Saint-Gobain Pipelines plc - Puts dampener on drainage systems
For above-ground cast iron drainage systems in
installations where high acoustic performance is a
requirement, Saint-Gobain Pipelines has introduced a new
acoustic dampener fitted to its standard bracket which
potentially eliminates the need for lagging laid down in
the guidelines for pipes passing through walls and
floors. Part of its Ensign range, the bracket offers an
exceptional sound deadening performance which has been
tested to new European standards.
Whilst UK building regulations for sound insulation and
noise reduction do not specifically cover requirements
for wastewater systems, acoustics performance in
buildings such as high-rise residential buildings,
hospitals and schools is becoming increasingly
important. In developing the new Ensign bracket, Saint-Gobain
Pipelines has tested Ensign to the new European BS EN
14366:2004 standard which specifies a method for
laboratory measurement of the airborne and
structure-borne sound produced in wastewater and
rainwater installations.
Mike Rawlings of Saint-Gobain Pipelines says: “UK
building regulations for noise in residential buildings
call for an airborne sound insulation value of between
43 and 45dB for separating walls, floors and staircases.
Whilst there is little in the way of guidance for waste,
soil and rain water pipes within the fabric of the
building, there is naturally generated airborne noise
passing through the pipe wall as well as system
vibration coming from seals and supports. By testing to
the new European standard, we have been able to
demonstrate the excellent sound performance of the
Ensign cast iron system.”
Test results for the Ensign system using ductile iron
brackets fitted with the acoustic dampener recorded an
exceptionally low decibel level of 11dB(A) at 4 litres
per second. This was shown to be up to 9 to 10 dB (A)
quieter than the best-performing acoustic plastic
systems. To put this difference in perspective, it is
Noise x 2 i.e. in order to increase sound insulation of
a solid partition or wall by 4 to 5dB, the mass must be
doubled. This was achieved without additional lagging,
which in installation results in significant savings on
insulation materials. The results show that all other
materials will require lagging to meet the high
performance of cast iron.
The new acoustics dampener is fitted to the Ensign
ductile iron bracket, which has an elongated fixing slot
for greater fixing flexibility.
Email:
hchambers@wyattinternational.com
Arundel Jones Associates Ltd
Hill Farm, Linton Hill, Maidstone, Kent ME17 4AL
Tel : 01622 745333
news@buildingdesign.co.uk
Registered in England and Wales No. 07334149
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