Uk Noise Legislation

The site which is a very upmarket Scandinavian poultry restaurant, The Holy Birds is situated in Middlesex Street close to Tower Bridge.

Oct

2018

How Long Can You Expect Your Insulation To Last?

Most people will ask about how long things like roof tiles and flooring will last but few people consider insulation. One thing is certain, no matter what insulation you use, it won’t last forever and certain types of insulation are known to last longer than others. So let’s look at the different types of insulation commonly used and compare their lifespans and durability.

Spray foam insulation
Spray foam insulation has increased in popularity due to its excellent durability and ease of application. It is also much better at resisting mold growth and sealing any air leaks than alternative forms of insulation. You can also look forward to low maintenance over its lifetime. The only drawback is that its lifespan is around 80 years but this is a minor one unless you expect to still be around 80 years from so you can still technically say it will last you more than a lifetime.

Fiberglass Insulation
Fibreglass is the type of insulation you will find in most homes. The material is also extremely durable and provides an excellent defence against humidity. It is also cheaper than most alternatives which is why you will still find this type of insulation in most homes. This type of insulation is expected to last 100 years but wear and tear can take its toll and reduce lifespan if it isn’t inspected regularly.

Recycled Paper Insulation
Recycled paper is another excellent choice and the main thing it has going for it is its limited impact on the environment. This type of insulation can last for 100 years although it is less commonly used than other materials such as fibre glass and spray foam.

Sep

2018

Spray Foam Insulation or Rigid Foam Insulation – Which is Best?

Spray foam and rigid foam both have their advantages and disadvantages depending on the insulating project. In this article we group together some of these to help you with your decision.

Which is the easiest to install
9 times out of 10 spray foam is going to be the easiest form of insulation to install as long as you use a professional company to do the work for you. You won’t have to do any measuring with spray foam and it will naturally pour into cracks and seal everything so there are no leaks and gaps.

With rigid foam insulation you may have to rip out existing insulation and measure out the material to ensure it covers everything. Rigid foam isn’t going to expand leaving more potential for draughts.

Which is more efficient?
Both have similarly high R values and in theory there may be no difference in the level of insulation. However, if there are any gaps left while installing it can dramatically reduce the thermal efficiency and this is more likely with rigid foam insulation.

Which is cheaper?
If we take rigid foam and spray foam in isolation the former is likely to be cheaper but what this doesn’t consider is the extra work that may be required to install it. Using spray foam is a lot faster and will involve less disruption.

Jun

2017

How Is Excessive Noise Bad For Your Health?

We’re all exposed to noisy environments from time to time, be it in the workplace or even at home.

Unfortunately, evidence has shown that too much of it can be bad for your health but how is this so? Let’s explain further how noise impacts on your health and wellbeing.

Let’s take the example of someone who works in a city centre office in an old building without adequate sound proofing installed. This person will be exposed to traffic noise as well as noise from phones and other staff members. The general hustle and bustle associated with city life will also add to this cocktail of noise the person will be exposed to on a daily basis.

In modern office buildings, architects should automatically factor in the level of noise a building’s occupants will be exposed to and install adequate sound insulation to reduce noise from internal and external environments.

If noise isn’t considered then that city centre office can soon become a health hazard, particularly to someone sensitive to its effects. It may surprise you to learn that exposure to noise of just 65Db on a daily basis can be enough to have harmful effects on your health.

The importance of sound insulation is now much higher on the agenda when architects are designing buildings because of the effects excessive noise can have on health and well-being. The level at which sound becomes potentially bad for your health is 65Db.

To put this measurement in perspective, 65Db is the level of noise you get from someone having a conversation or a phone ringing.

Exposure to this level of noise in people sensitive to it will raise levels of adrenaline which over time will have an effect on general health and wellbeing.

Apr

2017

Another Commercial Success – The Radisson Blu

Metropolitan Insulation recently completed sound insulation services at The Radisson Blu Edwardian Hampshire Hotel:

Apr

2017

Common Soundproofing Myths

Like most other things in life that require a significant investment of cash to achieve, there are plenty of myths about how to save money on soundproofing. However, as we will show, most of them will only be partially effective at best.

Use egg cartons
One of the most common myths about soundproofing is that you can collect a load of egg cartons and use them to soundproof your walls. Using egg cartons for soundproofing will not only look unappealing they are likely to be completely ineffective because they won’t stop the transfer of energy through solid walls, which is what causes noise in the first place.

Hang some thick curtains
Having thick curtains will reduce sound coming through your windows as will double glazing but it won’t stop sound coming through walls and ceilings. To soundproof an interior, you will need to install soundproofing to all these areas.

Use mattresses
You often hear about cash strapped rock bands setting up their own recording studios using mattresses to sound proof walls. These can be partially effective in absorbing sound because they create that natural barrier and mass between sounds being emitted and walls. This kind of setup is only really a temporary fix as it unlikely you will get mattresses to shut out sound coming from all parts of the room.

Mar

2017

New Generation Of ‘Super Materials’…

…Have The Properties To Bend Sound Waves

There is a sense that we have only just begun to scratch the surface of 3D printing technology and it will no doubt end up being another giant leap forward in technology. One exciting area currently attracting a lot of interest in the press is the production of super materials that are able to bend sound waves and create audio hotspots.

This technology will not only help you get on better with your neighbours it could also revolutionise the sound insulation industry. 3D printing will play an important role in producing bricks the size of fingers that are then formed into a sheet which can control sound in a variety of different ways such as letting in sound at certain times of the day and keeping it out when the occupants of a building need a bit of peace and quiet.

