Insulate Magazine Issue 3

INSULATE
Magazine
www.insulatemagazine.co.uk
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ISSUE 03
DIAMONDS....
SIG Celebrate 60 years
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE...
Acoustics 101
CUTTING THROUGH THE NOISE OF ACOUSTIC SPECIFICATION

Experience,
quality & service
Over 25 years experience in facades
Customer service & quality are
our key objectives
Facade works (SFS, EWI, rainscreen
cladding) undertaken by fully trained
& certified personnel
Experienced personnel, reputation
& quality focused
Approved installer for
reputable systems
Speedy & professional service
25 year insurance-backed
guarantee available
Contact us today!
01788 220023
info@weathersealfacades.co.uk
www.weathersealfacades.co.uk
Company Registration No. 9052005 VAT Reg No. 189 8175 43

INSULATE
Magazine
60 YEARS OF SIG INSULATION:
Cover Story
ECOBUILD PREVIEW
Event special
INTERVIEW
We talk to BRUFMA CEO
Simon Storer
ACOUSTICS 101
Sound Advice from industry experts
THERMAL BRIDGING
Guest feature from Darren Evans
Assesments
An exclusive publication for the insulation industry
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External and Hybrid wall
insulation systems aren’t
always all they’re
cracked up
to be...
That’s why we recommend
Independent Solid Wall Inspections by the experts
All too often, External Wall Insulation (EWI) is installed into
properties without sufficient detailed analysis of the building’s
condition. In some cases, EWI may not even have been
appropriate in the first place. There are a great many
considerations to be addressed before a property can be
declared fit-for-purpose and procedures finally implemented.
But it doesn’t stop there. It’s also important to understand the
ongoing maintenance obligations associated with these
installations, as this affects any long term guarantees that are in
place. A thirty-year guarantee can be invalid if you do not have
a regular maintenance regime in place to inspect building joints,
particularly around window and door frames. Without this kind of
attention to detail, your EWI system guarantor may have a get
out clause should the system fail prematurely.
The BBA can provide you with a reliable, independent regular
inspection service that meets the requirements of your specific
EWI guarantee.
If you decide to progress with BBA inspection, one of our
specialist external wall insulation surveyors will visit your property
to establish its suitability with regard to specific construction
characteristics, details of pipework, external fittings, organic
growth etc, talking you through each step of the process.
The key issue often associated with external wall insulation is
damp. If you already have a problem with this, it will need to be
rectified before the insulation is installed, otherwise you run the
risk of trapping the damp inside the wall structure and making
the situation worse.
It’s also important to make sure that the new external insulation
layer and cladding do not bridge the damp proof layer in the
wall. The insulation should start above this, otherwise water may
be able to use it to rise above the damp proof membrane,
causing rising damp where it wasn’t a problem before. Our BBA
specialists will identify whether or not if this is the case prior to
recommending any further works.
We can also step in and assess your properties at a later stage,
helping you to find a remedy to any existing failed installations.
Our expert advice and opinion may also be of value in your
legal proceedings.
50 years of unrivalled expertise in building and construction
certification means the BBA is quite simply the best possible
stamp of approval you can get. So when it comes to
independent assessment of the solid wall insulation, you can
count on the BBA. We are an independent body, fully accredited
by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS), and as
such our technical assessors have the expertise to ensure the UK’s
Local authorities and Housing Associations avoid potential
difficulties associated with External Wall Insulation.
To guarantee the best approach to insulation installation,
from start to finish and beyond,
contact the BBA today.
clientservices@bba.star.co.uk
www.bbacerts.co.uk
01923 665300

