Soundproofing Secrets: Tips and Techniques for Effective Acoustic Insulation

Soundproofing Secrets: Tips and Techniques for Effective Acoustic Insulation 

Are you tired of hearing every footstep, conversation, or noise from outside your home or office? Achieving peace and quiet indoors can seem like an impossible dream, especially in noisy environments. However, with the correct materials, effective acoustic insulation is within reach. In this blog, we'll reveal soundproofing secrets using glass and rock mineral wool, offering practical tips and techniques to help you achieve optimal acoustic insulation.  

Choosing the right materials 

Mass, absorption, and separation are essential to achieve good levels of acoustic performance. Plus, it’s not just the insulation alone that will meet the performance requirements – it's a system as a whole which will do this. 

Glass and rock mineral wool are two of the most effective materials for soundproofing due to their acoustic performance. These materials absorb sound waves, preventing them from travelling through walls, floors, and ceilings. When selecting insulation materials, consider factors such as density and thickness to maximise sound absorption. 

Watch our video  to understand how mineral wool reduces sound compared to other mainstream insulants. 

Proper installation methods 

Proper installation is crucial for the effectiveness of acoustic insulation. Begin by identifying areas for soundproofing, such as walls adjacent to noisy neighbours, separating floors between storeys, or internal floors that separate rooms. Ensure the insulation material fully fills the cavity without gaps or compression because even small openings can compromise its effectiveness. 

Choosing the right product and thickness  

The thickness and density of insulation materials play a significant role in acoustic performance. Not all products are engineered for acoustic performance, so products like Loft Roll won’t meet the requirements as an absorption material needed for internal walls and internal floors, as in Approved Document E. In these applications a product with density of more than 10Kg/m3, such as Acoustic Roll, is needed to meet the performance standards. Other higher density products, such as Rocksilk^® Flexible Slabs or Building Slabs, may also be necessary in other applications where specific levels of acoustic performance are specified by a designer.   

Unsure which product is best for your application? Use our  Noise Reduction Insulation Product Finder. It recommends the best product for your project, depending on the location, the application, and build-up. 

Common challenges and solutions  

Projects requiring acoustic insulation to be installed may meet challenges such as uneven surfaces or services. In such cases, flexible insulation materials like mineral wool can adapt to any slight imperfections in the substrate and are easily cut to tightly fit around services such as cables and pipes, eliminating any air gaps. Mineral wool is engineered to adapt to any imperfections and any settlement/movement over time, so it maintains close contact and preserves thermal and acoustic performance for the life of the building. Evidence shows the absence of air gaps is crucial to achieving real performance in the relevant application. Any insulation material that doesn’t deliver ‘as-built’ thermal performance is failing in its primary purpose and presents an unnecessary risk as the construction industry looks to close the performance gap.  

Additionally, consider consulting with acoustic professionals to address complex challenges and ensure optimal results. 

The common myth is that installing mineral wool insulation is difficult as it’s itchy and dusty. Most Knauf Insulation mineral wool products are manufactured with ECOSE^® Technology, our unique bio-based binder which contains no added formaldehyde or phenol. It’s made from natural raw materials that are rapidly renewable and is less energy-intensive to manufacture than traditional binders. Products made with ECOSE^® Technology are soft to touch and easy to handle. They generate low levels of dust and VOCs and have been awarded the Eurofins Gold Certificate for Indoor Air Comfort.  
 
All our glass mineral wool products and our unfaced rock mineral wool products, made with ECOSE^® Technology, have been awarded the DECLARE `Red List Free’ label. The Declare label is a third-party accreditation and is like a food nutrition label, but for building products; it’s a straightforward ingredient list and allows product transparency disclosure because it identifies where a product comes from and what it’s made of. Declare ‘Red List Free’ certifies that there’s no harmful chemical from the red list in these products. 

For questions about soundproofing, contact our Technical Services Team today. 

Use these tips and techniques for your next soundproofing project and experience the transformative effects of a well-insulated space. Your ears—and your sanity—will thank you. 

Visit our Homeowners Hub to find out more about the benefits of our mineral wool insulation solutions.