Warmlite acoustically glazed windows are available in 3 levels of sound insulation.
Over two thirds of the UK population feel stressed by loud noises and fear they may be harming their health.
However, noise pollution in modern society continues to grow, be it from road traffic, trains and aircraft or the suburban sounds of lawnmowers, stereos or even loud conversation.
Recent studies have proved that constant exposure to sound affects our physical and mental health whether we’re aware of it or not – even when we’ve become used to it!
UNDERSTANDING SOUND
“Sound” describes mechanical vibrations travelling in waves at various speeds through air, water and just about any other material or medium.
The number of vibrations per second decides the pitch (frequency) of the sound. In simple terms the higher the number of vibrations, the higher the pitch of the sound.
WHAT IS NOISE?
The term noise describes sounds which are perceived as disturbing or harmful. Noise is subjective, what one person finds invasive may go unnoticed by the next.
THE EFFECTS OF NOISE
The perceived loudness of sound is measured in decibels, abbreviated to dB. The dB scale starts at the threshold of audibility with 0 dB (A) and even with a value as low as 75dB (A) there is a risk of noise deafness. Depending upon the duration of exposure, the auditory pain threshold is reached from approximately 120 dB (A).
Effective sound insulation provides lower decibel ratings, resulting in reduced noise levels. When a sound wave hits a building component, part of the wave is reflected, another part is absorbed, and the rest travels right through the component to the other side. Sound is therefore dampened by sound waves being met with resistance.
STADIP Silence glass is a sandwich or laminate of 2 sheets of glass with a sound-absorbing layer between.
If two cars each produce 80dB, their joint level is not 160dB, rather it is 83dB.
Sound pressure levels above 90dB and upwards can be classed as irritating to the person experiencing them.
SOUND INSULATION OF WINDOWS
Non transparent external wall elements such as masonry, usually provide a good level of noise protection. However with windows, its a different story – effective noise protection becomes the result of an optional combination of frame profile, glass and installation type. This calls for special sound absorbing glass panes that will effectively keep out undesirable noises. If the glazing is to provide a high level of noise control, a detailed knowledge of the respective sound source is also critical. Noise control glazing such as SGG STADIP SILENCE therefore takes into account individual requirements with respect to the type of sound, the level of sound insulation required, installation location and installation thickness.
How sound is transmitted
The thicker the glass the better the acoustic insulation. In the case of a double glazed unit the two panes of glass are separated by a cavity, the gas in this cavity damp- ens the vibrations of the first pane before they can reach the second one. This helps to reduce both the level of vibration and the amount of sound transmitted. Higher sound insulation factors can be achieved by increasing the thickness of the glazing and ensuring it is asymmetrical.
HOW AIR SLOWS SOUND TRANSMISSION
2 SHEETS OF GLASS REFLECT, ABSORB AND TRANSMIT SOUND EVEN MORE EFFECTIVELY, THE AIR BETWEEN THE SHEETS CAN BE REPLACED WITH A LESS DENSE GAS FOR REDUCING TRANSMISSION EVEN FURTHER.
WHAT TURNS STANDARD GLASS INTO SOUND INSULATING GLASS?
The greater the weight, the better the sound insulation provided. In simple terms the thicker the glass the better the acoustic insulation. In the case of a double glazed unit the two panes of glass are separated by a cavity, the gas in this cavity dampens reach the second one. This helps to reduce both the level of vibration and the amount of sound transmitted. Higher sound insulation factors can be achieved by increasing the thickness of the glazing and ensuring it is asymetrical. The frequency response curves of two panes combined to form a mass-spring system in insulating glass add up to better sound the vibrations of the the first pane before they can
reach the second one. This helps to reduce both the level of vibration and the amount of sound transmitted. Higher sound insulation factors can be achieved by increasing the thickness of the glazing and ensuring it is asymetrical. The frequency response curves of two panes combined to form a mass-spring system in insulating glass add up to better sound the vibrations of the the first pane before they can insulation. An acoustic laminated glass such as SGG.
STADIP SILENCE contains a film interlayer that has a special dampening viscoplastic core helping to further reduce the transmission of sound.
Optimised sound insulation can be achieved by combining two panes of glass with a soft material (PVB).
SGG STADIP SILENCE contains a 3-ply interlayer with a special noise dampening core, providing excellent acoustic attenuation.
THE ADVANTAGE?
The patented acoustic film used in
SGG STADIP SILENCE acts as a dampener preventing the glass panes from resonating with each other and ensuring an even sound insulation across the entire frequency range. In addition to its excellent acoustic properties, SGG STADIP SILENCE also provides protection against injury and the highest safety levels required for safety critical areas, over head glazing being one such example.
SGG STADIP SILENCE levels out intrusive frequencies Each building component has its own critical sound frequency (resonant frequency) that will cause it to vibrate spontaneously. Any component consequently provides inadequate insulation against noises at this specific frequency. With two panes of glass in a double-glazed unit this vibration is heightened.
Although this effect can be reduced by using panes of different thicknesses, it cannot be prevented entirely. SGG STADIP SILENCE suppresses the intrusion of sound waves around the critical frequency of the glass, be it a single pane or a double-glazed unit. In a double glazed unit, SGG STADIP SILENCE achieves an airborne sound insulation index value of up to 54dB and hence absolutely keeps the promise implied by its name.
10 Year Guarantee on all our acoustically glazed windows
All Warmlite acoustic windows installations are covered by our 10 year guarantee.
This gives you the peace of mind that in the unlikely event something should go wrong with your windows, you can get them fixed quickly and conveniently at no cost to you.
The guarantee covers material defects in profile materials, panels and glass units. In the very rare event that a problem develops during the ten year period, Warmlite will simply replace the affected product
Talk to us about our acoustically glazed windows
For further information about our acoustic glazing, a free site survey with a no obligation quotation or to arrange an appointment.