Several factors are taken into consideration when deciding the materials palette for a building’s interiors during new builds or refurbishments. However, specifiers often overlook valuable opportunities to improve the acoustic performance of buildings through their choice of flooring.
Acoustic flooring is mostly considered for specialist zones or project designs driven by compliance requirements. But the latest generation of floor coverings is capable of reducing surface generated noise in different environments, overcoming the problems specifiers usually associate with traditional sound-absorbing floor coverings.
New floor coverings on the market are more resistant to wear and tear, making it possible to install them in high traffic areas. Products are also available for floors subjected to rolling loads, such as luggage, hospital beds or trolleys, allowing the use of acoustic flooring in areas where only standard vinyl flooring could be used in the past.
Acoustic ranges can now be considered alongside all other standard mainstream options when specifying floor coverings for buildings; this will also ensure the wellbeing of all building occupants well into the future.
The process of floor installation is the same for both acoustic and standard varieties; therefore, building designers can help improve the performance of their buildings by selecting the acoustic option that reduces ambient noise inside a room and sound transmission between spaces.
Modern acoustic flooring products address both functional requirements and aesthetic objectives.
Altro Wood Safety Comfort, for example, provides a wide range of timber look choices in contemporary shades, with wide plank classic and rustic designs. It also has the advantage of being a 2.85mm thick acoustic flooring product delivering a 14dB sound reduction.
Altro Orchestra is a 2.85mm thick floor with 15dB sound reduction and a colour palette of 40 shades.
Altro Serenade is a 3.9mm thick option, delivering 19dB sound reduction.
There is also the option of fitting existing Altro ranges with Impact Sound Reduction underlays.
The Altro 1101 and Altro Everlay B materials offer sound reduction of 18dB and 20dB respectively.
Altro Stronghold 30 provides 10dB sound reduction in busy commercial kitchens where acoustics is an important consideration; there’s also the additional benefit of comfort underfoot for busy kitchen staff who are on their feet all day.
Whatever your application, Altro Flooring and Walling offers a wide range of acoustic flooring options to help reduce disruptive sounds without compromising on performance or design.
