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Acoustic Comfort in Timber Frame Dwellings

Timber framework has become the most common construction technique in the world for private dwellings. In Belgium, although masonry construction still constitutes the most important market share, the number of new houses with timber framework increases each year. Unfortunately the acoustic insulation of this construction type compares unfavourably with traditional masonry construction. In order to learn more about acoustic performance of timber framework houses and to compare them to the performance of traditional masonry houses, a measurement survey has been carried out, on fifteen single family dwellings with timber framework or heavyweight wood. This paper presents the results of the in situ measurements. The measurements were of façade sound insulation, sound insulation of the inner walls (horizontally and vertically) and impact noise insulation. Similar measurements also have been carried out on houses made of traditional masonry in order to compare the results. A comparison of the results collected in the laboratory and Belgian comfort criteria are also presented. Finally, results of acoustic tests in a multi-family timber construction are presented. The weaknesses of construction techniques observed during the study are discussed.