Taipei Bathroom Noise
The challenges
A stock analyst living in Taipei City, was being disturbed by bathroom noise. The waste pipe bellowed nearly 61.0 dBA with every flush. In his master bedroom it was only marginally quieter with a reading of 52.5 dBA which still meant interrupted sleep once the bathroom was visited. In comparison, 60 dBA is equivalent to the sound of an operating washing machine or a busy office.
The solutions
Pyrotek® in Taiwan assessed the situation and found a large, unlagged wall cavity waste pipe with an elbow bend which was producing excessive amounts of unwanted noise. Soundlag 4525C acoustic pipe wrap was specified and installed to solve the problem.
Guaranteed for ten years, Pyrotek’s Soundlag product range is the most cost effective way to solve pipe noise and meet building regulations. You simply cut, wrap and tape it to install.
Soundlag’s mass-loaded barrier deflects noise back to the source, while its acoustic foam layer separates the barrier from the source. Its aluminium foil facing makes it flexible yet sturdy and flame resistant.
The results
After fresh measurements were taken, the bathroom noise levels were reduced from 60.8 to 52.5 dBA, which is similar to the sound of a refrigerator humming. This was an improvement of 8.3 dBA.
This particular installation was so successful it was featured in Taiwan’s Acoustic and Vibration Conference. The owner was not only pleased with the results and no longer being sleep deprived, but also commended Pyrotek® on how the method of testing, to diagnosis, to installation ran so smoothly.
Pipe lagging is a fundamental noise abatement technique. Highly desirable in private homes, it’s fast becoming mandatory in high and medium-density residential complexes. Especially where lighter construction materials leave rooms more vulnerable to noise intrusion.