Cover Story
The last 60 years have seen some monumental changes come to pass in the construction industry, but 2017 also
marks 60 years of excellent, continuous service from SIG Insulation, the UK’s market leading specialist distributor of
insulation.
Founded in 1957 by Ernest Adsetts as Sheffield Insulation, the company operated from a single site and a converted
ice-cream van, but grew rapidly in the coming decades.
Over the years SIG expanded into a wider group, becoming a leading distributor of specialist building products
throughout Europe and provides everything from flooring to roofing products. However insulation remains at the
heart of its offering, and the company now has more than 30 specialist insulation branches from Inverness to Plymouth.
These many years of experience in working with insulation provide the company with a unique insight into the
selection and specification of an exceptional range of products. Nearly 1,200 staff are on hand to meet its customers’
needs, with 2,400 distinct structural insulants being distributed to more than 10,000 customers in 2015 alone.
Speaking on the diamond anniversary, David Hope – Sales & Marketing Director at SIG Distribution said: “It’s a
great honour to celebrate 60 years of trading for SIG Insulation. A number of elements have contributed to our longevity,
including our loyal customers and the hard work of our staff over the decades.
“As one of the largest employers in the Yorkshire region, and with many more staff throughout the UK, we’re proud
to have provided a rewarding place for so many people to work for so many years. Some employees have served the
company for more than 40 years so far, and I’d like to thank each of them personally.
“We also believe that it’s the duty of large companies to give back to their communities, and SIG Insulation is no different,
supporting charities and initiatives including The Children’s Hospital Charity Sheffield, Macmillan and Race
for Life. This is something that we’ll continue to do as the company expands further, and SIG look forward to the
next 60 years.”
To find out more about SIG Insulation, visit: http://www.siginsulation.co.uk/

@ecobuild_now #ecobuild
/ecobuildnow
Ecobuild is evolving with the industry,
focusing on the issues that matter the most.
Register for a free ticket: www.ecobuild.co.uk
Strategic Partners:

The Insulation Industry Trade Magazine
INSULATE
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Ecobuild’s Regeneration Return
Ecobuild returns on
7-9 March with an
overarching theme
of regeneration. The
event will provide a unique
opportunity for insulation
professionals to join the
construction industry’s
ongoing debates around
key issues, as well as the
chance to network with
hundreds of sector experts
and suppliers including
Hitachi, Oventrop, Celotex,
Recticel, Xtratherm, Reflex,
Altecnic and many more.
This year’s show will see
ExCeL London transformed
into a ‘city’ – complete
with a main street, distinct
destinations and special
feature attractions. As visitors
make their way through
the space, they will be
introduced to key destinations
including The Arena,
City Hall, The Campus, The
Gateway and The Performance
Lab.
City Hall
Sponsored by Saint-
Gobain, City Hall will be the
show’s sustainability hub
and home to the UK Green
Building Council (UK-GBC).
City Hall represents the
culmination of Ecobuild’s
‘Redefining Sustainability’
campaign to create an industry-wide
understanding
of sustainability objectives
and drivers, with a clear
direction for the future.
Key issues covered in the
‘Redefining Sustainability’
seminar programme, will
include carbon reduction
in the built environment,
explored in a session by the
UK-GBC, as well as possible
approaches to deliver
a low carbon city or neighbourhood.
www.insulatemagazine.co.uk

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Insulate Magazine
The Gateway
The Gateway is where visitors can explore
national and community-level
infrastructure projects, as well as a separate
seminar theatre dedicated to green
infrastructure.
The ‘Green Infrastructure’ seminar sessions
will discuss the various elements of
an integrated approach combining green
(natural), blue (water) and grey (engineered)
infrastructure, to combat the negative
effects of climate change and build
long-term urban resilience.
The Performance Lab
In association with the Chartered Institute
of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE),
The Performance Labwill showcase the
latest in energy efficiency and building
performance.
Across the three days, CIBSE will also
host a daily session on indoor health and
wellbeing, exploring how the WELL Standard
relates to existing sustainability standards
such as BREEAM and LEED.
Focus on Distric Energy
Ecobuild 2017 will also give insulation professionals
access to a special showcase
on district energy, the result of a brand new
partnership between Ecobuild and the UK
District Energy Association (ukDEA).
The ukDEA District Energy Town Square
will act as a focal point for visitors who
want to learn about the advantages of local
heating and cooling networks. Reflecting
growing interest in this topic, each day
of the show will focus on a different sector,
ranging from private and public sector
housing developers to universities and
campus-style networks.
For Insulation Professionals