The new super material referred to as meta-material which is finely engineered and produced using 3D printer technology. The material is designed for various purposes using a computer and this is then fed into the printer.

Each brick or slab that is produced by the printer has a labyrinth structure which forces sound waves to slow down as they enter.

Engineers have even produced plastic tubes using meta material which can be used to block out noise simply by pressing a button.

Mar

2017

UK ‘must insulate millions of homes’

More than one home every minute will need to be refurbished in the UK between now and 2050, experts say.

The authors of a report to Parliament say 25 million existing homes will not meet the insulation standards required by mid-century.

The UK needs to cut carbon emissions by 80% by then – and a third of those emissions come from heating draughty buildings.

The government said it would devise policies as soon as possible.

But critics say ministers have been far too slow to impose a national programme of home renovation which would save on bills and improve people’s health, comfort and happiness. It would also create thousands of jobs.

Successive governments have been criticised for failing to tackle the UK’s poor housing stock – some of the worst in Europe.

Local authorities have limited cash to insulate council homes, and landlords and owner-occupiers have proved reluctant to invest large sums in disruptive improvements that will save on bills, but take many years to pay off.

The report from a group of leading construction firms – the Green Building Council – says four out of five homes that will be occupied in 2050 have already been built.

That means 25 million homes need refurbishing to the highest standards by 2050 – at a rate of 1.4 homes every minute.

Who pays?
The authors say this huge challenge also offers an unmissable opportunity under the government’s infrastructure agenda. The fiddly business of insulating roofs, walls and floors creates more jobs and has more benefits than any existing infrastructure priority, they maintain.

The question is how to pay. The government’s Green Deal scheme for owner-occupiers collapsed amid a welter of criticism that interest rates for insulation were too high, and that the insulation itself was too much hassle.

It says the construction industry needs certainty about what it is expected to deliver, and measurement to discover what is already being built. This should stimulate innovation, it says.

Julie Hirigoyen, head of the GBC, told BBC News there was a great prize to be grasped in upgrading building stock: “People will have warmer homes and lower bills; they will live longer, happier lives; we will be able to address climate change and carbon emissions.

“We will also be creating many thousands of jobs and exporting our best skills in innovation.

“Driving up demand for retro-fitting homes is essential for any policy to be a success – the Green Deal told us just offering financial incentives isn’t necessarily the only solution. We need to make it all easy, attractive and affordable.

“The good thing is that the business community is really starting to recognise the opportunity.”

VISIT THE BBC FOR MORE INFORMATION

Feb

2017

How To Soundproof Doors

You may have a well-insulated home or office, but sometimes noise from outside is the problem and this can often be due to doors not having adequate sound insulation. Here’s how to fix the problem.

Soundproofing doors will have the additional benefit of improving insulation against draughts and it will also provide extra security besides providing sound insulation, so it is definitely worth investing in.

Soundproofing measures for doors should include draughtproofing to exterior doors as standard and if it’s a porch, install secondary double glazing. You can even install toughened glass which will contribute towards both sound insulation and security. When sound proofing doors, don’t forget to fill joints around the doors with acoustic sealant.

Sometimes noise can come from internal doors. In offices and apartment blocks noise will often be heard coming from corridors and so on so in these cases you will find similar benefits from draughtproofing.

Replacing old or lightweight hollow core doors with heavyweight solid core doors is also an option. These will help disrupt the transmission of noise between neighbouring flats for example.

If you are looking for advice and or help on soundproofing your home of office our experts are always happy to help.

Feb

2017

A Quick Guide To Suspended Ceiling Soundproofing

If for one reason or another you don’t have access to a floor above to install sound proofing, then you could consider installing a suspended ceiling.

This can provide good sound insulation in flats, particularly those with high ceilings where the reduction in height is not an issue. IT has to be said howver that a suspended ceiling may only reduce the height of the room by less than 50mm.

Installing a suspended ceiling to insulate your room against sound will require acoustic mineral wool, which is highly effective against airborne sound and you will also need to separate the plaster ceiling from the joists above. This will provide protection against impact noise such as footsteps from above.

If you are experiencing noise from above, then you may also find that there is very little gap between the ceiling and the floor above. To increase the gap you can install resilient bars which can be screwed in right angles against the joists.

Before attempting to install a suspended ceiling, it is advisable to hire a specialist sound insulation company. The work can be messy, particularly when you are having to remove plasterboard and then install mineral wool between joists. If work isn’t done correctly you may even lose the natural soundproofing provided by the existing plasterboard.

Jan

2017

Lesser Known Ways To Insulate Your Home

Whether it’s noise from a partially deaf neighbour who always has the TV on too loud at night or next door’s children learning to play the violin, noise can really impact on your quality of life over time. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to insulate your house for sound. Here are some you may not have heard of.

Paint
If I was to tell you that a coat of paint would help supress noise you might think I was mad. To be exact though a good quality rendered external wall coating can be a good first step towards peace and quiet.

Wallpaper
You might think that wallpaper is just for decoration or feature walls but if it has the right properties, it can also contribute towards sound insulation. Thermal wallpaper not only helps insulate the home by keeping heat in, those same insulating properties can also insulate against sound coming from the other side of the wall.

Curtains
Thick curtains are making a comeback and that’s a good thing for anyone wanting to insulate their homes against noise.

Large pictures
Artwork can be something more than just something to admire. A large painting placed on the wall can provide a basis for an excellent buffer against sound coming from next door.

None of the above will eliminate noise problems, but at least they are a start. If you need further advice, please contact one of our experts.

Metropolitan Insulation Blog