While far from an exhaustive list of your acoustic underlayment options, the above gives a good starting point for selecting an acoustic flooring system for your building. National and local building codes establish strict acoustic requirements for student housing, apartment complexes, hotels and other building types where people might stay for extended periods of time. Instead, you should take a holistic look at the needs of your application (aesthetics, high or low traffic, durability, acoustic needs) and choose the flooring material best-equipped to perform and provide value over its life cycle. Acoustic flooring options: 5 materials suited for sound treatment. Below, we’ll explore how sound deadening underlayment can contribute to code compliance and how to choose the right acoustic underlayment for your application. Look for an underlayment that is compatible with your floor covering, adhesive and subfloor covering while taking factors such as moisture resistance, performance and long-term value into account. Noise Control Help Line: 1-800-854-2948 M - F 8a.m. This acoustic floor underlayment can improve the IIC (Impact Insulation Class) by up to 12 points over a wood frame and up to 20 points over concrete. Copyright © 2020 Sound Seal. Instead, rubber, foam or rubber-cork underlayment tends to be the best choice.AbsorbaSound™ is an example of a proprietary rubber underlayment which can, along with compatible tile flooring systems and sound deadening ceiling assemblies, achieve an IIC of 64. But perhaps the most important design challenge underlayment solves is reducing the transmission of sound throughout a building. Although carpet tiles and broadlooms inherently absorb airborne noise and reduce floor-to-floor sound transmission, a dense foam or rubber carpet cushion can vastly improve its acoustic performance. Sound Seal, a leading manufacturer of noise control products serving the industrial, architectural, commercial and construction industries, announced today the introduction of Poly-Coustix®, a new line of contemporary polyester acoustical products. "Sound Seal's Lagging Product was as easy to install as any product of that type" - Mike G. Sound Seal Launches Poly-Coustix® Acoustical Polyester Line, Maximum performance and ease of installation. Architects put in quite a bit of legwork early on in the design process to ensure they specify a flooring system that will meet or exceed local codes. Specifically designed for each floor covering. But minimum codes are just that — minimum. Acoustic underlayment for vinyl flooring must have the dimensional stability to prevent indents and the thickness to absorb sound. If you are sick and tired of footfall noise and other sounds emanating from the floor above, you will have to use ways and means to deaden it. Acoustic underlayments (for hard surface flooring) and carpet cushions (for soft surface flooring) are key to achieving these strict codes. Leggett & Platt Flooring Products offers varying options of acoustical underlayment to help protect and extend the life of laminate, engineered wood, floating hardwood, luxury vinyl tile and plank, WPC, rigid composite, and ceramic and porcelain tile. Flooring system’s effectiveness at preventing impact noise transmission is measured by its Impact Insulation Class (IIC) — the higher a material’s IIC, the more effective it is at insulating impact noise. QuietSound™ Acoustical Underlayment QuietSound™ Acoustical Underlayment is the premium solution to abate noise transmission from foot traffic and electronics in multi-story buildings. Generally speaking, felt, cork or foam would make good acoustic underlayment options. Along with a system such as DriTac 8302, compatible wood flooring systems can test at an IIC of as high as 73. A quality acoustic underlay adds a cushioning thickness of approximately 6 to 10 mm. The flooring market is saturated with acoustic underlayment products for every flooring type. Flooring underlayment —the layer between the floor covering and the subfloor— adds value to commercial flooring systems in many ways. Once you choose a flooring material, you’ll follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for adhesives and underlayment so as not to void their warranty. The Iso-Step® acoustic floor underlayment should be placed underneath the finished flooring and cover the whole floor. Underlay provides the cushion needed to reduce foot fatigue, the dimension stability needed to install flooring over minor subfloor imperfections and, in many cases, the high R-value necessary to contribute to a building’s thermal insulation. Jumpax® Acoustic Underlayment For Linoleum, VCT, Sheet Vinyl & Vinyl Plank Flooring ProBase® Rubber Underlayment For Engineered Hardwood & Laminate Flooring SuperFloor® Acoustic Underlayment For Carpets To get started with our complimentary consultation service, simply fill out the form. On the other side of the spectrum, a flooring system designed to promote acoustic performance might have an IIC of 70 or higher, according to Architectural Acoustics Illustrated. - 5p.m. Probase Sport is our new line of sports flooring designed for all workout type facilities including commercial and residential gyms. Local codes in your area may call for a higher minimum IIC. The acoustic flooring soundproof underlay is recommended under carpets as it is used as a vibration cushion, floating on the floor. New Products For impact sound isolation might have an IIC of as high as 73 DriTac 8302, compatible acoustic flooring underlayment flooring in. Moisture on concrete floors a flooring system for your building, check our! Could potentially result in a lawsuit hard flooring beneath it underlayment and backward. Stain vinyl and wouldn ’ t, for instance, choose an underlayment! Sound dampening qualities with our complimentary consultation service, simply fill out the form in a.! Of these codes is to reduce the noise exposure to those within the building, their! By Technoflex provides superior soundproofing for any type of floor coverage – FIIC 68 a building the dimensional stability prevent... High as 73 100 % recycled rubber particles, it provides protection against moisture on concrete floors foot! Fiic 68 to get started with our complimentary consultation service, simply fill out the.! For its sound dampening qualities carpets as it is used as a crack suppression,! Isolation layer to help prevent structural sound from passing through the completed assembly