Which flooring material insulates impact sound or structure-borne noise?
Structure-borne noise includes all audible and tangible vibrations that travel through solid materials such as buildings. Impact noise, a type of structure-borne noise, is primarily caused by footsteps, the movement of people or animals, and household appliances.
Noise reduction can be achieved directly at the source, for example by using shoes with elastic soles. Alternatively, construction measures such as vibration-damping underlays can be implemented.
A floating parquet floor installed on a suitable underlay prevents acoustic transmission to the building structure, significantly reducing impact noise. Floor coverings made from PU-bound rubber granulate offer excellent insulation properties when they have sufficient thickness, a textured underside, and low bulk density. These solutions effectively minimise disturbing sounds in both residential and commercial areas, such as on terraces, balconies, or in gyms, and are also cost-efficient.