Why do I have to heed sound insulation?

Standard DIN 4109 stipulates the regulations for sound insulation in buildings and has similar significance to thermal protection and fire safety. The standard describes the requirements and necessary verification. Sound insulation requirements are stipulated to protect people inside buildings from unacceptable disturbance and disruption from transmitted sound, thus preventing corresponding health hazards. The standard also stipulates the necessary procedures for protection from outside noise and from noise generated by machinery and equipment used for the technical installations and systems in buildings. It describes not only how to protect inside rooms from noise transmitted from other residential or occupational areas inside the building but also defines so-called minimum requirements made of structure-borne noise insulation and impact sound insulation. It therefore marks the boundary between what is unacceptable and reasonable in terms of health protection. Sound insulation in buildings applies in general to residential buildings, but also in particular to schools, libraries, hospitals, public buildings, office buildings, hotels and other places offering accommodation, in order to warrant the corresponding intended use. Failure to comply with the sound insulation requirements leads to construction defaults with corresponding compensation claims.

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What is the difference between structure-borne and airborne noise?

In simple terms, the difference between structure-borne and airborne noise lies in the transmission medium. Airborne noise consists of the progressive movement of mass particles (vibrations) and is transmitted in the form of sound waves at the speed of sound (344m/s). The differing frequencies (the number of changes in pressure per second) generate characteristic tones. For example, whistling has a high frequency, compared to the low frequency generated by a growl of distant thunder. Frequencies are measured in Hertz (Hz). The audible range of a healthy young person extends from approx 20 Hz to approx. 20 kHz (20,000 Hz). Structure-borne noise is transmitted through solid structures, such as steel, wood, concrete, stone etc. This includes for example impact sound and part of the noise generated by the technical machinery installed in a building. The unit of measurement for describing sound is the decibel ("dB").

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What are the implications of a National Technical Approval for me?

Primarily a National Technical Approval refers to products with monitored properties that have been approved by the DIBt German Institute for Civil Engineering. This in turn implies maximum quality and planning certainty.

National Technical Approvals are granted for construction products and types of construction on the basis of the German building codes which are not regulated by generally accepted technical regulations or German standards or which deviate from these to a major extent. They provide reliable verification of applicability of construction products and types of construction in terms of the technical requirements made of building structures.

According to the DIBt website:

What is a National Technical Approval?

A National Technical Approval is granted as verification of applicability for a construction product or type of construction pursuant to the building laws of the Laender of the Federal Republic of Germany which are not regulated by German standards or regulations (Sections 18 (1) and 21 (1) Model Building Code [MBO]).

Construction products and types of construction can be used when the following applies to their use:

  • the building structures are in a correct state of maintenance
  • the building structures fulfil the requirements of the Laender building codes and are suitably usable during a period of time which is appropriate to the intended purpose (Section 3 (2) MBO).

These requirements include above all

  • Structural stability
  • Protection from harmful influences
  • Protection of human health and of the natural resources
  • Fire safety
  • Heat protection, protection from noise and vibrations
  • Public safety.

Building structures are to be planned, constructed, modified and maintained so as not to pose any hazard to public safety and order, particularly to human life and health and to the natural resources (Section 3 (1) MBO).

"Not regulated" means that

there are no generally accepted technical regulations or technical construction regulations (technical regulations for the planning, rating and construction of building structures and their components) for a construction product (Section 17 (3) MBO) or that while there are published technical regulations for a construction product in construction regulation list A, the construction product deviates in a material respect from these technical regulations in construction regulation list A (Section 17 (3) MBO); or that there are no generally accepted technical regulations for a type of construction or not for all requirements (Section 21 (1) MBO) or that while technical construction regulations have been introduced for a type of construction by the supreme building inspectorate, the type of construction deviates in a material respect from the technical construction regulations (Section 21 (1) MBO).

National Technical Approval is granted only by the DIBt.

Regupol® BA and Regupol® E48 have been granted National Technical Approval.

 

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Do materials for impact sound insulation under screed require European technical approval?

Materials for impact sound insulation under screed require European technical approval (ETA) at a European level, as the following applies:

They are neither subject to a harmonised standard nor is there a mandate for such.
Furthermore, an ETA would also be required if:

  • They deviate significantly from the harmonised standards,
  • There is a mandate for a harmonised standard, then an ETA could be granted for a fixed period.

Countries that subscribe to an ETA:

Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, ‚Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom.

Building products that have an ETA must be annotated with the CE mark.
The ETA serves as proof of the suitability and safety of building products for their intended purpose. The ETA extends to the following characteristics:

  • Mechanical strength and stability
  • Fire protection
  • Hygiene, health and environmental protection
  • Safety in use
  • Sound insulation
  • Energy saving and heat protection

The ETA is awarded by EOTA. The European Organisation for Technical Approvals is the organisation that forms the basis for building product guidelines, in which the posts named by the EU countries and the EFTA countries participating in the EEA agreement for granting European technical approvals are represented.

Information on EOTA: www.eota.eu

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Which side has to be laid facing downwards for Regupol® E48 and Regupol® BA?

Regupol® E48 and Regupol® BA are dimpled underneath. The dimpled side is always laid facing downwards. It is prohibited to install the products the other way round as this is detrimental to the impact sound insulation properties.

Installation guidelines

Regupol® E 48 and Regupol® BA

For impact sound insulation under heavy duty screed the insulation is installed in one layer unless stipulated otherwise.

The resilient bedding is only effective on compliance with certain regulations during installation. It is particularly important to ensure that there are no direct connections (structure-borne noise bridges) between the screed/floor system and the base plate or concrete ceiling and/or rising structures.

The insulation is installed on a clean floor. Protruding concrete edges and reinforcement structures must be cut away or removed. Concrete edges should not exceed 3 mm. The dimpled side is always laid facing downwards!

