Role of Doors in Sound Transmission Inside the Buildings
Doors and windows allow sound to transmit between rooms and spaces inside the buildings. As a result, there should be adequate seals and buffer distance around the windows and doors. In addition, sound-rated doors also help regulate the noise by reducing flanking (where the noise gets transmitted indirectly by going over or around spaces).
Role of doors in sound transmission inside the buildings
Doors can be that weak link when it comes to effective noise control inside the buildings. Even if the walls have excellent acoustic properties, the doors can still allow for noise to be transmitted. This unpleasant noise (whether intermittent, occasional or consistent) can affect the quality of life of the occupants and end users. For example, in workplace settings it’s important for the space to be quiet so employees can better focus on their tasks. In hotels and apartments, silence is also important for making the people’s stay delightful or at least free from unnecessary distractions.
To achieve that silence (and achieve that contrast from noisy outside urban environments), it’s important for the walls, doors, floors, ceilings and windows to have excellent acoustic properties. Among those it’s often the doors and windows that are the weak links because most likely the walls, floors and ceilings have been taken cared of.
When it comes to doors, the goal is to prevent the sound from being transmitted in the first place. To achieve that, one way is to install acoustic seals around the door’s head, jamb and foot. In addition, the buffer distance between entrance doors should be maximised. This is to reduce or minimise noise flanking or the indirect transmission of sound between spaces.
Aside from preventing the sound inside rooms and spaces from being transmitted in the first place, it’s also important to control the noise being generated by the doors themselves. The slamming of doors, as well as their frequent opening and closing, can generate noise and cause distraction. To minimise that noise, it’s important to carefully select the doors to be installed as well as the frames and pads if necessary.
Although doors are relatively a small aspect of the building, it still has a huge role in influencing the quality of life inside apartments and hotels as well as the level of focus inside workplaces. As a result, here at Complete Doors we provide practical solutions to developers and property asset managers. When it comes to doors, we have commercial solutions and we can gladly provide you with excellent recommendations. Contact us today.