sound characteristics of steel sips > GreenBuildingTalk - Green Building Forums on Insulating Concrete Forms (ICF), Structural Insulated Panels (SIP), Radiant Heating, Geothermal Heat Pumps, Solar Power

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randomhitz User is Offline

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05/30/2008 12:08 AM
There was an earlier thread on this forum that asked the question of whether or not sips built structures had a "hollow" kind of sound when excited by some force directly on the structure, say like the slamming of a door. This was my experience in the one sips structure in which i spent any tlme. It was not objectionable to any degree, but it was there. My armchair theory is that the uniformity of the panels make them have a slight tympanic quality, like a very large drumhead. So my question is directed to Chris. Does the even lighter mass membrane of the steel sip panel have a different sonic quality than the osb version. I'm talking about the sound you would hear if you pounded on the wall with your fist or slammed a door. Thanks to anyone who wants to weigh in on this

cmkavala

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05/30/2008 7:36 AM
Random; I have never noticed door slamming , as being a problem, I think the main diference with an OSB and Steel SIP is we utilize a 1-1/2" steel furring strip with the that isolates the drywall from the surface of the panel skin, diminishing any sound transfer The OSB with drywall attached directly to the osb skin is not as effective with sound transfer. It is well documented that steel studs are much better for STC ratings and I beleive it's because steel studs have less surface area than wood I have only built 3 OSB buildings and about 75 Steel, sound STC was not a major reason why I switched to steel My own home has a 15 KW standby generator 18" from the side of the house, when it runs I cannot hear it unless I get in the room/wall right next to it

Chris Kavala chris@southernsips.com 1-877-321-SIPS

Jelly

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05/30/2008 11:30 AM
Chris, is there/ do you know an average STC rating for Steel SIPS?

cmkavala

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05/30/2008 1:49 PM
Posted By Jelly on 05/30/2008 11:30 AM Chris, is there/ do you know an average STC rating for Steel SIPS? 50 sticks in my mind, without furring/drywall and exterior cladding

Chris Kavala chris@southernsips.com 1-877-321-SIPS

The Panel Guy User is Offline

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05/31/2008 2:29 AM
I'd have to do some research to find the actual STC ratings of SIPs, which I've done in the past, but I can speak from experience at this time. SIPs perform well against the high end noises, It's the low end sounds that causes actual STC rating for SIPs to be low. It has been my experience that SIP structures are quiet overall. I use them for interior sound walls all the time. I do add 1/2 inch sound board to each side of the wall, just to add an additional layer to the deadening of noise transferring through the wall. An actual test case was where a mechanical room was just on the other side of the wall of the master bedroom. I would normally build a 2 x 6 wall with 2 x 4's staggered so there was no direct member to transfer the sound from one side to the other, shove in sound batts and then cover each side with 1/2 inch sound board. Thought I'd try something different, so I used a 4 1/2 inch SIP, added the 1/2 inch sound board to each side and covered with sheetrock. With the door of the master shut you could not hear the furnace rumbling, but step out into the hallway and you instantly heard the furnace. Ever since then, I found myself a tried and true sound wall. SIP floor systems for between floor applications is not recommended as it has been proven that SIPs will have a drumming effect when they are walked on. The Panel guy

cmkavala

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05/31/2008 8:12 AM
Posted By The Panel Guy on 05/31/2008 2:29 AM I do add 1/2 inch sound board to each side of the wall, just to add an additional layer to the deadening of noise transferring through the wall. The Panel guy No need to do any research, its the 1/2" sound board doing the work not the panel

Chris Kavala chris@southernsips.com 1-877-321-SIPS

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