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The Arena
The Arena will be home to the Ecobuild
Conference, sponsored by Skanska, staging
a range of keynote speeches from
industry thought leaders and innovators
across the three days.
Day one of the conference programme
will feature sessions exploring how the
industry can best deliver high quality,
sustainable and affordable homes while
seamlessly integrating them into existing
communities. It will also include a debate
on the benefits of offsite construction. Key
speakers on the day will include Lord Kerslake;
Professor Tim Broyd, President at
ICE, and Paul Westbury, Group Technical
Director at Laing O’Rourke.
Sessions on the second day will include
an industry leaders’ debate on the solutions
to the housing crisis, featuring a
panel including Jules Pipe, Deputy Mayor,
Planning Regeneration and Skills, Greater
London Authority.
Highlights on the third day include a discussion
on challenges and opportunities
for construction in the UK in light of Brexit,
particularly evaluating how this will impact
construction products and construction
design and methodology.
Free registration is now open for
visitors. For more information on this
year’s event, exhibitors and conference
visit www.ecobuild.co.uk
www.insulatemagazine.co.uk

The Insulate Magazine team caught up with
new British Urethane Foam Manufacturers
Association (BRUFMA) CEO,
Simon Storer for a brief interview about his
new role.
Hi Simon, firstly, congratulations on the new role,
what was the draw to the insulation industry?
Thank you for having me, the draw for me was that
I had knowledge of the insulation sector from my
time in construction, I see the importance of insulation
in assisting in the UK reaching its 2050 climate
targets and the role of BRUFMA and the companies
that we represent having a huge benefit on the
housing stock in the UK and on the built environment
in general.
You mention a background in construction; can you
tell us more about that?
I’ve spent most of my career in construction, I spent
eight years in construction manufacturing, moving
into infrastructure in 1985 working on the Channel
Tunnel. In 1995 I delivered the Faraday lecture
to 100,000 people directly along with a further
two million on television, I then worked alongside
Levitt Bernstein as communications consultant for
the Holly St development in London. I then spent
eight years at the Construction Products Association
(CPA).
For readers who may have never heard of BRUFMA,
what does the organisation do?
We represent all UK manufacturers in the PIR/PUR
insulation market, which represents 50% of the
insulation market as a whole, we act as a conduit of
information which enables us to both lead and follow
the experts within the organisations we represent,
which in turn benefits specifiers and end users
alike.
our members have the highest technical knowledge
of the sector and we intend to capitalise on that to
position BRUFMA as part of the fabric of the
industry.
Sounds Great, so much more presence and a voice for
the members?
Absolutely!
We’ve recently received the Bonfield review, how do
you see it having impact on the industry?
As an organisation, we welcome the review, but we
now have to see how Peter Bonfield’s recommendations
are implemented and what we can all do
to make this happen. The key progress will be to
move from proposals to implementation. It’s clear
that preparation, measurement and assessment will
be critical, so let’s hope the government is serious
about bringing the built environment and especially
the housing stock up to a higher standard of energy
efficiency. We have the ability and the products to
achieve this, the issue now is about how it can be
delivered, how it will be paid for and to maintain
the confidence of the end user.
You’ve kindly offered to contribute a monthly column
to Insulate Magazine, what can our readers expect?
More comment on the issues we’ve discussed today
along with a balanced look at the industry as we
continue to grow.
We really appreciate you talking to us and good look
in your new role.
We understand we will be hearing much more from
BRUFMA in the coming months, what are the plans?
We are looking to expand our access and get a seat
at the table when it comes to legislation and regulation
within the insulation industry,

