Soundproof windows

In order to provide comfort and protection from loud sounds in the house, it is possible to install windows with good sound insulation indicators. This will give you the opportunity to relax or work in peace, even if the windows of your house overlook a busy highway, train station, construction site or playground. So when choosing metal-plastic windows or replacing them, among other things, pay attention to their noise insulation characteristics.

External noise: the main sources of discomfort

Even through tightly closed windows, noise penetrates into a house or apartment — but its sources will be different. For an apartment, this is first of all:

• Highways with heavy traffic.
• Playgrounds that can annoy, even if the windows overlook the courtyard.
• Playgrounds where owners walk their pets.
• Cafes and restaurants with lively summer terraces.
• Construction sites.
• Manufacturing enterprises that can also be located within the city.

These objects become a source of loud sounds, and some of them do not fall silent even at night. Even with the windows tightly closed, it will be quite difficult to isolate yourself from the noise.

In the private sector, noise protection by installing soundproof windows is also very important. Children can play in neighboring areas, neighbors can turn on the radio or just loud music. Pets and working tools can also be quite noisy — and even placing a residential house behind green spaces does not solve the problem. Therefore, sound-proofing windows are installed in cottages, country houses, and townhouses.

Noise level: standard values

What noise level can be considered acceptable? Here it is necessary to take into account the average indicators for different situations, as well as sanitary standards:

• Indicators from 60 to 100 dB or more are typical for busy city streets. Being in such a noise for a long time, we will get tired faster.
• The current standards as an acceptable indicator for an apartment set a noise level of no more than 45 dB at night, and no more than 55 dB — during daylight hours.
• Comfortable indicators — from 30 to 40 dB. It's not too quiet (complete silence also causes discomfort), but it's not too loud either. At this level of background noise, the body does not experience loads and retains productivity for a long time.

Protection of windows from noise: principles of operation

There are several factors that affect the effectiveness of sound insulation of a metal-plastic window. It is possible to provide sound insulation of windows in a house or apartment, taking into account the factors in the complex:

• An increase in the level of noise insulation is provided by increasing the thickness of the structure. The thicker the window profile and its double—glazed window are, the worse the closed window will let sound through.
• The second factor that affects the efficiency of sound transmission is the heterogeneity of the structure. The more layers with different densities a sound wave passes through, the more volume the passing sound will lose.

Pay attention! That is why a single-chamber double-glazed window protects against noise worse than a two-chamber one with the same width, the average glass creates an additional dense layer that cuts off part of the volume.

• Tightness is another aspect that directly affects sound insulation. Noise protection will be achieved only if properly adjusted fittings ensure uniform and tight clamping of the sash to the frame around the perimeter.

Only in the complex, all 3 factors will ensure the protection of windows from noise at a high level.

Sound-insulating double-glazed windows

Double-glazed windows occupy from 60 to 80% of the total window area. Due to the large area, the glazing turns into a kind of membrane that transmits sounds from the external environment to the room. To reduce the noise level, you need:

• When designing a double-glazed window, install the glasses at different distances from each other. Different distances in a double-chamber double-glazed window will reduce the volume of the passing sound due to the creation of an environment with uneven density (we wrote about this above).
• According to the same principle, the use of glasses of different thicknesses works. In addition, in such double-glazed windows, the outer glass is most often thick (6 mm instead of 4 mm). It protects better from noise — because the sound loses part of the volume after passing the first obstacle.
• Another effective solution is to replace any (internal or external) glass with a triplex. Triplex is a construction of two glass connected by a polymer film, and by itself perfectly reduces the volume of noise.
• Finally, it is possible to fill the chambers in the double-glazed window with an inert gas. In addition to the low thermal conductivity, argon differs from air more in viscosity. The sound passing through the argon layer will become quieter.

Pay attention! In specialized double—glazed windows, another gas is used instead of argon - sulfur hexafluoride. It is more expensive and more toxic, because the requirements for the tightness of the double-glazed window will be high. But sulfur hexafluoride in double-glazed windows insulates the room from external noise by almost 100%.

Profile and sound insulation

The profile design also affects the effectiveness of sound insulation — even if this influence is less noticeable compared to the influence of a double-glazed window. For good indicators of protection from street noise, you need to choose profile systems:

• With a larger mounting width.
• With a lot of cameras.
• With a thick (from 2.8 mm) front wall.

For acoustic comfort, it is worth choosing a profile system with a width of at least 70 mm with six cameras — for example, WDS 7S or WDS 8S. In addition to their own sound insulation characteristics, such profiles also allow you to install wide — 32, 40 or even 44 mm — double-glazed windows.

How does the quality of installation affect the sound insulation?

Compliance with the requirements of the DSTU during installation, as well as the correct adjustment of the fittings for uniform tight clamping of the sash to the frame also affect such an indicator as the sound insulation of a plastic window:

• The foam that is used to fill the mounting gap should fill it without voids or cracks. Even a 1-2 mm wide clearance will reduce the effectiveness of noise protection (and it will also become a cold bridge, which is also unacceptable).
• The use of vapor barrier and vapor permeable mounting tapes in the formation of a three—layer mounting seam is an additional plus to sound insulation. Each layer of material is an additional barrier to sound.
• Another important factor that increases the noise insulation characteristics of the structure as a whole is the finishing properties. Porous materials are laid under the slope trim mainly to reduce thermal conductivity, but mineral wool or its analogues also reduce the volume of the passing sound.
• Proper adjustment is also important. The pressure must be strong and uniform — then not only cold air, but also noise will not penetrate into the gap between the frame and the sash.

The advantages of metal-plastic windows also include their high sound insulation performance. But if you want noise protection to really work — listen to these recommendations when choosing a window configuration. And trust the installation to highly qualified craftsmen.

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