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Waking up late at night to footsteps upstairs, the sound of the neighboring TV piercing the wall, the constant roar of traffic outside the window...noise pollution has become an invisible health threat in modern urban life. The Ministry of Ecology and Environment's "China Noise Pollution Prevention and Control Report" shows that in 2023, the total number of noise complaints nationwide reached 5.706 million, of which social life noise accounted for 68.4%, firmly ranking first among all noise complaints. Faced with noise problems, many people first think of "thickening the walls," but can this method really solve the problem completely? How can noise control be systematically promoted? This article combines the latest national standards, engineering cases, and material technologies to explain scientific noise reduction solutions.
1. Can thickening walls alone block noise? Data tells you the truth
Simply thickening walls has limited effectiveness . According to the "Civil Building Sound Insulation Design Code," a 240mm-thick solid brick wall has an airborne sound insulation rating of approximately 45dB, which can block everyday conversations (60dB), but is less effective against low-frequency noise (such as elevators and car hum). Hangzhou's new residential regulations, which increase the thickness of partition walls from 200mm to 240mm, only improve sound insulation by 2dB, addressing only 50% of internal sound insulation issues.
The key lies in structural design, not just thickness . Tests conducted by the International Acoustics Forum show that a 400mm-thick brick wall (700kg/m²) reduces sound waves by 46dB. A composite structure of a 100mm brick wall, 160mm rock wool infill, and double-layer gypsum board reduces sound waves by 57dB, far exceeding an 800mm-thick pure brick wall (51dB). This is because the "mass-spring-mass" composite structure blocks sound waves through air layers and sound-absorbing materials, preventing the "acoustic bridging effect" (where vibrations are transmitted through a rigid structure).
2. Three Principles of Noise Control: Full-chain Prevention and Control from Source to Receiver
Noise propagation follows the three links of "sound source - propagation path - receiver", and governance requires targeted breakthroughs:
(1) Sound source control: reducing noise generation from the source
Industrial and commercial scenarios : Chaoyang District in Beijing adopted a "soundproof enclosure + silencer" combination for commercial building exhaust equipment. With the government and businesses sharing the cost (49%:51%), the superimposed noise level was reduced from exceeding the standard to meeting the standard, and the number of residents' complaints decreased by 90%.
(2) Optimizing transmission pathways: Upgrading sound insulation of building components
1. Wall: Composite structure is more effective than simple thickening
• Economical solution : light steel keel + 50mm rock wool (density 48kg/m³) + double-layer 12mm gypsum board, with sound insulation reaching 45dB (meeting the basic requirements of GB 55038-2025 partition walls ≥50dB).
• Professional-level solution : vibration-damping keel + 3mm sound insulation felt + 80kg/m³ rock wool + double-layer gypsum board. Laboratory test shows that the sound insulation reaches 58dB, which can isolate KTV-level noise (65dB).
2. Floor: Floating technology solves the problem of impact sound
The impact sound pressure level of a traditional floor (100mm thick) is about 75dB (footsteps from upstairs can be clearly heard). The use of a floating floor system (elastic cushion layer + concrete layer) can reduce the impact sound pressure level to below 65dB.
3. Doors and windows: Professional soundproof doors and windows to break high and low frequency noise
Sanyuan environmental ventilation and sound insulation windows
• Windows : Professional ventilation and sound insulation windows that meet the requirements of "ventilation + sound insulation + haze removal" and are especially suitable for street-facing residences.
• Door : Soundproof door + magnetic sealing strip, magnetic sealing improves airtightness.
(III) Recipient protection: a combination of temporary and long-term measures
• Short-term protection : wear noise-reducing earplugs (NRR value above 25dB) and install soundproof curtains.
• Long-term renovation : Soften the bedroom walls, install an elastic suspended ceiling (light steel keel + shock absorber + sound insulation cotton), install professional soundproof windows and soundproof doors to completely block medium and low frequency noise.
3. 2025 New National Standard: Sound insulation performance becomes a hard indicator of "good house"
The Residential Project Specification (GB 55038-2025), which will be implemented in May 2025, sets mandatory requirements for sound insulation:
• Partition walls : airborne sound insulation ≥ 50dB (11% higher than the old standard);
• Floor : Impact sound pressure level ≤ 65dB (children running and jumping downstairs will not notice any difference);
• External windows : Street-facing windows have a sound insulation level of ≥35dB (traffic noise is reduced to library levels).
Conclusion: Say goodbye to "noise hell" and start with scientific design
Noise control isn't a one-size-fits-all approach; it's a systematic process. Simply thickening walls is like scratching an itch. Only by combining sound source control (frequency conversion equipment, vibration reduction design), transmission blockage (composite walls, soundproof doors and windows), and reception protection (soundproofing and noise reduction products) can a truly "quiet space" be created. With the implementation of new national standards and advances in material technology, "quiet" is moving from a luxury to a basic right of residence. Will soundproofing be a top priority for your next home?