May Retrofit Also Include Acoustics Aspects?

Abstract

In recent years technology has tried to develop new solutions suitable for extending and improving the life of existing buildings. In Italy, working on the building envelope has turned out to be one of the most common processes to improve buildings’ thermal insulation. The aim is generally reached by replacing windows and adding ETICS (External Thermal Insulation Composite System) to the façades. But could these solutions also be a good acoustic insulation enhancement?Nevertheless renovation is always a very complicated issue caused by the unavoidable existing limits. In many cases, because of the structural aspects, light solutions should be found to avoid the increase of weight on the existing building, or to limit as much as possible solutions with heavy loads. In order to propose acoustical solutions for facades as well as airbone and impact sound insulation solutions suitable to fit the needs mentioned above, the issues have been investigated in real buildings under renovation, during work, by carrying on acoustical measurements during different steps.In this study, lightweight solutions have been investigated and optimized, the effect of installations has been even analysed and optimized as well as the effect of suspended ceilings. The contribution to sound insulation and impact noise has been studied. The effects of suspended ceiling under the separating floor have been tested.Last but not least, in a modular building the facades were coated with 14cm ETICS of EPS (expanded polystyrene) and with 14cm ETICS of mineral wool. The sound insulation effect of both systems has been studied and compared.The research, carried out on real buildings, has shown that lightweight solutions can be useful responses in renovating old buildings and furthermore it is possible to combine thermal and acoustical insulation for optimizing the different solutions.