Whether you’re building spaces for productivity, patient recovery, or focused learning, we take a holistic approach to managing acoustics. We collaborate with your design team and acoustic consultants, balancing priorities for your space.
Acoustics
Acoustics for the real world.
Design for Performance
Managing acoustic performance and privacy are more important than ever. Sound transmission isn’t just about the walls. It’s about the ceiling, doors, base building structure, flanking paths, and all the connections in between. We bring quality materials together with innovative interior assemblies to reduce sound transmission. You get the acoustic performance you need without sacrificing design expression.
Image credit: Merle Prosofky
Form and Function
DIRTT lab tests our solid and glass walls for sound transmission through a certified third party in compliance with ASTM E-90 protocols. During the process, DIRTT attaches the wall assembly to the testing chamber the same way we would to your base building. Our approach to lab testing provides the most realistic representation of how the assembly will perform in a real-world application.
Image credit: Laura Peters / CannonDesign
Sound Transmission Class (STC) Ratings
Glass Walls
Glass Type
Glass Thickness
STC Rating
Speech Privacy
With background noise level of NC35
- Classic Glass Wall ↗
Laminated
Tempered
³⁄₈” (10 mm)
³⁄₈” (10 mm)
35
30-32
Normal speech is somewhat audible, but not understood
- Inspire™ Glass Wall ↗
Laminated
Tempered
½” (12 mm)
³⁄₈ ” (10 mm)
33-38
33
Loud speech is audible, but not clearly understood
- Double Pane Glass Wall ↗
Laminated
Tempered
¼” + ³⁄₈” (6 mm + 10 mm) ³⁄₈” + ³⁄₈” (10 mm + 10 mm)
¼" + ¼" (6 mm + 6 mm) ³⁄₈" + ³⁄₈" (10 mm + 10 mm)
39-46
37-38
Loud speech is audible, but barely understood
Solid Walls
STC Rating
Speech Privacy
With background noise level of NC35
- 4” Solid Walls ↗
38-51
Loud speech is barely audible
- 6” Solid Walls ↗
44-53
Very loud speech is inaudible
- 4” Solid Wall ↗
Back-to-back with MgO septum 8 ³⁄₈” (213 mm)
60-61
Very loud speech is inaudible
- 4” Solid Wall ↗
Back-to-back with MgO septum 9 ½” (241 mm)
54-63
Very loud speech is inaudible
Custom-engineered solutions
65
Loud noises can be faintly heard
These STC ratings represent common wall and door assemblies. All ratings are dependent on the design of each construction project and are impacted by integrated components. It should be noted that STC ratings obtained in a lab may be different than those achieved in real-world applications. Lab results are highly controlled and may not reflect the same performance in the field based on the conditions of your environment. Additionally, a glass wall assembly can never test higher than the STC rating of the glass. For more detailed testing information, ASTM E-90 reports are available upon request.