Hi there,

I am planning to deeply refresh a flat in the city. I am particularly focused on isolation and energy economy matters, as well as soundproofing the flat.

In the same time, I really need to be able to use my smartphone and my wifi in the flat. That is why I am afraid that some material used in the process of isolating/soundproofing the flat will prevent me from using my devices(laptop, cell phone) properly, because they would be impermeable to radiowaves. I thought about that because I was in a music studio, and I couldn't use my phone there.

Have you ever heard of some study comparing radiowave permeability of materials (cork, glass wool,...) ?

Thanks in advance

Cheers,

MG

That data is available if you search for it. In general, avoid large areas of metal and you will be OK.

No radiant barrier foolishness.

A friend that is in the cell phone business for commercial applications has mentioned that when companies install energy saving windows that they sometimes have problems with cell phone service. Presumably the metal films on the windows tend to degrade the cell phone signals. As jonr said, metals and metal films are usually the culprits.

When I worked for a disk drive mfg, they would test their equipment in a special building to be able to comply with FCC regs. I am not an engineer, but I do recall a Faraday cage. IIRC, it is a metal mesh wrapped area that prevents interference from radio waves for testing.

So a structure using many metal products, like outer surfaces, ductwork, etc. can have an impact on normal electronic signals. Perhaps there are antenna type devices that can be attached to your roof and connected to a router or something to insure good signal strength.

Materials have to be either somewhat conductive to electricity (as low-E coatings on windows tend to be) or have a significant magnetic reluctance (which very few non-metal building materirals have) to have much affect on radio frequency (RF) emissions. Aluminum facers on insulation and aluminized "radiant barriers" would be the most likely commonly used building materials to have an effect on RF, but some ceramic roofing can also have an effect.

Cork/caulk//mineral/fiberglass/cellulose/spray foam etc. used for air sealing and sound abatement have essentially no effect on RF in the frequency bands you care about.