Noise and Nuisance - Research Reports
Development and production of a guide for noise control from laminated and wooden flooring
Increasing resources reported by local authority noise teams to address neighbour complaints and disputes arising from stripped-board, laminate and wood block floors indicates an increasing, if un-documented, problem. The acoustical issues relate specifically to impact noise caused by everyday domestic activities such as footsteps, dropped objects, scraping furniture or jumping children heard within adjacent, lower properties. The increased prominence of impact sounds is commonly attributed to the increased incidence of hard timber over traditional carpeted floor surfaces.
This document, produced by the Building Performance Centre at Napier University, was commissioned by Defra and the Devolved Administrations of the Scottish Executive, the National Assembly for Wales, and the Department of the Environment in Northern Ireland to examine the noise implications of installing or revealing hard timber floor surfaces within flatted residential dwellings. It makes an assessment of the size and severity of the problem across the UK, reviews current management practices, and suggests amelioration and best practise advice to alleviate and forestall excessive residential impact noise. Relevant findings are presented in the form of guidance documents for the public, flooring trades and stakeholding professionals.
- Development and production of a guide for
noise control from laminated and wooden flooring: main report
(2 MB - NB large file) - Appendices A-D
(880 KB - NB large file)
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Page published 28 February 2005