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| 1. |
What is a FIIC ? |
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A FIIC is a rating indicating the acoustic insulation
of a floor to impact noises. An example of an impact
noise is the sound generated when we walk or drop
a heavy object on the floor. The FIIC rating represents
what our downstairs neighbors hear. The sound could
be very loud in our apartment but with a good acoustic
insulation, our downstairs neighbors will hardly
hear a sound. The acoustic membrane will have reduced
or stopped the impact noises from going through
the floor structure. |
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| 2. |
What is the difference between FIIC and IIC ? |
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The 2 acronyms represent the same experience simply done in a different environment. The IIC rating is always higher because the experiment is done in a controlled environment (in laboratory). FIIC experimentation is done in a real building where quality of construction and materials affect the result. A IIC rating can be 2 to 3 points higher than a FIIC rating for the same floor structure. Acousti-Tech® chose to perform FIIC experiments because the results are more realistic.
FIIC = "Field Impact Insulation class" : field
testing to impact noises
IIC = "Impact Insulation class" : laboratory testing
to impact noises
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| 3. |
What is a FSTC ? |
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A FSTC indicates airborne noises transmission. FSTC means the test has been done in a real building and STC rating represents a test done in laboratory.
All testing was done according with the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards. All Acousti-Tech testings were performed by an professional acoustician who has the knowledge and equipment needed to perform reliable acoustic tests.
ASTM tests
ASTM E336 FSTC or STC measurement of airborne noises
ASTM E413 FSTC or STC rating
ASTM E1007 FIIC or IIC measurement of impact noises
ASTM E989 FIIC or IIC rating |
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| 4. |
What would be a good FIIC rating ? |
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Here is an indication of what you should be looking for:
National Building Code of Canada 1995 demands FIIC rating of 55.
FIIC of 58 Very comfortable acoustic insulation
FIIC of 60 Excellent acoustic insulation
FIIC of 62 and up Superior acoustic insulation
To reach a FIIC of 62, you need a very performant acoustic insulation. It is easier to go from a FIIC of 55 to a 60 than from a FIIC of 60 to a 62. Higher the FIIC, harder it is to obtain a higher rating. The same membrane used along with different floor structures will obtain different FIIC ratings. |
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5. |
Is a dB rating reliable to indicate sound insulation ? |
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No. A decibel (dB) is the unit of measurement for sound intensity. For example, human voice is measured at about 65 dB; music in a nightclub could be as high as 105 dB. A dB rating alone gives no indication of sound insulation. |
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| 6. |
Are mechanical properties of an underlayment important ? |
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Yes. The membrane will even out minor subfloor irregularities making floor covering installation easier. Cerami-Tech® membrane prevents subfloor cracks from transferring to the ceramic tiles. |
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| 7. |
What are the benefits of the membrane reflective property ? |
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The membrane will reflect warmth back into the room instead of letting it go through the floor. Consequently, the floor covering will stay warmer. |
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| 8. |
Can
parquet be glued down over TECHTM
acoustic membrane |
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Yes. However, it is important to use a rubber-based adhesive such as Acousti-Tech® AD-316. Most of parquet adhesives are waterbased; using it could be problematic because the membrane would absorb water. This water will eventually evaporates and could cause the wood to warp. |
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| 9. |
Can TECHTM membrane be installed over vinyl ? |
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Yes, but the vinyl must be sanded and free of any residue. If you want to remove the old vinyl floor covering, the remaining glue also needs to be removed before you install AD-316 or TECHTM membrane. |
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10. |
Can I nail a solid hardwood floor through TECHTM membrane ? |
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Yes, but the sound deadening performance of such a structure would be inferior of what could be obtained without perforating the membrane since the sound would travel through the nails. In two-storey houses, such installation gives satisfying results.
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11. |
What about TECHTM membrane longevity ? |
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TECHTM membranes are made of inert material. Therefore, they do not react to humidity and will not go mouldy. A floor covering is often installed for 20, 30 years or even longer. Because of its great resistance and mechanical strength, TECHTM membranes will last as long as your floor and even longer.
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Other keywords used : acoustic
membrane I acoustical membrane I soundproofing
floors I sound deadening products I floor insulation
I acoustical underlayment I sound absorption I
sound barriers I sound reduction I soundproofing
I sound absorber I sound insulation I noise barriers
I acoustic insulation I soundproof materials
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