The Insulation Industry Trade Magazine
NIA highlights new
PAS2030 for Insulation
Projects and Reasons to
Choose NIA Members
The National Insulation Association (NIA)
is advising specifiers and industry of the
new revised PAS2030 which will be published
at the end of January and will govern
the national standards that installers
must work to in the installation of energy
efficiency measures.
The new PAS2030 will be more comprehensive
and robust than the current one
and include the following additional items:
The initial assessment of properties for
suitability to receive the measures.
The system design and design detailing.
Specific industry standards and specifications
setting out the standards all installers
must work to such as the new NIA Specification
for installing EWI with fuel burning
appliances, Room in Roof Insulation survey
form and best practice guide and loft
insulation specification.
Stricter competency ratios (number of
trained operatives) per site.
All sub-contractors will need to be
PAS2030 accredited as well as the main
contractor.
Neil Marshall Chief Executive of the NIA
commented: “Whilst the improvements to
PAS2030 are welcomed, they will only be
as effective as the strength of the policing
and enforcement by the PAS2030 Certification
Bodies. “Therefore the NIA is adding
the requirement for our members to adhere
INSULATE
strictly to the new PAS2030 to our rules of
membership. If we then receive reports/
complaints from householders or
specifiers of insulation works that an NIA
installer member is not complying with
PAS2030 we will investigate this and take
strong disciplinary action which can include
suspension or expulsion if a breech is
found.
“We would therefore urge householders
and specifiers of insulation works including
Local Authorities, Housing Associations,
Energy Companies, Builders and Architects
to choose NIA members to carry out
work and incorporate a requirement for
NIA membership in their future tenders for
insulation projects as this will provide an
additional level of assurance, enforcement
and recourse.
“To help specifiers in this regard we have
introduced a new ‘Expressions of Interest
and Tender Request’ Service whereby if
specifiers provide us with details of projects
and specifications we will circulate
these to our members saving specifiers
time and money.”
Specifiers interested in
the service should contact
Bev Hodson at the
NIA bev.hodson@nia-uk.
org or call 01525 383313
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www.insulatemagazine.co.uk

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Insulate Magazine
Safe from Sound –
Overcoming the Conflicting
Requirements for Thermal
and Acoustic Insulation
City populations are continuing to grow, with ONS research suggesting that areas
such as London’s Tower Hamlets could be home to 25% more residents in 2024
than in 2016. As a result of this, developers are increasingly looking to the use of
large-scale apartment buildings to meet demand in urban areas.
However, creating new homes in urban areas means that noise levels within apartments
must be considered and balanced with providing high quality thermal insulation, with
both qualities required in order to maximise resident comfort.
This has been recognised by the imposition of the Building Regulations’ Approved
Document L, Conservation of Fuel and Power, (ADL) and Approved Document Part E,
Resistance to the Passage of Sound, (ADE).
The Challenge
The challenge for designers is that the requirements laid out in the approved documents
must be met in the construction of all new properties, but ADL and ADE’s requirements
can be seen as contradictory, making it difficult to achieve one without having a negative
impact on the other.
For Insulation Professionals
One of the key causes of this contradiction is the use of the Standard Assessment
Procedure (SAP) as a means of identifying a dwelling’s thermal performance under Part
L of the Building Regulations. Often, project designers work with SAP to identify the most
thermally efficient wall construction method, with lightweight blocks and PIR insulation
boards being particularly effective for both external and party walls, creating a consistent
design.
However, many acoustic specialists recommend the use of different materials to reduce
the travel of sound, opting to specify medium or dense blocks to combat low frequency
sound waves and mineral wool to attenuate high frequency waves, with the two being
used together to provide the best results.

The Insulation Industry Trade Magazine
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While these two approaches should be complimentary, especially considering that both
ADL and ADE should be met for all new residential developments, this simply isn’t the
case. Taking the thermally efficient approach laid out by SAP can lead to a failure tomeet
ADE, and vice versa.
Fortunately, There is a Solution
The Robust Details® scheme serves as an alternative to carrying out pre-completion
sound testing as a means of meeting Approved Document E requirements. In essence,
the Robust Details® handbook provides a list of pre-approved construction types, which
can not only meet ADE, but that will also satisfy ADL provided suitable care is taken.
Striking the balance between meeting ADE and ADL requirements can be complex, even
when using Robust Details® guidance. This can be greatly simplified by working with
specialists who have in-depth knowledge of this field, and in particular those which work
with the two areas simultaneously, such as SIG360.
Work With The Experts
In addition, working with experts can also allow compromises to be made in the
wall specification by examining cold bridging details and working with psi values to calculate
heat loss from each junction, for instance between walls, floors and roofs which could
provide a cost effective compromise in the solutions available. Similarly, fire-stopping
measures such as fire socks and barriers must be considered for compliance with Part B
of the Building regulations.
By working with specialist technical experts, specifiers, developers and architects
can have the best of both worlds, providing future residents with a space that is
not only thermally efficient and cost-effective in terms of energy bills by meeting
ADL, but which also provides a comfortable, quiet living space in accordance with
ADE.
www.insulatemagazine.co.uk

