Soundproofing Guide for Old Communities-Returning Tranquility to Life: Starting with Upgrading Your Living Quality Through Sound

With the acceleration of urbanization, old communities have gradually become the "hotbed" of resident complaints due to poor building sound insulation and complex environmental noise. In response to the national "14th Five-Year Plan for Urban Renewal" and the "Noise Pollution Prevention and Control Law", Sichuan Sanyuan Environment has launched a systematic guide for the sound insulation renovation of old communities. From diagnosis and planning to implementation, it provides a one-stop solution to noise problems and helps communities to achieve a "quiet rebirth".

I. Analysis of Noise Issues in Old Communities

1. External noise intrusion
2. Traffic noise: Buildings facing the street are disturbed by traffic and horn noise (60-80 decibels);
3. Commercial noise: The mid-to-high frequency noise from restaurants and square dancing on the ground floor has strong penetrating power.
4. Internal noise conduction
5. Poor sound insulation of the floor: footsteps and furniture dragging noises can cause conflicts with neighbors;
6. Pipe vibration: Low-frequency noise from drain pipes and elevator shafts can affect sleep.
7. Conflict between ventilation and sound insulation
8. Opening windows for ventilation introduces noise, while closing windows leads to stuffiness and polluted air indoors.

Two-Four-Step Scientific Transformation Plan

Step 1: Precise Noise Diagnosis

• Free sound environment testing: A professional team will come to your home to measure, create a noise map of the community, and identify the main noise sources (traffic, equipment, and residential noise) and their frequency characteristics;
• Resident survey: Collect information on high-frequency complaint periods and noise-sensitive areas (such as rooms for the elderly and children) through questionnaires.

Step 2: Customize noise reduction solutions for different scenarios

Noise type

Key points of renovation

Recommended measures

Street traffic noise

Blocking low and mid-frequency sound waves

Install ventilation and soundproof windows (noise reduction of 35-40 decibels) + sound barrier around the community

Square dancing/shop noise

Absorb reflected sound and reduce reverberation

The building facade is fitted with sound-absorbing panels and a green belt (broadleaf trees and shrubs) for buffering.

Impact sound of floor slabs

Cut off the sound transmission path of the structure

Install sound-insulating floor mats (weighted impact sound pressure level ≤ 65dB) + ceiling vibration damping layer

Pipeline vibration noise

Suppressing low-frequency resonance

Wrap pipes with damping and sound-insulating felt + replace with silent drain pipes

Step 3: Guidance on Applying for Policy Subsidies

• Government subsidies: Many places have included soundproofing renovation in the livelihood projects for old residential communities, with subsidies as high as 50% (such as Beijing and Chengdu).
• Application support: Assist communities in preparing materials, liaise with housing and construction and environmental protection departments, and quickly complete the approval process;
• Low-cost pilot program: Prioritize the renovation of buildings with concentrated complaints, and use the results to encourage full participation.

Step 4: Lightweight construction and long-term maintenance

• Quick installation: Modular soundproof windows and prefabricated soundproof panels are used, and the renovation of a single household takes ≤3 hours, avoiding long-term disturbance to the residents;
• Concealed works: Pipe sound insulation wrapping, ceiling construction, etc. only take 1-2 days, and residents do not need to relocate;
• Warranty service: We provide a 5-year sound insulation performance guarantee, regular follow-up inspections, and free replacement of aging sealing strips.

III. Case Study: From "Noise-Stricken Area" to "Tranquil Model Area"

Case Study: Renovation of a Street-Front Community in Chengdu Built in the 1990s

• Pain points: Traffic noise reaches 68 decibels day and night, and the vibration of kitchen exhaust fans in ground-floor shops disturbs residents;
• plan:
• Street-facing residents: Ventilated and soundproof windows (noise reduction of 38 decibels) + external ecological sound barrier (noise reduction of 10 decibels);
• Commercial building: Damping wrapping of fume extraction ducts + sound-absorbing panels on facade;
• Public areas: Add green belts and replace the rubber surface of the fitness plaza (to reduce the reflection of footsteps).
• Results:
• Indoor noise level is ≤40 decibels, and there is no problem with opening windows for ventilation at night;
• The number of complaints to 12345 decreased by 95%, and the value of community housing increased by 15%.

IV. Tips for Residents to Do Their Own Renovations

1. Emergency noise reduction:
2. Apply sealing strips to window gaps (reduces noise by 3-5 decibels);
3. Hang heavy curtains and lay carpets (to absorb mid-to-high frequency sound).
4. Low-cost upgrade:
5. Plant a green wall on the balcony (recommended: ivy, monstera);
6. The pipes are wrapped with high-density sound insulation cotton (costing approximately 20 yuan per meter).