How to soundproof your office during the construction of your House 4 Proven methods.

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Soundproofing your home office

On a recent custom house project that we built for a client, he requested that his office be soundproof. His office would be adjacent to his utility/mechanical room. 



The mechanical units in this room would emit the following decibels.

Energy Recovery Ventilator ---   26 decibels
Air Handler -------------------------   65 decibels
Washer/Dryer ----------------------    65 Decibels
Hot Water heater ------------------   50 Decibels


We designed and constructed the walls between the office and the mechanical room for a rating of 50 STC.

STC is Sound Transmission Class. 
To achieve this rating, we installed 2 layers of staggered wall board with Green Glue spattered between the boards. 

We also installed 3-inch batt insulation in the walls.




 

We sealed the wall board's bottom and top with a Green Glue Sealant. 

 


 All of the electrical outlets in the walls were covered with Quiet Putty.


A 50 STC wall rating will reduce 50 decibels of sound from penetrating through the office walls. 

Therefore, the most sound transmitting through would 15 decibels. 

For comparison normal breathing is 10 decibels and a whisper at 5 feet id 20 decibels. 

Therefore, the sound transmitting through the walls would be between normal breathing and a whisper at 5 feet. 

And at his desk, he would have been 15 feet away from the AC unit and 10 feet away from the washing machine and ERV unit. 

Please leave a comment. 


Shettig Construction Management provides Professional Construction Management services from the inception of your project through completion. www.shettig.com

mshettig@gmail.com















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