Protect yourself from noise!
REDUCING URBAN NOISE IS CRUCIAL!
"Noise – sounds that are usually excessively intense (too loud) in a given place and time, perceived as: ‘pointless, then annoying, unpleasant, disturbing, and ultimately harmful.’ The International Labour Organization defines noise as any sound that may lead to hearing loss, be detrimental to health, or pose other dangers. The way we react to noise is largely determined by our mental state. The body expends a tremendous amount of energy to protect itself from noise. We cannot truly get used to noise – even if we stop consciously perceiving it, we still experience it deeply. Instead of adaptation, what actually occurs is ‘pathological adjustment.’ Noise can stem from both intense sounds and any unwanted background noise that affects the acoustic environment, making it bothersome due to its persistence—such as the continuous sound of working machines or music."
What is noise?
Noise is a stress factor, especially when we experience it in our own homes. However, maintaining a peaceful indoor environment is possible with the right type of glass, adapted to the noise levels in our surroundings. We spend 90% of our time indoors, and by 2030, 60% of the world's population will reside in urban areas.
There are various types of noise:
Loud conversations and laughter from pedestrians on busy streets or children returning from school
Deafening aircraft noise near airports
The constant hum of traffic and construction sites
Standard double-glazed windows are often insufficient. A wide range of soundproofing solutions is available to match different noise intensities and requirements. The greater the exposure to noise, the more beneficial it is to use high-performance soundproof glass. Double-glazed units containing STADIP PROTECT SILENCE laminated acoustic glass can significantly reduce external noise entering through closed windows. Additionally, this type of glazing offers another major advantage—laminated glass technology prevents injuries in case of breakage.
While thermal insulation depends on the emissivity of insulating coatings and the width of the inter-pane space, acoustic insulation improves with thicker glass, as its weight absorbs sound vibrations. This glass can be monolithic or laminated with a protective interlayer. Such solutions yield excellent results, although they make windows heavier and may slightly reduce thermal insulation. The overall thickness of insulating glass depends on the rebate depth (typically 24 or 28 mm). Increasing the thickness of the glass reduces the space for inert gas (such as argon), which can impact thermal comfort.
Generally, soundproof properties are achieved by using glass with asymmetric thickness. This can be accomplished with thicker monolithic glass, which adds weight and mass, or standard laminated glass, which provides similar effects along with enhanced safety.
STADIP® PROTECT SILENCE – the best soundproof glass by Saint-Gobain Glass
This specialized glass transmits 3dB less noise than regular laminated glass of similar thickness. With the same glass weight, significantly better acoustic comfort is achieved.
GOOD TO KNOW!
The following factors do not affect the soundproofing properties of glass:
a solar control or thermal insulation coating applied to the glass surface,
glass tempering,
reversing the glass configuration, e.g., 66.2/16/6/16/6 vs. 6/16/6/16/66.
The acoustic performance of windows depends not only on the type of glass but also on the frames, installation method, shutters, and overall window setup. Soundproof glass must be installed in an efficient, well-assembled window frame to deliver optimal result.