Flooring — Acoustic Material Guide
Acoustic flooring products range from commercial carpet (NRC 0.30) to resilient underlays designed for impact noise control. While floor finishes contribute limited airborne absorption compared to ceiling treatments, they play a critical role in impact noise isolation (IIC) in multi-storey buildings. The choice between carpet, timber, vinyl, and rubber underlay significantly affects both acoustic comfort and IIC compliance.
Products in This Category
| Material | NRC | αw | Applications |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial Loop Pile Carpet | 0.30 | 0.25 | Floor |
| Hardwood Timber Floor | 0.10 | 0.10 | Floor |
| Rubber Resilient Underlay | 0.15 | 0.10 | Floor (underlay) |
| Vinyl Sheet / LVT Flooring | 0.05 | 0.05 | Floor |
| Acoustic Foam Underlay | 0.20 | 0.15 | Floor (underlay) |
Average Absorption Profile
Average absorption coefficients across all flooring materials at each octave band frequency.
| Frequency (Hz) | 125 | 250 | 500 | 1000 | 2000 | 4000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg α | 0.06 | 0.08 | 0.12 | 0.18 | 0.22 | 0.23 |
Best Applications
Room types and environments that benefit most from flooring materials:
Related Standards
International and national standards relevant to flooring selection, testing, and specification:
Installation Notes
Resilient underlays must be installed continuously with taped joints and turned up at the perimeter to maintain the floating floor principle. Carpet provides the best absorption when installed with a thick felt or rubber underlay.
Typical thickness: 3-15mm (underlay), varies (finish)
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