Acoustics

Acoustic design considerations for TTBS can be found here.

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According to WoodSolutions any wall or floor which separates one dwelling from another must provide adequate resistance to the passage of sound. These sounds will either come from airborne sources - such as speech, musical instruments and loudspeakers - or impact sources, such as footsteps and the moving of furniture.

By following some basic acoustic design elements, better sound control can be provided for timber framed construction. Walls and floors which separate dwellings need to provide adequate resistance to the passage of sound. 

Effective acoustic design in timber buildings can be achieved through the implementation of techniques such as:

  • Discontinuous construction
  • Ensuring adequate insulation is provided in intertenancy walls and floors
  • The use of acoustically isolated fixings for wall and ceiling linings
  • Adding mass to floors where appropriate
  • Designing to minimise common noise sources on dividing walls

Further resources relating to fire design for timber structure scan be found in WoodSolutions Technical Design Guide #11, Timber-framed Systems for External Noise, Technical Design Guide #37 and Mid-rise Timber Buildings.