Absorption Coefficient: A measure of how well a material absorbs sound. A higher coefficient indicates that the material is better at reducing sound reflections, making it useful for improving room acoustics.
Acoustic Consultant: A professional who specializes in optimizing the sound environment of spaces. They provide guidance on the design and placement of acoustic materials and systems to enhance sound quality and reduce unwanted noise.
Acoustic Panel: A panel designed to absorb sound and reduce echoes in rooms. These panels are often used in places like recording studios, cinemas, and offices to improve sound quality.
Airborne Noise: Sound that travels through the air, such as voices, music, or the hum of machinery. It's the most common type of noise.
Ambient Noise: The background noise present in a particular environment, like the hum of traffic in a city or the chatter of people in a café.
Background Noise: The constant, usually low-level noise present in an environment, which can affect overall noise perception.
Bass Trap: A type of acoustic treatment designed to absorb low-frequency sound and address issues like room resonance. Examples can be seen here.
Cavity Resonance: The amplification of sound that occurs within enclosed spaces, like walls or ceilings, often leading to unwanted noise. Soundproofing techniques are used to minimize cavity resonance.
Decibel (dB): A unit used to measure the intensity of sound. It quantifies how loud or quiet a sound is, with higher dB values indicating louder sounds.
Decibel Meter: A device used to measure and monitor sound levels, often employed in noise assessment.
Decoupling: A soundproofing method that involves isolating building elements, like walls or ceilings, to reduce the transmission of sound vibrations between them.
Damping: A technique used to reduce vibrations and sound by adding materials that absorb and dissipate the energy of sound waves.
Diffusion: The scattering of sound waves in various directions to reduce echoes and create a more balanced acoustic environment, often achieved using specialized diffuser panels.
Diffusion Panel: A panel designed to scatter sound waves, reducing echoes, and creating a more pleasing acoustic environment. They help break up sound reflections.
Echo: A reflection of sound waves off surfaces, causing repeated and delayed sounds. Echoes are often heard in empty or hard-surfaced rooms.
Flanking Noise: Sound that indirectly enters a space, bypassing soundproofing measures, typically through gaps, walls, or other pathways not directly targeted for soundproofing.
Frequency: The pitch or tone of a sound, which is determined by the number of cycles per second (measured in Hertz, Hz). High frequencies are high-pitched sounds, while low frequencies are deeper.
Impact Noise: Noise generated by physical impacts, such as footsteps, objects dropping, or machinery vibrations. It's often a concern in multi-level buildings.
Mass Loaded Vinyl (MLV): A dense, flexible material used for soundproofing to add mass and block sound transmission. It's commonly applied to walls, floors, or ceilings.
Noise Pollution: The presence of unwanted or harmful noise in the environment that disrupts normal activities and can have adverse effects on health and well-being.
Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC): A rating that indicates how effectively a material absorbs sound across a range of frequencies. A higher NRC value suggests better sound absorption performance.
Reverberation: The persistence of sound reflections in an enclosed space, resulting in prolonged sound decay. Reverberation can affect sound clarity and quality.
Reverberation Time: The duration it takes for sound reflections to decay in a room, measured in seconds.
Sound Absorber: A material designed to reduce sound reflections and absorb sound energy. Sound absorbers are used to improve acoustics in rooms.
Sound Isolation: The practice of preventing sound from traveling between adjacent spaces by using soundproofing techniques and materials to create a barrier.
Sound Masking: The introduction of background noise, often in the form of white noise, to mask or drown out other unwanted sounds, providing a more pleasant acoustic environment.
Soundproof Door Seal: Seals or gaskets designed to prevent sound leakage around doors.
Soundproofing Clips: Clips used to decouple drywall or other building materials to reduce sound transmission.
Sound Transmission Class (STC): A rating system that measures the sound insulation performance of building partitions, such as walls or doors, in reducing sound transmission.
Sound Transmission Pathway: The route through which sound travels from its source to a receiver, which may include walls, ceilings, floors, and openings. Identifying and blocking these pathways is essential for effective soundproofing.
Soundproofing: The process of reducing or blocking the transmission of sound between spaces, typically involving the use of various materials and techniques to minimize noise transfer.
Soundproofing Membrane: A thin, flexible material applied to walls, floors, or ceilings to reduce sound transmission. It's often used in conjunction with other soundproofing methods.
Soundproofing Sealant: A specialized sealant or caulk used to seal gaps, cracks, and joints in walls, ceilings, and floors to prevent sound leakage.
STC Rating: A numerical rating indicating the sound insulation performance of a building partition, such as a wall or door. A higher STC rating means better sound isolation.
Structure-Borne Noise: Noise that is transmitted through the structure of a building, often due to vibrations from machinery, footsteps, or impacts.
Tinnitus: A condition characterized by the perception of ringing, buzzing, or other noises in the ears, often associated with hearing loss or exposure to loud sounds.
Transmission Loss: The reduction in sound energy as it passes through a barrier or partition, often measured in decibels (dB).
Vibration Damping: Techniques and materials used to reduce vibrations, often applied to machinery or equipment to prevent noise and structural disturbances.
Vibration Damping Pad: A material or pad designed to reduce vibrations and impact noise, often used under machinery or appliances.
Vibration Isolation: Techniques and materials used to reduce the transmission of vibrations, preventing them from traveling through structures and causing noise or structural issues.
Waveform: The shape or pattern of a sound wave, which varies based on frequency, amplitude, and other characteristics, influencing the sound's perception.
Wall Decoupling: A soundproofing technique that involves creating an air gap or separation between walls to reduce sound transmission between spaces.
White Noise: A continuous sound that contains all frequencies at equal intensity. It's often used to mask or drown out other sounds, promoting a quieter and more relaxed environment.
