Home is where we should feel secure, healthy and comfortable.

Quieter homes can make a valuable contribution to the health and well-being of occupants. Also, homes which can maintain stable indoor temperatures, irrespective of external fluctuations contribute to a comfortable living environment. Both of these features of modern comfortable living are enhanced by using concrete’s natural properties. 

Sound Insulation

Sound insulation from noisy external environments and between properties is increasingly recognised as an important requirement for new homes. Concrete walls and floors provide high levels of sound insulation across a wide range of frequencies, thereby reducing noise levels in homes. This is achieved by the inherent mass, stiffness and damping properties of concrete.

• Concrete’s mass properties can lead to significant attenuation of sound and vibration at all sound frequencies.

• Concrete’s stiffness reduces the capability of structural wall and floor elements to transfer sound energy into the air of adjoining rooms and cavities.

• Concrete has the highest damping properties of any structural material, thereby reducing the impact of noise vibration.

Concrete Floors

Concrete slabs between ground and first floor level greatly reduce sound transfer throughout the dwelling. The mass of the slabs mean that they provide superior sound resistance to any traditional timber joist system. In many cases sound transfer between levels is almost eliminated. Concrete can also be used in in the staircase providing additional tranquillity to occupants.

Internal Temperatures

Did you know that concrete can store heat energy and that, later on, this energy is then released? This effect, which is due to the high ‘thermal mass’ of concrete, makes buildings more energy efficient, lowers CO2 emissions, and improves well-being and comfort.

Concrete’s thermal mass has two effects in a building. It moderates internal temperatures and it delays the time at which peak temperatures occur. In effect, daytime temperatures in a heavyweight building, such as a concrete or masonry built building, will peak lower and later than in a lightweight building and temperatures will not drop as much over the course of the night. Concrete’s thermal mass can therefore reduce the heating and cooling requirement of buildings, providing substantial energy savings while producing a comfortable living environment.

Concrete floors and stairs greatly reduce noise transfer throughout a building.

Concrete’s thermal mass means that indoor temperatures can remain stable irrespective of external fluctuations.

Concrete has the highest sound damping properties of any construction material.

 

‘Fabric First with Concrete’ – The first step to maximise the building’s performance!