SOUND REDUCTION
Superior sound insulation helps reduce unwanted
noise from both internal and external sources.
THERMAL PERFORMANCE
Stone wool insulation doesn’t just keep buildings warm
today, it maintains its insulating properties for years to come.
© 2016 ROCKWOOL Ltd. All rights reserved.
DIMENSIONAL STABILITY
Density, volume and structural integrity provide
a perfect fit for maintaining performance.

This is ROCK, re-engineered
for a fast, easy and perfect fit.
From volcanic rock to high performance building insulation. See
ROCK re-engineered to provide high performance insulation solutions
for today’s building projects. ROCKWOOL insulation is easy to use,
dense, durable and performs because of its origins in natural stone.
Discover how the transformation happens, and why ROCKWOOL
insulation performs consistently across so many applications.
SEARCH ROCKWOOL INSULATION ORIGINS

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BIM ready becomes BIM steady
Over the last ten years or so, the building and construction industry, like virtually
everybody else, has been enjoying all the technical advancements of a
digital age. A big part of that has been the introduction of BIM (Building Information
Modelling) and the considerable benefits to architects and specifiers
of the virtual world that has been created to make product selection infinitely quicker and
easier. Manufacturers, too, see the advantages of placing their products in BIM models
for easy selection by their potential customers
Over Populated
However, as with the emergence of many things new and fancy, it can all get a bit out
of hand. BIM libraries are cropping up all over the place and the competition for product
selection is spiralling. What was once a breath of fresh air has, for some specifiers, become
polluted with degrees of uncertainty with regard to correct or reliable product detail
specifications. That’s when the specifier/architect becomes frustrated, and with good
reason, because having found what they want at the BIM library, they later discover that
the details on the virtual object do not match up with its real life counterpart. Moreover,
the more BIM repositories expand as a major source of product selection, the more the
selection process becomes a source of exasperation.
BBA BIM Solution
So, as with anything that gets a little shaky, a little discipline needs to be applied, and
the good news is the British Board of Agrément (BBA) have decided to do something
to help. Rumour has it that the UK’s leading construction products certification body is
getting ready to launch a new certification service to regulate BIM objects for easy and
reliable selection, bringing a source of relief to manufacturers and making life easier for
specifiers.
Industry Know How
It’s the kind of thing the BBA are used to. After all, they’ve been around a long time and
are custodians of good detail, so matching the spec on BIM products against their real
life counterpart should be right up their virtual street. This new service could be a
welcome solution to a frustrating issue that has been spoiling an otherwise successful
and highly useful development in modern building technology. That’s good news for
everyone involved in the process, from architects and specifiers to manufacturers and
customers.
Insulate Magazine Issue 1

