An aspect of window design that is commonly overlooked by homeowners is the degree to which your windows insulate you from external noise pollution. Sound insulation keeps outside noise out to create a peacefully quiet home. But why is that so important, and how do your windows play into it? In this blog post, we’ll look into how acoustic glass plays a role in the comfort of your home, and how important noise insulation really is.
First, it is important to understand how sound travels. Sound travels as a wave through the air and by vibrating through objects. The more material the soundwave has to travel through, the smaller it gets so less noise gets through. Usually, your windows would be a key point of weakness in your home that sounds easily travels through, as most traditional windows are only made of a single layer of glass.
Acoustic glass, on the other hand, is specially designed to combat this problem!
Acoustic glass is a special form of laminated glass designed to reduce the amount of noise that can travel through it. It’s bonded together using a special resin, giving two panes of glass the appearance of one single pane. This way of assembling glass reduces the amount of noise that can vibrate through it,
because the thicker the glass is, the more material sound has to vibrate through in order to reach the interior of the home. The noise-proofing qualities of the glass are increased by the bonding layer, which also absorbs the sound energy.
Glaziers use acoustic glass as a supplementary method for noise-proofing homes, as the insulation found in the walls and ceiling are sometimes not up to the job – especially if people live in particularly noisy spots such as commercial business districts or near public transport.
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment in New Zealand states that noise insulation “plays a key role in maintaining people’s wellbeing”. This is because consistent noise even at a low level can boost stress levels to the point where we experience hypertension. Our minds need to relax, but if we’re constantly processing sensory input then there’s no opportunity for them to do so.
Therefore, we need to insulate the places we spend the most time in – such as our homes – against the constant assault of external noise. If you live near a motorway or construction site this is especially important, as the sound of driving cars or moving machinery is exponentially more bothersome than the everyday noises of a suburban community.
Talk to your local glazier about installing acoustic glass windows at your home in order to improve sound insulation. Remember that this is not the only way to insulate your home against noise, and that you should also make sure that the insulation in your walls, ceiling, and floor are up to code.
You may also consider double glazing your windows, which is when you install two panes of glass in the same frame with a layer of argon in between. Argon works to disrupt the frequency of the travelling sound so that it only makes its way into the house at a far-reduced decibel level (i.e. sound intensity). Double glazing alone has been used for years as the solution to sound pollution, but now that it can be compounded with acoustic glass, and homes are quieter and more peaceful than ever.
We believe that everyone deserves to feel like their home is a sanctuary. When you get in touch with us, we will be with you every step of the way to create your perfect, quiet home. Contact Atlas Glass today to get a free quote on your acoustic glass windows installation!
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