“SOUND” DECISIONS WITH RESPECT

TO INSULATING OPERABLE PARTITIONS

In virtually every environment, sound insulation is Level dB (A) Conventional noise equivalent
a key factor. Selection of the right operable par- Short periods of exposure can 140 Jet take-off
lead to hearing impairment
tition is of major importance in noiseabatement
130 Pneumatic hammer
applications. The decision as to which operable
Schmerzgrenze 120 Sirens
partition system to use needs to be based not
Ohrenbetäubender Lärm 110 Storm
only on the room design, the configuration of the application Hard-rock band
and the wall functions, but also on the individual insulation pro- Pneumatic riveter
perties of the movable wall in question. Combined with the 100 Machine shop
Boiler plant
adjoining construction elements, the right partition system will
Sehr laut 90 Loud machinery
help to create an outstanding sound-protected ambience. 25-piece orchestra
Too loud for telephone calls 80 Printing press
One of the decisive criteria is how the sound level in adjoining Kitchen equipment
rooms can be reduced. Loud 70 Sports car (approx. 80 km/h)
9-piece orchestra
60 Speech
• What sound insulation value is necessary?
Norma factory noise
• How can this be achieved? Normal radio noise
• What partition system is most suited Normal conversation

to meeting the requirements? Medium volume 50 Normal office noise

• Which constructional elements have 40 Normal living room noise

Quiet radio
to be taken into account in the project?
Quiet 30 Private office
Normal auditorium
Estimation of future sound level 20 Leise Unterhaltung
Filmproduktion

Selection of an effective system capable of attenuating sound Very quiet 10 Whispering

and the noises occurring in a certain environment depends in Lowest audible threshold 0 Sound-proofed room
Human respiration
the first instance on the types of sound and the noise levels in-
volved. How much sound is transmitted from one room
into an adjacent room?
An increase or decrease in the sound level of 10 dB is perceived
by the human ear as a doubling or halving of the sound volume The industry-wide standard for measuring the sound insulation
(logarithmic measure!). afforded by operable partitions is based on measurements in
decibels (dB). The partitions in question are exposed in the labo-
If the intensity of a sound source is doubled, the audible sound ratory to sound of various frequencies (100-4000 Hz) in order to
is perceived as only being slightly louder. In order to generate determine the reduction in the sound level from one wall/partiti-
twice the sound level, approximately 16 sources generating the on side to the other.
same sound level would be necessary. In performing measurements between two rooms, the sound
reduction value “R” derived from the sound level differential “D”
Two times 80 equals 83, not 160 (difference between source noise in transmission room L1 and
sound level receiving room L2), the absorption area “A” of the
receiving room and the test area “S” of the construction element.

R = L1 – L2 + 10lg (S/A) dB
80 dB 83 dB 92 dB

The adjacent table showing typical sound pressure levels pro-

vides an overview of the various types of every-day noise
encountered. Measurement is on a scale of 0 decibels (dB) –
the lowest audibility threshold) up to 120 dB (pain threshold)
and beyond. This table is an initial, practical aid for estimating
the individual sound level of an application.
“SOUND” DECISIONS WITH RESPECT TO
INSULATING OPERABLE PARTITIONS

The testing of our operable partitions in their fully functional Evaluation of the measured sound reduction index.
condition is performed in accordance with EN 20140-3 in labora- In order to evaluate the attenuation of frequency-dependent
tory facilities of accredited test and approval institutes. The air-borne and foot-fall sound, the measured sound reduction
procedures take the form of type approval tests under standar- values are entered together with a reference curve in a frequen-
dised conditions in a test facility to EN ISO 140-3. The walls cy diagram. In Germany, for example, the reference curve is
and ceilings of a test facility are comprised of concrete or heavy stipulated in DIN 4109 to facilitate an objective analysis and has
masonry for suppression of flanking transmission. the idealised configuration of the sound reduction index of a
25 cm thick solid brick wall. For the acoustic analysis, a so-called
If, for example, 70 dB is measured on one side of the partition weighted sound reduction index is determined in the test labo-
and only 30 dB on the other, the sound reduction value is 40 dB. ratory for frequency bands from 100 to 4000 Hz representing
This means that the sound level is reduced four-fold. However, the range most audible to the human ear. This is done on the
ambient noise occurs in a wide frequency range. Consequently, basis of a displaced reference curve. For this, the two curved
the dB values are determined as individual indices for specific diagrams are superimposed and the point of intersection of the
frequencies in order to arrive at the sound reduction value for displaced reference curve at 500 Hz constitutes the weighted
a partition. sound reduction index Rw.

