All buildings these days need adequate sound insulation. However, there is still limited awareness as to why they are really important. You may not realise it right away, but by having sound barriers in your home or commercial space, you would be reaping a lot of peerless benefits.
Why do property owners invest in sound barriers in Singapore? Here are the top reasons to consider:
1. Neighbour comfort.
If you happen to live in a house with close neighbours, then it would be inevitable for you hear noise and unwanted sounds coming from them, and vice versa. Noise pollution is common among homes that are situated next to each other, such as condo units and HDBs. In Singapore, this has accelerated to a public concern, as it is common to see complaints about the neighbours on different platforms including Facebook groups and pages.
Noise pollution can be disruptive and adversely affect one’s well being, especially since people stay in their homes to rest and relax. By installing sound barriers in your wall interiors, unwanted sounds and noise can be mitigated even as they travel far from the source.
2. Complying with government regulations.
Noise causes disturbance to others. This is especially true in commercial establishments, where sounds come from different sources and mingle with each other, causing rather discomforting effects on those who hear them.
Governments then impose regulations on how sounds coming from commercial establishments are mitigated to avoid causing problems for other stakeholders. There are also regulations specific to industrial properties and mixed-space establishments, which can be properly addressed by installing sound barriers.
In Singapore, NEA’s Noise Boundary Limits has become a constant issue for contractors and business owners in the Construction and Manufacturing sectors. Failing to comply with this will lead to serious consequences like complaints and even the risk of receiving heavy fine (up to S$40.000).
3. Privacy.
There are instances when conversation and music from the next room can be heard in your unit. In offices and corporate workspaces, conversations are confidential, and the risk for these to be heard by others may result in uncompromising situations.
Installing sound barriers in walls and ceilings help maintain privacy within rooms and units. The sound insulation helps stop airborne sound and allows people to discuss delicate matters within a safe space.
4. Avoid flanking transmission.
If your home or business establishment is located in a mixed space neighbourhood, chances are you’ll be hearing the sounds from the outdoors within your premises. You may want to install sound barriers to avoid flanking transmission, as they also reduce other sound elements such as echo and reverb.
The same can be said with impact sounds, like conversation, kitchen noise, and highway noise. Sound barriers not only keep the outdoor noise from penetrating your space; they also maintain sound quality so you can enjoy conversations or listening to music indoors.
5. Improve your health and wellbeing.
Too much noise is not only detrimental to the environment, but also for your health. Noise can be stressful and cause discomfort, and may even have long-term effects on your health. One of the most adverse impact is causing hearing loss, especially for children, as their hearing ability has not fully developed yet to protect them from external factors.
Sound insulation helps make home and office interiors more comfortable to be in. You can relax, think better, and become more productive in your activities with Sound barriers in Singapore are available in different types, depending on how they are to be used and installed. You may want to contact your contractor to get to know which type of barrier would be best suited for your space.