify the desired sound insulation level of the soundproof room as a quantifiable target. However, evaluation standards vary across manufacturers and can often be ambiguous, potentially leading to misunderstandings between users and manufacturers. Performance evaluation of soundproof rooms is based on standards like JIS, but differences in JIS types and measurement methods can yield different values for the same room.
For example, even if a soundproof room is rated to provide 30 dB sound insulation at 500 Hz, the values obtained from testing in a controlled environment differ from real-world measurements because of differences in measurement methods and environments. In a test facility fully enclosed with concrete, a wall structure might measure 30 dB @ 500 Hz, but that doesn’t guarantee the same performance when the room is installed on-site. Real-world factors, such as doors, silencer ducts, windows, gaps in floor-wall-ceiling joints, construction precision, and vibration transmission, all affect insulation performance. Thus, the wall structure’s performance and the room’s actual performance are not always the same. It’s common to see discrepancies where a manufacturer’s claimed 30 dB insulation level results in only 20 dB in real-world measurements.
Some large manufacturers and contractors unfamiliar with soundproofing basics may overlook these critical points. The solution? Have the manufacturer guarantee the real-world sound insulation performance of the soundproof room. Test data from a controlled environment is not relevant, and even the same test method can yield different results at different testing facilities. By guaranteeing insulation performance, the manufacturer commits to on-site assessments, measurements, and verification. A professional manufacturer will document the guaranteed performance values and verification methods in the specifications. Companies that do not offer such guarantees are not true soundproofing experts.