f (Hz) R (dB)
70
100 32.4
125 32.6
160 32.7 60
Weighted sound
200 35.7

[ dB]
reduction index
70 dB 250 39.3 50
315 41.7

Sound reduction
40 400 45.2
dB 500 48.0 40

630 51.1
Measured values
800 51.7 30
displaced
1000 51.6
reference curve
1250 53.0
20
1600 52.3
30 dB 2000 51.4
2500 52.6 10
63 1 25 250 5 00 1 000 2 00
00 400
00 4000
3150 52.8
4000 53.8 Frequency [ Hz]

The sound reduction/sound insulation ultimately achieved in a 5000 56.7

specific building is, moreover, governed by a complex interrela- dB values measured different Diagram for the weighted sound
tionship of additional building-related factors: frequency bands reduction index in Rw
• Transmission via flanking sound paths such as air shafts, Calculation of the weighted sound reduction index and the so-
cable ducts, etc. called spectrum adaptation terms is performed in accordance
• Flanking components with no acoustic break, such as a conti- with EN ISO 717-1.
nuous screed floor covering
• The sound insulation quality of the flanking components and Ceiling, floor, fixtures, fittings and walls must all be taken into
doors and windows in the adjoining walls account in order to maximise acoustic performance.
• Quality of the structural connection between the components Given the fact that an operable partition frequently only accounts
flanking the partition, such as light-weight walls for around 10% of all the surface areas present in a room, it be-
comes immediately clear what influence the floor, ceiling, fixed
walls and fixtures and fittings have on effective sound attenuation
Meaning of various common sound reduction values
achieved in a room. This combination of effects is particularly
important when it comes to analysing the noise transmitted to
R General value for the reduction in air-borne sound achieved
through the insulating effect of a construction element. “separate” rooms.

Rw Weighted sound reduction index. Single value calculated from

several measurements taken using noise sources of various fre-
quencies.

Rw,P Weighted sound reduction index achieved in the test condition

under standardised conditions. The manufacturer of the const-
ruction product may cite this value only!

R’ (“R stroke” or “R apostrophe”): Sound reduction index after taking

into account the sound transmission caused by fl anking ele-
ments such as floors, ceilings and fixed walls

R’w,B Sound reduction index measured in the building inclusive of

sound transmission caused by fl anking components.
Sound energy which impinges on the partition passes through Via the track rail
to the other side of that partition in a process known as sound As a result of the presence of cavities and air gaps above a parti-
transmission. That portion which does not pass through the tion, noise can penetrate via the ceiling from one room to another.
partition and which is instead directed back into the room is This problem can be eliminated by installing a further sound
termed reflected sound. The sound reduction is the difference protection means (baffle) above the partition, the sound reduc-
between the sound level in the source room and the sound tion index of which should be greater or equal to that of the
level in the adjacent room. If a reduction is achieved in the partition. However, it is also frequently the case that air ducting
source room as a result of, for example, an acoustic surface, (air-conditioning system shafts) passes through such sound
this is termed sound absorption. barriers into the cavities, resulting in a reduction in the sound
insulation value of the baffle installed. Noise then passes
Sound transmission between two rooms occurs in actual build- through the thin air duct wall from one room to another. Cable
ings not just via the separating component but also, and in ducts, cable trays and similar may produce the same effect.
particular, via fl anking elements and adjacent pathways. Even
when a sound-insulating partition has been correctly installed,
it must be remembered that sound can still propagate via these
so-called fl anking pathways within the building.

If the partitions and the remaining building components are not

properly matched and fitted, a significant negative effect on the
sound insulating properties of the partition can arise. An oper-
able partition can also only deliver the specified performance if
it is correctly incorporated in correspondingly prepared rooms.
As a result of poorly or incorrectly installation, “leaks” can occur Diagram of a 4-shell baffle
around the periphery of the partition and between its individual
elements. At the same time, airborne sound can pass through Floor coverings/Cavity floors
to the next room under, over and to the side of the partition via In rooms with cavity floors, noise may pass under the partition
adjacent doors, grilles, air ducts, ceiling cavities, floors and walls. and, as a result of vibration in the floor, be transferred from one
room to another. This problem can be avoided by installing a
foot-fall sound barrier (acoustic break) under the partition, the
sound reduction index of which should be greater or equal to
that of the partition.

