The new acoustica range of underlays have been developed to significantly reduce the impact of noise.

There are many products out in the market claiming to be acoustic underlays. Nearly all flaunt test figures quoting Impact Noise reduction figures of 18dB and higher. However the impact test does not measure how noisy the laminate can make the inside of the room, it measures the amount of sound transferred between rooms. Moreover most of these tests have only been carried out on the underlay alone, without the actual wood or laminate!

The leading acoustic laboratories and universities worked for two years to come up with a meaningful test to help identify and measure the best materials to produce the quietest room conditions. The new test measures the noise created from a tapping machine under strict laboratory conditions. The single value measurement is called a SONE. The lower the SONE value the less noise in the room.

Below is a graph that compares several laminate, so called acoustic, underlays to the new SONE standard.



Other key factors about the Acoustica range of underlays

Durability
Acoustica is durable and can last the test of time.

Underfoot Comfort
Used with wood and laminate floors the degree of comfort from an underlay will be limited, but some cushioning can actually protect the floor when items are accidentally dropped or if someone has a fall.

Absorbs Minor floor Imperfections
With most floors never being perfectly flat, Acoustica can adequately cover minor floor imperfections.
Barrier to stop ingress of moisture
Two of the acoustica underlays have a membrane to stop the ingress of moisture, especially useful with concrete and screeded floors.

Heat Insulation
Most types of underlay will provide some form of thermal insulation, but due to the nominal thickness of these types of underlays they can be effectively used on areas with underfloor heating.

For further details go to: www.floorwise.co.uk/und001.htm.

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