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Sound Insulation
STRUCTURE & PHYSICSintermediate
Definition
The ability of a building element — wall, floor, or ceiling — to reduce the transmission of sound between spaces. Sound insulation is measured in decibels (dB) and is regulated by building codes for party walls and floors between dwellings. It is achieved through mass, isolation, absorption, and decoupling.
Example
The floating floors of the Barbican Centre concert halls in London sit on rubber isolators, completely decoupled from the building structure — preventing vibration from underground trains from reaching the concert hall.