The Design and Construction of an Acoustic Testing Laboratory Using Lightweight Materials

LINTRODUCTIONPlasterboard based building systems are constantly being developed and improved to the point whereby most systems only have a ve year life cycle between rst testing and re-testing.Accurate and separate testing for sound insulation is only one criterion which has to be considered when changes are being made to a particular assembly of partition components such as metal studs.types of cavity insulation, board combinations, degree of separation and height requirements.Included in this re-testing regime.it is necessary to consider the effect on re resistance.structural strength, cost and case of assembly.The same factors also effect the design and re-testing of new ooring systems, suspended ceilings and wall linings.Until 1993.all acoustic testing carried out for Lafarge Plasterboard Ltd was conducted in outside' consultants Laboratories namely AIRO I, Salford University 2.SRL 3, and the BBC Research Centre 4.Altogether about 300 tests took place.over a four year period.The results of these tests are contained in the "Drywall Manua|'5.