- A very effective solution for those with 40-49mm to spare with an independent ceiling structure
- New joists will be installed to effect complete separation
- Separation from old ceiling and extra resilience ensure maximum soundproofing
- Online calculator will work out your exact requirements
- Delivery direct to your door within 48 hours
| Solution: | Ceiling Depth Gain: | Solution Airborne Performance: | Typical Airborne Improvement: | Typical Impact Improvement: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solution:Independent Ceiling | Ceiling Depth Gain:49mm | Airborne Performance:59 dB rW | Airborne Improvement:24 dB | Typical Impact Improvement:24 dB+ |
| Solution:Independent Ceiling + SBx Upgrade | Ceiling Depth Gain:40mm | Airborne Performance:63 dB rW | Airborne Improvement:29 dB | Typical Impact Improvement:24 dB+ |
Where the impact sound from above is very bad, this is a ceiling soundproofing choice worth considering. Typically hanger systems and resilient bars are not able to cope with heavy vibration, the type that you might experience with young children thundering around in rooms above you, which might even result in your windows shaking.
If you are able to lose ceiling height, which, depending on the span of your room could be up to 225mm (7-9 inches) then this will be the best performing system.
The independent ceiling soundproofing system comprises of the following:
- New ceiling joists of sufficient size to suspend a ceiling of mass 23kg/m2 need to be installed typically with 400-500mm centres. This information can be obtained from building regulations.
- The materials required are the same as those found in the resilient bar ceiling solution.
- These are resilient bars, acoustic mineral wool, friction fitted between the joists and a double plasterboard ceiling ideally of 19mm and 12.5mm SoundBloc plasterboard.
A vibration absorbing resilient corrugated steel bar used on timber studs and joists, for soundproofing walls and ceilings.
The most common application for resilient bars is for use in soundproofing a ceiling or a wall. One of the most important things to remember is that to ensure maximum sound insulation performance, screws fixing the plasterboard must not be in contact with the joists. When installing a dual layer of boards, all joints in the second layer must be staggered in relation to those of the first layer.
Where you are constrained by space issues the choice of a resilient bar may be your only practical choice when soundproofing a ceiling or wall. With this solution you will lose just over an inch (35mm) from your original wall or ceiling. The resilient bar, or sound breaker bar works by decoupling the new suspended stud wall or ceiling from the joists. The new wall or ceiling is in effect floating off the stud or joists via lightweight corrugated steel bars. The sound is absorbed as it travels through the corrugated flange of the resilient bar.
Resilient bars, as the name suggest act as the resilient layer that separates the mass of plasterboards from the rest of the surface that you are soundproofing. What is key to the success of any soundproofing work is that the weight you add should, where possible, be separated from the surface to be soundproofed by a resilient or springy layer.absorbed as it travels through the corrugated flange of the resilient bar.
In this case the light weight corrugated steel bars act as "springs" that allow the vibration and sound to be dissipated in a tiny movement. Resilient bars not only improve the impact characteristics but also the airborne characteristics of the surface you are soundproofing.
A rule of thumb would suggest that in a normal system where you are employing acoustic mineral wool, resilient bars and acoustic plasterboard, that the resilient bars will be doing about a third of the work from the airborne perspective and almost all the work form an impact perspective.
These boards are an excellent product designed to reduce the transmission of impact and airborne sound between two spaces. The product is our number one choice when trying to improve the soundproofing from noisy neighbours. SBx can be used for soundproofing walls, floors and ceilings whether constructed from timber, steel or solid substrate, in new builds, conversions, remedial and refurbishment projects.
In general we believe that the SBX board will improve performance by around 8-10 db over and above the stated figures in the comparison table. There is also an improvement in impact sound performance as well.
Read more about the SBx Upgrade to find out exactly why we recommend it so highly.
Simply select this option above to add these upgrades to your soundproofing solution.
For more detailed installation information view the Independent Ceiling Instructions.
Disclaimer: It is the responsibility of the installer/builder, not Soundstop.co.uk, to ensure all building and fire regulations are met, and that the construction itself is appropriate for the building and situation. Soundstop.co.uk can advise and give instruction on installation but hold no liability for the application itself.
If you are adding recessed spotlights in this ceiling you will need to add an acoustic fire retardant light hood to each light, otherwise your soundproofing efforts will be severely compromised due to the hole you have created.
These acoustic spotlight hoods can be purchased from our on-line store.
When soundproofing a ceiling it is necessary to improve three basic components.
1. The mass of the ceiling - This we achieve by adding acoustic plasterboard and high density products. In addition to this mass the independent ceiling achieves complete separation from the vibrating surface. So vibrational sound through the ceiling is avoided.
2. The resilience of the ceiling - This is the springiness of the new ceiling. Although you have removed direct vibrational contact the sound waves will still be passing in an airborne way. The resilient bars will mean the attached plasterboard mass performs up to 35% better.
3. The sound "absorbency" of the ceiling - By adding different components the sound gets trapped more easily within the ceiling; here we prescribe the 100mm AMW 60. This is a key component in absorbing what is often low frequency impact sound.
The total performance which is normally quoted on most sites refers to the performance of an average ceiling with soundproofing materials added.
We also give an indication of performance uplift. Remember that every 10dB of performance uplift corresponds to roughly a 50% improvement in the performance of the ceiling. So 20dB would indicate a 75% improvement over and above the original ceiling.
Soundstop.co.uk refers to dB improvement when we compare any of our systems. This we hope is an informative way of telling the customer what kind of improvement they will get when they add a soundproofing system. Many competitor sites offer products that will boast much higher numbers. Be aware these are often referring to a complete system which include the original ceiling or floor. This often leads to confusion when trying to compare systems. We are an independent site and as such will try to sell only the most effective solutions available on the market today.
