Acoustical performance of lightweight construction materials

Traditionally, acoustical privacy between spaces has been achieved by adding denser, heavier materials to the partition. Recently, several lightweight construction materials have been released into the construction market. Advances in material science have provided a new generation of lighter weight gypsum panels with multiple benefits to builders. Although lighter and significantly easier for contractors to install, the reduced mass of the gypsum panels raises concerns about its effects on the sound attenuation performance of these products. However, analyses have shown that these lightweight gypsum panels are able to provide nearly comparable levels of sound transmission performance as their heavier counterparts. An investigation of the intrinsic mechanical properties contributing to the overall acoustical performance and full-scale sound transmission results is presented comparing wall systems constructed with lightweight panels and standard-weight panels. Alternative assemblies used to increase the sound-attenuating performance are also discussed.