Wood Frame Building Noise

Wood frames are not only very economical to build but are also resistant to extreme climatic variations and offer residents a high degree of comfort.

Wood frame building noise.

For wood frame wall construction soundproofing features are required to ensure a quiet and peaceful home. In both cases if the floor finish is hard i e tile hardwood or the like footstep impacts will clearly be transmitted to. Wood has low thermal mass. As mentioned earlier mass is a necessary part of noise control.

Footstep or impact noise is observed both in buildings of concrete construction and wood frame construction. Wood frame construction is one of the most widely used methods to build residential commercial and industrial buildings. Added to that wood frames are sustainable and absorb carbon and offset. Reducing noise in a wood frame building is accomplished by limiting sound vibrations with insulation stud placement or extra mass within the wall cavity.

This is a catch up since most european union and several north american jurisdictions including british columbia already allow six storey wood frame. However there is a clear difference in the nature and extent of the problem in these two constructions. On january 1 2015 wood frame construction became even more attractive when changes to the ontario building code obc raised the limit from four to six storeys for wood frame buildings. Wood frame construction by its nature can present noise control challenges.