Firstly the edge insulation strips are adhered to all rising structures without leaving any gaps, at a height of at least 1 cm above the level of the finished floor. These strips can be cut from Regupol® E 48 / Regupol® BA or mineral fibre edge insulation strips measuring at least 10 mm thick.

Regupol® E 48 / Regupol® BA is then laid without leaving any gaps, with butt joints taped using suitable adhesive tape (e.g. Tesa® Duct-Tape).

Once it has been laid, Regupol® E 48 / Regupol® BA is covered with commercially available PE membrane (0.2 mm). The membrane joints should overlap by approx. 20 cm and be taped down using suitable adhesive tape (see above). The membrane must overlap at the edges by at least 20 cm and is turned up at the rising structures.

Regupol® E 48 / Regupol® BA is not sensitive to moisture, but should be stored in a dry condition and protected from getting wet. The material must also be protected from chemicals, oil and grease.

Always ensure that Regupol® E 48/Regupol® BA is used in accordance with the original technical data sheets, complying in particular with the static permanent load.

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What is the best way to cut Regupol®?

Regupol® can be cut on site with a sharp knife, such as a professional cutting knife. A finely indented jigsaw, preferably without offset, can be used for cutting through greater thicknesses.

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Do I have to use edge insulation strips made of Regupol®?

Regupol® edge insulation strips can be used for decoupling the sides of the screed floor. The strips can be cut on site or in advance in the BSW factory. Commercially available edge insulation strips with a thickness of at least 10 mm can also be used.

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What does it mean when the thickness is stated as 8/17 mm or 4/8 mm?

The thicknesses 8/17 and 4/8 mm refer to the convoluted thicknesses. Regupol BA - Product Picture

Regupol® BA and Regupol® E48 are dimpled underneath. The thickest point in Regupol® BA is 17 mm and the thinnest point is 8 mm. For Regupol® E48, the thickest point is 8 mm and the thinnest is 4 mm. Standard rolls come in the following sizes:

Regupol® BA 10,000 x 1,250 x 8/17 mm

Regupol® E48 13,040 x 1,150 x 4/8 mm

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How do I install floating machine foundation isolation?

Regufoam® and Regupol® as machine foundation isolation

Basically the material and thickness of the elastomer layer depends on the acting superimposed load and on the intended degree of structure-borne noise insulation.

The resilient bedding for machine foundations will only be effective on compliance with certain requirements during installation. These include in particular making sure that there are no direct connections (structure-borne noise bridges) between the foundations and the subsoil respectively base plate. It is also important to ensure that there is a smooth, flat surface to the base plate or foundation plate where Regufoam® or Regupol® is going to be laid.

For full-surface machine foundation isolation, Regufoam® or Regupol® is laid across the whole surface of the foundation plate / base plate. The joints between the mats are taped down with adhesive tape which acts as a seal and prevents the mats from slipping. To reduce the risk of leaks when laying the materials in several layers, each layer should be laid offset from the previous one so that the joints are not directly over each other.

The mats are cut to size at the edges of the foundation plates on site using a sharp knife. After installation, the mats are also covered with a commercially available PE foil (0.2 mm). The foil should be laid with an overlap of approx. 20 cm so that the materials are imperviously covered. At the edges, the foil should protrude by 15 – 20 cm for additional protection at the edges of the insulating materials.

Regufoam® and Regupol® are insensitive to moisture. However, Regufoam® must be protected from penetrating water and frost as the required structure-borne noise isolation properties of Regufoam® are no longer warranted in frozen state as this makes the material hard. Regufoam® must therefore be protected from penetrating moisture. During installation, the insulating materials are positioned vertically at the edges and are taped with adhesive tape. The PE foil is raised at the sides.

Unwind rolls of Regupol®

Cut to size with a sharp knife

Installation in formwork with dimpled
surface downwards

Laying PE foil 0.2 mm and subsequent concreting

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Do several layers of Regupol® / Regufoam® have to be adhered together?

Laying several layers of Regupol® or Regufoam® depends on the requirements for structure-borne noise insulation. If installation in several layers is specified, the insulating materials are laid loose. Several layers are not adhered or fixed to each other. To reduce the risk of leaks when laying the materials in several layers, each layer should be laid offset from the previous one so that the joints are not directly over each other (cross pattern). The joints between the single rolls are fixed with adhesive tape.

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Why does Regupol® / Regufoam® have to be covered with PE foil before applying concrete?

Regupol® / Regufoam® for vibration insulation or impact sound insulation under screed is covered with commercially available PE foil (0.2 mm) to avoid any structure-borne noise bridges from forming as webs. Given Regupol®'s open fibre structure, in-situ concrete could settle in the material and cause the resilient bedding to become stiff; in the worst case, this could lead to direct transmission of structure-borne sound. Applying the PE foil also helps to avoid webs forming between the material joints.

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How can I fasten Regupol® / Regufoam® to outside walls and rising structures? And why can't I fasten resilient materials for decoupling structure-borne sound with commercially available insulation rawlplugs?

When it comes to decoupling vibrations from the foundations of buildings or outer walls of tunnels, and when it comes to machine foundation insulation, lateral insulation is provided with Regupol® / Regufoam® insulation panels. These are fastened preferably with polyurethane-based one-component PU adhesive Keraflex®. The surface should be capable of taking loads, clean and dry, and free of dust and grease. The adhesive is applied manually or with an air gun.

Mechanical application to larger areas is carried out with Regupol® installation aids. More information is available here on request or in the LOGIN section. It is not advisable to fasten Regupol® and Regufoam® mechanically to vertical surfaces using commercially available insulation rawlplugs because of the resulting transmission of structure-borne noise.

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