The
National
Insulation
Industry
Awards
2017
www.insulationawards.co.uk

27th June
Great Hall
Birmingham
7pm
Entry Now Open
www.insulationawards.co.uk

The National Insulation Industry Awards (NIIA) has announced
that Lord Deben, Chairman of the Committee
on Climate Change is be on its judging panel and that he
will also be addressing the event.
Colin Heath, M4 Publishing & Events Managing Director
commented: “We are extremely lucky and delighted that
Lord Deben is to provide his wealth of experience to the
awards judging panel and we are looking forward to his
speech at our awards which is the insulation industry’s
largest stand-alone event of the year.
Lord Deben, Chairman of the Committee on Climate
Change, said: “I’m very pleased to be joining the National
Insulation Industry Awards judging panel. Heating and hot
water account for around 20% of the UK’s greenhouse
gas emissions. How we go about insulating our homes
and offices is absolutely crucial to reducing those emissions.
I look forward to seeing some truly innovative insulation
solutions to help drive up UK energy efficiency.”
The prestigious awards will be taking place at the Great
Hall in Birmingham on Tuesday June 27th with Grand
Designs Presenter Kevin McCloud as host. A total of 15
awards will showcase the diverse range of talents within
the industry from manufacturers to installers and from
system designers to apprentices.
The Awards are now open, are free to enter www.insulationawards.co.uk/entry
and have a closing date of 20th
March with the shortlist being announced on April 3rd.
For further information on the awards and how to enter
visit www.insulationawards.co.uk/ or contact
Claire Harries on:
T: +44 (0) 1948 759 351
E: claire@m4pe.co.uk
Next Month
Design objective
solutions
BIM
Energy efficiency
everywhere
Material’s world

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Insulate Magazine
Understanding Thermal Bridging
Thermal bridges are localised areas in the thermal envelope of a building where
there is increased heat loss. A building envelope will have 2 types of thermal
bridge:
Repeating thermal bridges
Repeating thermal bridges are accounted for in the calculation of a buildings U-
values (U-values measure how effective a material is an insulator). Any material that
penetrates the insulation repeatedly and predictably in a heat loss element would be
classed as a repeating thermal bridge. Examples of this type of repeating thermal
bridge are mortar joints in a masonry wall or timber studs in a timber framed construction.
The increased heat loss from these materials is incorporated into the U-
value calculation through bridging factors.
For Insulation Professionals
Non-repeating thermal bridges
Non-repeating thermal bridges occur where building elements meet i.e. walls / floors
or walls / roof and around windows. Psi (Ψ)-values (pronounced ‘si’) are the numerical
value used to measure the amount of heat loss from these junctions.

The Insulation Industry Trade Magazine
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The Effect of Thermal Bridging
Over recent years the effect of heat loss through non-repeating thermal junctions on the
performance of a building in complying with Part L has become more and more pronounced.
It is quite a rare occurrence now to find a Part L1A 2013 SAP Calculation that
has not included an assessment of the buildings thermal bridging lengths. Recent research
suggests now that as buildings are better insulated that up to 30% of a buildings
heat loss can come through its non-repeating thermal junctions.
The Growing
Availability of
Calculated PSI Values
Many building material and insulation providers have now calculated their own set of psi
values for customers to use.
These calculated psi values are becoming a differentiating factor within the construction
industry. Buildings that are able to qualify for the use of these calculated psi values will
find enhanced thermal performance in the completion of the SAP Calculation which will
ease compliance with Part L.
Non-Traditional Construction Methods
Although there has been a growing awareness of the importance and impact of thermal
bridges on the performance of a SAP Calculation, there are still some parts of the
construction industry that this information has yet to reach. Any building project where
calculated psi values are not available for use will see an increase in heat loss through
non-repeating junctions of their building and there will be a noticeable decrease in the
thermal performance of the SAP Calculation, leading to additional spend and specification
elsewhere to compensate for this loss.
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Insulate Magazine
Well Well Well
There has been a lot of talk over the past decade about the energy efficiency of our
buildings. More recently the conversation has shifted to start to include the impact that
buildings are having on our health. One of the other values that is calculated with every
psi value is the surface temperature factor. This value is used to assess the risk of
mould growth through these parts of the building. Moulds produce allergens, irritants and
even toxic substances and can cause asthma attacks and other respiratory illnesses.
Small Gains
For Insulation Professionals
The calculation and use of psi values is now something that every construction project
should incorporate. A calculated psi value is not project specific but related to the
construction method and so can be used repeatedly of subsequent projects whether
the same construction specification is used. This makes the calculation of psi values a
very cost effective solution to energy conservation and energy efficiency. Through using
calculated psi values the heat loss of a building can be more accurately illustrated which
will help SAP Calculations comply more readily with Part L. This will save money from
being invested in other aspects of the building which would be needed to compensate
for the poor thermal performance at the buildings thermal junctions.
As experts in sustainability and energy efficiency we can help you to achieve enhanced
thermal performance and carry out your SAP Calculations which will ease compliance
with Part L Regulations. Wellbeing is a huge consideration for us and we will help you
ensure your building is not only efficient but also a healthier place to be.
Written by Michael Brogden, Technical Director,
Darren Evans Assessments www.darren-evans.co.uk

