Decibels aren’t a unit of loudness — they’re a logarithmic ratio. Every 10 dB is 10x the sound energy and roughly twice as loud to the ear. Covers dBA versus dBC, SPL versus sound power, and OSHA/NIOSH exposure limits.
04
Jun
Jun
A double-stud wall puts two separate framing rows on their own plates, and that clean break is what carries it to STC 60 and beyond. Here is how the gap, insulation, and mass stack up, and when it earns the footprint.
03
Jun
Jun
Delta IIC (ΔIIC) ratings for cork, rubber, foam, and engineered underlayments — plus how ΔIIC differs from a full IIC assembly rating and why the gap matters.
03
Jun
Jun
A single-stud wall can hit STC 50 with the right moves. Here is what lighter-gauge studs, wider spacing, damping, and a decoupling membrane actually add, and where the ceiling sits without a second wall.
02
Jun
Jun
What actually moves a wall’s STC rating — 12 variables ranked by typical point gain, with cross-section diagrams and worked builds for STC 50, 55, and 60, plus field fixes.
02
Jun
Jun
CAC rating chart for ceiling tile sound privacy, showing recommended Ceiling Attenuation Class targets by space type, where CAC matters, and how ceiling tiles affect room-to-room speech transfer.
01
Jun
Jun
Echo and reverberation are often confused, but they’re different acoustic problems with different fixes. An echo is a distinct repeat delayed 50 ms or more; reverberation is overlapping reflections decaying over time, measured in RT60. Here’s how to tell them apart and treat each one.
31
May
May
Breweries combine industrial production noise with hospitality taprooms and often outdoor beer gardens. Here are 12 prioritized strategies-with real STC, NRC, NC, dBA targets-for soundproofing every zone of a brewery.
30
May
May
Every active NHL arena ranked on a 100-point loudness index. Florida’s 130.9 dBA Game 3 record-breaker, Montreal’s Bell Centre, Winnipeg’s per-seat dominance, and the acoustic design behind each – explained by an acoustical engineer.
30
May
May
Country clubs blend vaulted dining rooms, multi-use ballrooms, tile-clad pools, and confidential meeting spaces under one roof. Here are 8 prioritized strategies—with real STC, NRC, RT60, and dBA targets—for soundproofing each zone.