Methods of flanking path control in party walls.

Abstract

It is generally appreciated in the acoustical community that flanking paths can control the overall noise isolation, especially for high‐STC wall designs [Nightingale, et al., NRC‐IRC, Flanking Transmission in Framed Buildings, Phases I, II, and III (1997–2010)]. A recent condominium retrofit into an existing structure produced complaints of very low privacy between some units, in spite of a double‐stud wall design that would typically provide acceptable isolation. Airborne noise reduction testing revealed a variety of unique flanking paths due to the constraints of the existing structure and the intersection of disparate materials (the construction includes wood, concrete, steel, and masonry components). A number of methods were implemented, and additional testing performed to quantify the flanking paths and the effectiveness of the mitigation. The methods and results are presented.