Insulation
Our latest arrivals have landed...
...offering you 4 new lower lambda
products to choose from
Kingspan Kooltherm ® K103 Floorboard, K110 and K110 PLUS Soffit Board,
and K118 Insulated Plasterboard feature an advanced, fibre-free insulation
core, enabling them to achieve an outstanding thermal conductivity of
0.018 W/m . K. As a result, the products can enable buildings to be built to
the upper levels of fabric performance with minimal thickness.
Further information on the Kingspan
range is available on:
+44 (0) 1544 387 384
literature@kingspaninsulation.co.uk
www.kingspaninsulation.co.uk
Pembridge, Leominster, Herefordshire HR6 9LA, UK
www.kingspaninsulation.co.uk/lowerlambda
®
Kingspan, Kooltherm and the Lion Device are Registered Trademarks of
the Kingspan Group plc in the UK and other countries. All rights reserved.

I
Insulate Magazine
10 Steps to Acoustic Specification
(Part one)
What is the Definition of ‘Noise’?
It is simply unwanted sound and more often than not it will not only be an irritation but
also a health and safety issue. If you are considering the specification of an acoustic
material, then chances are you have a ‘noise’ problem. In the first in a series of blogs,
Mike Carrick AMIOA, Head of Acoustics at Siderise Group, examines the source and the
receiver, the first two steps to acoustic specification to mitigate against noise.
Step 1 - Understand the Source
Whatever the source is, it will have a noise level,so the first thing to do is to ascertain
that level, either by field instruments using a sound level meter or by manufacturers’
data if the source is a machine or similar. Ideally the data should be presented in Octave
Bands or 1/3rd Octave Bands. Otherwise a single numerical value in dB(A), which will
refer to either Sound Power (LW) or Sound Pressure (LP).
How does the source emit the sound energy? Is it airborne sound, structure-borne sound
or a combination of both? Voices are generally airborne while a hammer hitting an object
is generally impact/structure borne. A pump or speaker will generally be both airborne
and structure borne, caused by vibrations transmitting through a rigid material. Whatever
the source, the percentage attributed to each method will vary.
Step 2 - Understand the Receiver
The receiver is quite simply the person or persons who hears the noise and
finds it unacceptable.
For Insulation Professionals
In some instances, the remedial action would be to reduce the noise at source either by
turning the volume down on a radio, or enclose the source with sound insulating materials.
For example a pump could be mounted on rubber anti-vibration mats and enclosed
with a combination of high mass and sound absorbent linings. Sometimes this is not possible
due to the size of source and the practicality, as well as the need to feed the source
with air or material etc.
If reducing noise at source is not possible, then it may be possible to insulate the receiver.
A good example of this would be an acoustic control room in a noisy factory. This
is where the workers are in a relatively small insulated room, or noise haven, inside a
larger factory, providing protection from the harsh noise of machinery.
In my next blog, I’ll look at identifying the sound path and consider how sound energy
travels from the source to the receiver. I’ll also lift the lid on acoustic terminology and
bring some light to this dark art.
For further information about SIDERISE or for specific technical advice visit:
www.siderise.com, email technical@siderise.com, or call 01656 730833

SIG360 work with us
on site, to ensure we
not only meet our
client’s needs but
exceed them.
NEIL HARRISON
HARRISON PROJECTS
AN SIG CUSTOMER
BUILD YOUR NAME ON US
Providing impartial
product advice
The SIG360 Technical Centre is a service offering from SIG, that focuses on helping customers
deliver energy efficient buildings.
Through an intimate knowledge of building regulations and product performance, brought
about through more than 50 years specialising in the energy efficiency of the fabric of a
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If you are seeking impartial advice on the fabric energy efficiency of your building contact
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