Poor acoustic performance Good acoustic performance

SOUND floating screed floating screed composite floating screed

screed

Single acoustic break Double acoustic break

Connection between partition and fixed walls

The link between the movable partition and the fi xed wall or
Optimum sound insulation in practice room divider can be made in various ways. In all cases, however,
The best sound insulation performance is obtained from an op- the joint with the fi xed wall must be sealed for air imperme-
erable partition by considering not just the sound reduction ef- ability. Wall rails, dados and other decorative mouldings, and
fect of the movable wall itself but also the sound absorbency of protruding materials must not be allowed to influence the
the materials and objects located in the room. In addition, it is sound absorbing capacity of the system. In partition construc-
particularly important that the flanking sound paths around, be- tions, the plasterboard panel must always be broken through
low and above the partition are appropriately sealed. behind the post in order to avoid flanking sound paths developing
through this board and behind the post into the adjacent room.
The flanking sound paths can be frequently shut off or at least
reduced by provision of a baffle or a means of attenuation at the
most important locations. However, partitions are often con-
nected to a light-weight wall or a poorly insulated box encase-
ment around a pipe. It may also be that the partition cannot be
directly secured to the masonry because window sills or radia-
tors are barring the way, rendering some form of compensatory
element necessary which, as a hollow body, then becomes a
sound bridge.
 “SOUND” DECISIONS WITH RESPECT TO
INSULATING OPERABLE PARTITIONS

Sound absorption Reverberation time:

Sound absorption refers to the phenomenon of reducing sound Reverberation is an important factor in room acoustics where
energy within a room. Sound absorption represents the loss of maximum sound discernibility is desired.
sound energy as it impinges on boundary surfaces, objects or Reverberation can be identified when walking or speaking in a
people located in the room. room. An empty room with concrete walls, a plastered ceiling
and a hardstone floor is very “echoey” with voice sounds appre-
All construction materials offer a certain degree of sound ab- ciably reverberating. A room with wallpapered walls, a soft fi-
sorption. A reduced noise level or optimum acoustics for a wide breboard ceiling and a carpeted floor is, on the other hand, per-
range of different room usages can, however, only be achieved ceived by the speaker to be “hushed”. The exact physical unit of
with materials exhibiting a relatively high level of that sound ab- measurement for this is that of reverberation time T. This repre-
sorption property. The individual sound absorption value of a sents the time in seconds in which a sound source suddenly
construction material is specified in the form of an individual switched off within a room decreases in volume by 60 dB, i.e.
absorption index (determined as a function of frequency). The the time at which the sound energy is reduced to 1/1,000,000th
sound absorption index a describes the relationship of the non- of the sound energy which prevailed when the source was ac-
reflected sound energy to the sound energy at source. In case tive. Measurement of the reverberation time is performed with
of full reflection, ␣ = 0; in cases of full absorption, ␣ = 1. Hence, the same devices with which the sound level differential dB is
at ␣ = 0.5, 50% of the sound energy is absorbed and 50% reflected. measured, and again as a function of the individual frequency
bands.
In contrast to sound insulation systems in which the material
surface must be dense, preventing sound penetration and Sound insulating primer
causing it to be reflected instead, with sound absorption the • The sound-insulating capacity of an operable partition sys-
material surface must be open-pored so that the sound is “muf- tem is indicated by the sound insulation index Rw in dB (deci-
fled” by the material. Here, the mechanical energy is converted bels) as measured in a test laboratory without flanking com-
by friction into the heat, destroying the sound waves. This pro- ponents.
cess is also referred to as sound energy dissipation. • The sound reduction achieved in a specific building is, how-
ever, dependent upon the complex interrelationship of many
structural and situational factors.
• The ceiling, floor and walls of a room must correspond to the
sound-insulating properties of the operable partition system.
• Transmission via flanking sound paths and flanking compo-
nents may significantly impair the sound-insulating properties
of an operable partition. These influences are beyond the con-
trol of the partition manufacturer. Consequently, the supplier
of such components cannot offer any guarantees as to their
sound-insulating performance in their installed condition.
• In practice, however, we can indeed point to many applications
in which we have achieved optimum sound reduction values.
It is important to achieve technical clarification in advance of
High reflection without Low reflection with the application with respect to the range of sound reduction
acoustic surface acoustic surface required for the type of usage of the room concerned. Our
advisors have at their disposal empirical values relating to the
WN 05344151532 · EN · JP · 04/18 · Subject to change without notice.

Essentially, soft, porous materials (fleece, carpeting) exhibit associated requirements and factors, and these can be readily
higher ␣ values than hard materials such as glass, plaster or incorporated at the planning stage.
concrete. The ␣ values of operable partitions relate exclusively
to the sound absorbing element surfaces.

So-called acoustic surfaces which are perforated or slotted are

used on operable partitions. Such acoustic surfaces create a
more pleasant in-room sensation together with a more agree-
DORMA Hüppe Raumtrennsysteme
able ambience. They guarantee reliable sound absorption with
GmbH + Co. KG
an acoustically favourable reverberation time.

Industriestraße 5
Structure of an acoustic surface
D-26655 Westerstede/Ocholt

T +49 4409 666 0

Outer cover panel
F +49 4409 666 489
Acoustic fleece
Insulating material [email protected]
Frame assembly www.dorma-hueppe.com
Rear face