Acoustics

Soundscapes and the built environment

Sound layers, as they exist in a unique environment, create soundscapes—the clicks of typing, machinery beeps or the whirring of an air conditioner.

A pleasant soundscape can positively impact our engagement, while a soundscape that exists as a byproduct of acoustic failings can be harmful to our daily lives.

Studies have shown that prolonged exposure to noise can pose increased health risks, decrease learning and productivity and negatively affect revenue and earning potential.

An IIC (Impact Insulation Class) rating references how well a flooring material reduces the impact of sound. When we step across a floor, drop an object or move something across the floor, the movement and effects create sound vibrations that can travel through the floor, subfloor and ceiling of the room below.

An STC (Sound Transmission Class) rating measures the amount of airborne sound energy the product prevents from transmitting from one room to another. Airborne sound like conversations, music, or dogs barking in the room above travels through the floor and ceiling construction to impact the soundscape of the room below.

Sound Absorption Average (SAA) is a test that measures the amount of sound energy absorbed by an object such as flooring, ceiling tiles, fabric or furniture. When designing a commercial or living environment, this test allows you to measure how two different spaces with the same amount of sound energy will differ from one another. How quickly the sound dissipates and how it reflects will change occupants' perceptions of their space.

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Sound Advisor is designed to help you select the right floor covering for your project by presenting the industry's most comprehensive set of data—all collected at the same lab, allowing you to accurately compare the difference between floor coverings.

Simply select the floor and ceiling construction for your project, apply the flooring choice and you can, for the first time, hear what the IIC score actually sounds like.

Illustration of sound insulation in a two-level room with furniture and a person, showcasing impact sound insulation properties for flooring

Select the best floor covering to achieve your desired IIC rating

The patented Sound Advisor tool from Shaw Contract gives you the power to make more informed design and interior product selection decisions.

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Soundscape

Creating the right soundscape

With the right soundscape, people learn to associate positive experiences and productivity with sounds that are meant to be heard. Carefully chosen interior materials help us design a soundscape that encourages positive emotional and physical responses in the built environment.

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Soundscapes and the built environment

There are three primary acoustics testing utilised. How do they each impact the built environment?

Hear the Difference

Select the best floor covering to achieve your desired IIC rating

Creating the right soundscape

Want To Know More About The Three Primary Acoustics Tests And How They Impact The Built Environment?

What Is Sound Absorption Average And How Can It Improve Productivity?