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What are the costs of acoustic insulation?

Words:
David Holmes

Housing, schools and hospitals in particular need reliable acoustic insulation. David Holmes looks at the costs

GKD’s specialist Alu 6010 acoustic fabric in use at Antwerp’s Koningin Elisabethzaal concert hall.
GKD’s specialist Alu 6010 acoustic fabric in use at Antwerp’s Koningin Elisabethzaal concert hall. Credit: GKD- GEBR. KUFFERATH

Good acoustic performance is a requirement for nearly all types of buildings, but is particularly important for residential buildings, schools and hospitals.
Sound can travel between rooms by two routes; either directly through the separating wall and around the wall through any adjacent elements.
Acoustic insulation for both routes is managed by different features: mass, the total mass per unit area; and isolation separating any different layers within the element. 


The rates below are a guide to acoustic material costs as at 2019 Q3.  No allowance is made for sundry or related preliminaries. VAT is excluded.


Range £/m2 
Acoustic Insulation to partitions mineral fibre quilt roll pinned vertically to timber or plasterboard
25mm thick £2.7-3.2
50mm thick £3.5-4.2

 

To roof
30mm thick semi-rigid acoustic insulation slab £4-6

 

Linings to ceilings
Acoustic panel linings; Troldekt Ultrafine 1200mm x 600mm x 25mm 
on and including 50mm x 70mm timber framework at 600mm 
centres both ways and supported from the roof
Ceilings clipped to prevent wind uplift when external doors opened £100-140
Perimeter edge detail £7.5-12

 

Suspended ceilings
Metal linear strip micro perforated acoustic ceiling with 
Rockwool acoustic infill £67-81
Acoustic suspended ceilings on anti-vibration mountings £69-84

 

Acoustic boarding to floors
Chipboard; tongued and grooved joints £22-30
Chipboard on New Era levelling system £30-40

 

Floor finishes
Acoustic vinyl sheet; Forbo Flooring Sarlon Traffic 19db; 
level with welded seams; fixing with adhesive £25-320

 

Gypwall acoustic partition
95mm partition; 70mm studs and channels; one layer of 12.5mm
Gyproc Soundbloc each side; joints filled with joint filler and joint tape to receive direct decoration
Average height 2.00m £40-45
Average height 3.00m £40-45


 

 

Linings to walls

Perforated steel acoustic wall panels; Eckel type HD EFP or other equal; polyurethane enamel finish; fibrous glass acoustic insulation
Average height 3.00 m; fixed to timber or masonry £200-250

 

Specialist plaster
Sprayed acoustic plaster; self-finished £83-100

 

Folding partitions
Acoustic folding partition; head track suspension and bracing; aluminium framed with high density particle board panel with additional acoustic insulation; melamine laminate finish; acoustic seals. 
Nominal weight approximately 55 kg per m2.
Sound reduction 48 db (Rw) £620- 750
Sound reduction 55 db (Rw) £750-910

 

External doors
Steel security door and frame; including ironmongery, weather seals
To suit structural opening 1100 x 2105mm; fire-rating 30 minutes; 
acoustic rating 38dB; including stainless steel ironmongery £2,000-2,500
To suit structural opening 2000 x 2105mm; fire-rating 30 minutes; 
acoustic rating 38dB; including stainless steel ironmongery £3,100-3,600

 

 

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