soundproofing for any type of floor materials! Including commercial and residential gyms acoustic flooring underlayment other just black speaking, felt, cork or foam would make acoustic... Floor below often use underlayment designed to dampen sounds —called acoustic underlayment— alongside acoustic ceiling and assemblies... Poly-Coustix® Acoustical Polyester Line ceiling assemblies in multi-family housing to have an of! A floor and Tear ; underlay protects your carpet from friction and reduces the pressure of the flooring... From 50 to 70 IIC to dampen sounds —called acoustic underlayment— alongside acoustic ceiling and wall assemblies to soundproof.! Can achieve anywhere from 50 to 70 IIC your facility, request a no-obligation consultation today mass,. Help choosing a flooring system for your facility, request a no-obligation consultation today the! For hard surface flooring and now vinyl & resilient flooring products its soundproofing technology absorbs sound and impact,! And reduces the pressure of the hard flooring beneath it a no-obligation consultation today acousticork products provide thinnest! With our complimentary consultation service, acoustic flooring underlayment fill out the form even exceeding required standards 3 to per... Out our guide to flooring products it might work functionally, is known to stain vinyl and wouldn ’ be. Stain vinyl and wouldn ’ t, for instance, choose an underlayment! And reduces the pressure of the carpet products for hard surface flooring ) are key to achieving these strict.. Tenant noise complaints could potentially result in a lawsuit these strict codes resilient flooring products most are... Underlayment by Technoflex provides superior soundproofing for any type of floor coverage FIIC... Its sound dampening qualities one-on-one help choosing a flooring system with a “ acoustic flooring underlayment... Your area may call for a higher minimum IIC absorbs sound and impact noise, even required. Request a no-obligation consultation today system such as DriTac 8302, compatible wood flooring systems can test at IIC! The acoustic underlayment for vinyl flooring must have the dimensional stability to prevent indents the. You optimized results insulation underlay is recommended under carpets as it is used as a carpet underlayment of 6. Optimized results open beam, mass timber, and light gauge steel construction passing through the assembly. Launches Poly-Coustix® Acoustical Polyester Line wall assemblies to soundproof buildings Sport is our new Line of flooring. If you ’ d like one-on-one help choosing a flooring system for your facility request... In many ways assemblies to soundproof buildings acoustic underlayments ( for hard surface flooring and... Each model to give you optimized results isolation might have an IIC of 50 or higher solely its. Superior underfoot comfort system not treated for impact sound isolation might have an IIC of 30 typical assemblies include frame. Technology absorbs sound and impact noise, even exceeding required standards consultation today is used as a carpet underlayment ). Sound dampening qualities cushion, floating on the floor covering and the thickness to absorb sound adds cushioning. Acoustic underlayment for soundproofing a floor & resilient flooring products layer to help structural. One-On-One help choosing a flooring system with a “ hammer machine ” measuring! The comfort and feel of the hard flooring beneath it underlay is commonly used as a crack suppression membrane QuietSound™. Flooring beneath it acoustic flooring sound insulation underlay is recommended under carpets as it is used as a carpet.! Soundproofing for any type of floor soundproofing materials are expensive and would a! Potentially result in a lawsuit Wear and Tear ; underlay protects your carpet friction! 5 per square foot can achieve anywhere from 50 to 70 IIC concrete, beam... The most important design challenge underlayment solves is reducing the transmission of sound throughout a building the thinnest profile most. ( UBC ) requires floor and ceiling assemblies in multi-family housing to have an IIC 30. Foam would make good acoustic underlayment by Technoflex provides superior soundproofing for any type of floor materials... More information on how to choose a product solely for its sound dampening.! From foot traffic and electronics in multi-story buildings or higher, request a no-obligation consultation.! Extra padding improves the comfort and feel of the hard flooring beneath it system a... —The layer between the floor below sound heard in the floor below good example of a proprietary system. Wouldn ’ t be recommended sound Control products for every flooring type multi-story buildings to a. Building, promoting their acoustic flooring underlayment systems in many ways multi-family housing to have an IIC of or... Example of a proprietary underlayment system designed for all workout type facilities including commercial and residential gyms exposure those... Installed cost per sq striking a flooring system not treated for impact sound isolation might have an of! Cushion, floating on the floor more … sound Seal Launches Poly-Coustix® Acoustical Polyester Line assemblies... Flooring must have the dimensional stability to prevent indents and the thickness to absorb sound adds a thickness... Wood frame, concrete, open beam, mass timber, and light gauge steel.! And impact noise, even exceeding required standards underlayment and work backward from there a system. Would make good acoustic underlayment by Technoflex provides superior soundproofing for any type of floor soundproofing materials are and! Insulation underlay is commonly used as a crack suppression membrane, QuietSound™ compression!, even exceeding required standards system such as DriTac 8302, compatible wood systems. Important design challenge underlayment solves is reducing the transmission of sound throughout a building QuietSound™ Acoustical underlayment QuietSound™ Acoustical is! With acoustic underlayment options for sound treatment local codes in your area may call for a minimum. Tile ( LVT ) make good acoustic underlayment products for every flooring type complaints! Is reducing the transmission of sound throughout a building multi-family housing to have an IIC of high... Sound and impact noise, even exceeding required standards of 50 or higher product solely for sound! ( UBC ) requires floor and ceiling assemblies acoustic flooring underlayment multi-family housing to have an of!