Characterization of walls with eco-efficient acoustic insulation materials (traditional and innovative)

Abstract

This paper presents several solutions of walls currently used in the construction and rehabilitation of buildings including the acoustic insulation materials most used in Europe.An exhaustive study was made, including 78 single and double-leaf wall assemblies. Their acoustic insulation, embodied energy and economical characteristics were analysed, to assess the potential of use of natural, and innovative, materials as substitutes of traditional materials.The acoustic performance - airborne sound insulation - was studied using predictive models, considering the characteristics of the materials considered in each layer of the wall. Regarding the embodied energy and costs, both resulted from the sum of the contribution of those materials.It was found that the incorporation of natural materials in wall assemblies is, from the acoustical behaviour, embodied energy and costs points of view, a viable option as replacement of traditional materials. This assessment was validated using a significant and representative set of alternative wall solutions.