Architectural Isolation

We can help with design, specifications, and selection of the appropriate systems for your architectural isolation project. Our engineers can produce details CAD drawings and carry out load calculations for a variety of isolation problems. We would be happy to talk with you about any aspect of architectural isolation.

We have been floating floors, resiliently suspending ceilings and isolating walls for over 20 years. The need for this acoustical reinforcement has been well established in textbooks, sales literature and acoustical engineering recommendations. Floating Floors remain the most effective way of reducing sound transmission and vibration from the floor above. However, there are many situations where a floating floor is impractical or not economically feasible, so an isolated ceiling becomes the practical choice. Additionally, isolated walls are also an effective way to reduce sound transmission between rooms. The most effective system is a Box-in-box construction, where a floating floor, acoustic suspension ceiling and isolated walls are combined to create a room inside of a room.

The ‘Box in a Box’ Isolation Method

It is often necessary to create a ‘Box in a box’ design. A ‘Box in a box’ design is where an internal room is built within the existing structure. This internal box is totally isolated acoustically from the surrounding building. This is achieved via a combination of air-gaps, LDS rubber (previously neoprene) and springs, depending upon loads and natural frequencies. These are built into the floors, walls and ceilings.

Elements involved in ‘Box in a Box’ Construction:

We have broken up the description of ‘Box in a Box’ construction into 3 main areas listed below:

Acoustic Floating Floors

There are several types of floating floors available; formwork wood and concrete, steel spring and LDS rubber concrete jack up, with lightweights and heavyweight variations. To view these in more detail and learn about the different floating floor types please scroll down the page and click the relevant product. Essentially the acoustic concrete floor is held up with rubber or spring; this creates an air gap that isolates noise in the same fashion as double glazing.

Acoustically Isolated Walls

The walls are then built up along the edges of this flooring. They are attached to the existing structure via acoustic wall ties and sway braces (type DNSB-A sway brace for stud walls, and DNSB-BM brace for block work walls). At the head of the wall a resilient angle is often required (we recommend the AB-716 head restraint) to provide an acoustic seal. More information on these can be found at the bottom of this page or on our ‘Wall Isolation’ page (via the Products – Architectural Isolation drop down menu).

Suspended Ceilings

The final part is a suspended ceiling. Acoustic ceilings are suspended on drop rods from the concrete soffit or timber joists. Usually we would recommend our HDQF hangers, although Mason UK has a large range of rubber and spring hangers available, the selection of which depends on the ceiling construction and the nature of the vibration.

The HDQF has been designed to easily clip onto the common MF ceiling grid ceiling system. A more detailed description of this product is available at the bottom of the screen. To view the other hanger types available please click the drop down products menu at the top of the screen and select the relevant section.

Conclusion

Sound and vibration transmission can be reduced through the application of each separate system, or a combination of each to gain the desired level of isolation.

Mason U.K. has worked on numerous architectural isolation projects. We can provide suitable products and design expertise to help with these aspects, recognising that each job is unique and providing the perfect acoustic isolation solution.

Should you have any questions, require advice or wish to make an order. Please contact our friendly engineers by using the details on the top banner, or by sending us a quick message via our ‘Contact’ page.