The Challenge

Commercial, industrial and institutional contractors and construction-related business owners want to achieve the greatest financial returns for their efforts. That normally involves considering many factors such as workforce development, insurance, estimating, project management and legislative action, as well as safety and liability.

However, post pandemic, on either new construction or remodels it also means planning to reduce the escalating noise level of traffic that intrudes into any structure through windows. Multiple studies have shown that 90% of exterior noise enters through windows, not walls. Across a wide range of properties, traditional single pane windows offer little resistance to external noise.

Unfortunately, simply replacing the windows seldom adequately resolves the problem. Even dual pane replacement windows are not designed to cut noise penetration, but rather to keep out heat and cold. While the seals of a new window provide some noise reduction, the two pieces of glass in dual pane windows are separated by an air space and sealed into one solid glass unit. Like a drum, this causes both pieces of glass to vibrate together. This drum effect defeats the noise reduction benefit of dual pane windows.

After the relative quiet of pandemic lockdowns and working from home, the increased noise level from resuming traffic can seem particularly aggravating to some. Excess traffic noise can lower property values anywhere, not just in urban areas but also in commercial and industrial facilities near airports; truck, bus and rail depots; or other transportation hubs. High decibel vehicle traffic including blaring horns, screeching brakes or revving engines can equate with lower perceived value in a construction project unless effective soundproofing is incorporated.

The Solution

Construction developers involved with commercial, industrial and institutional properties are seeking contractors who can offer a solution to reduce excessive noise intrusion. Fortunately, some contractors are turning to firms specializing in soundproofing. These companies can implement a quick, proven, cost-effective solution that can dramatically reduce external noise intrusion. By adding a second soundproof window in the most problematic locations (e.g., facing traffic) outside noise can be reduced by up to 95%, resulting in an increase in work productivity as well as lease and occupancy rates while decreasing turnover.

The same tactic can be applied to oversized windows and sliding glass doors, which—due to their larger size—can be an even greater source of external noise.

In this vein, a growing number of contractors are finding a solution to the noise problem with more modern soundproofing technology. For example, one company has adapted recording studio window soundproofing technology for commercial, industrial, institutional, and residential properties by creating a secondary soundproofing window that installs inside, behind the existing window. The product is custom designed specifically to match—and function—like the original window. Installation is simple, straightforward and usually can be completed in about an hour or two.

The inner window essentially reduces noise from entering on three fronts: the type of materials used to make the pane, the ideal air space between original window and insert, and, finally, improved and long-lasting seals. The combination can reduce external noise up to 95%.

The first noise barrier is laminated glass, which dampens sound vibration much like a finger on a wine glass stops it from ringing when struck. An inner PVB layer of plastic further dampens sound vibrations.

Air space of two inches to four inches between the existing window and the soundproof window also significantly improves noise reduction because it isolates the window frame from external sound vibrations.

Finally, the company places spring-loaded seals in the second window frame. This puts a constant squeeze on the glass panels, which prevents sound leaks and helps stop noise from vibrating through the glass. These spring-loaded seals are designed to stay as acoustically sound 15 years down the road as they were on day one.

For construction contractors with customers such as developers, office managers, property managers and business professionals needing to quiet the clamor of increasing traffic, the bottom line is that by selectively soundproofing the windows and sliding glass doors that are most problematic they can quickly handle any external noise issues. This can preserve a quiet work environment amid aggravating traffic noise, which helps to maximize the construction project sales price and lease/rental rate.