A Metropolitan Acoustics employee had a dream where an architect incorporated a double stud wall at every adjacency, and then woke up to the sad reality that projects can’t always sacrifice that type of footprint. There are, however, other means and methods to increase sound isolation without sacrificing that much space; read on to learn more.
Lighten up!
One way to reduce sound transmission through assemblies is by incorporating lighter gauge studs when possible. Heavy gauge studs are stiff and as a result, readily allow sound to transfer through assemblies. Light gauge studs, on the other hand, are more resilient, which helps reduce sound transmission through an assembly. Similarly, equivalent gauge studs are thinner than traditional studs yet still maintain structural integrity, and are also an option to reduce sound transmission between spaces.
Think resilience!
Another method to reduce sound transmission through partitions is to incorporate resilient channels (RCs), which are thin, Z-shaped metal strips that are screwed into studs or joists. The shape of the RC creates a flexible connection designed to suspend drywall away from the stud or joist.
While RCs are an effective method of reducing sound through partitions, they are often installed incorrectly which can result in deficiencies. Two commons issues we see on site are either installing RCs upside down or screwing through the RC into the stud, which short circuits the system entirely. Furthermore, not all RCs are created equal; a true functioning RC should be 25-gauge and have elongated slots.
Similar to RCs, stud isolation clips decouple drywall from framing by incorporating resilient rubber elements and utilize a hat channel that attaches to the gypsum board. While slightly thicker, these clips are less susceptible to improper installation compared to RCs and can be considered a potential alternative depending on variables including sound isolation design goals, desired footprint, or budget.
All drywall is not equal!
Acoustic drywall is another option to increase sound isolation between spaces, which works by incorporating a resilient damping agent within the gypsum board.
Acoustic drywall, which can provide a boost in isolation when used as a substitute for a layer of traditional gypsum board in wall assemblies, comes in different forms from several manufacturers. Some varieties have an integral metal damping layer between the gypsum layers; others are easy snap varieties that have a polymer layer between the gypsum board. Acoustic drywall can reach over an inch thick with many layers to improve low frequency attenuation as well. Depending on the wall construction, STC ratings can be boosted significantly in an assembly with no RCs required.
Conclusions
While there are many potential solutions to improve sound isolation between spaces without increasing the footprint of the wall, the performance differences between the options can be difficult to decipher. Reach out to Metropolitan Acoustics so we can help you understand how these options and others can help you achieve the sound isolation design goals best suited for your project.