Eau Claire Insulation LLC
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What is noise?
Noise is the unwanted sounds that come from today's noise laden living and working environments. Simply put, the television in the other room, a running dishwasher in the kitchen, the neighbors barking dog or the late night train passing through. It is any other noise other then what you are producing.
How is noise measured?
Noise is measured in decibels (dB) Typical noise measurements include:
♦ Whispers: approx. 20 dB
♦ Everyday conversation: approx. 60 dB
♦ City traffic: approx. 80 dB
♦ Lawn mowers: approx. 103 dB
Repeated exposure to sounds over 85 decibels is considered dangerous to a person's hearing.
What is an STC Rating?
A STC (Sound Transmission Class) rating, according to NAMIA is, "a single number rating used to characterize the sound insulating value of a partition (wall, floor or ceiling)." A STC measures the transmission sounds in a way that agrees with how the human ear perceives it. For example:
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STC Ratings
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Sound Transmission Class (STC)
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Speech Audibility*
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Noise Control Rating
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15 to 25
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Normal Speech easily understood
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Poor
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25 to 35
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Loud speech easily understood. Normal speech 50% understood
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Marginal
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35 to 45
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Loud speech 50 % understood. Normal speech faintly heard, but not understood
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Good
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45 to 55
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Loud speech faintly heard, but not understood. Normal speech usually inaudible.
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Very Good
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55 and up
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Loud speech usually inaudible.
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Excellent
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* Given a typical background noise level of 30 dB on the "listening" side.
** Chart taken from CertainTeed, "A Guide for Residential Sound Control Using Fiber Glass Insulation" brochure
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