In designing homes, sound is an aspect that is usually neglected.
Designers and engineers focus mainly on the materials and the build aspects of
the house itself--the electric wiring, water pipes, and other aspects
considered more technical are given more priority. The acoustics of the house,
more often than not, is not really given that much thought until the situation
calls for it.
Nowadays, we live in a very noisy world. Our homes may be located in a
very busy neighborhood; the passing cars outside, the party held next door, or
the dog in the yard may keep us from having a good night’s rest. Moreover, this
problem may go the other way. For example, our neighbors may complain that our
television has been too loud at night, your sister may have been blasting her
stereo too blaringly that the peace in the entire house is disrupted, or the
sound of your mom vacuuming on Sunday mornings may interrupt your sleep.
It is undeniable that we have experienced at least one of the
circumstances aforementioned, and thus the main point is reiterated--acoustics
is a major and prevalent problem that we have been ignoring, and we must take
further actions to improve our standard of living.
How Sound Works
Sound is made up of vibrations that propagates as waves through a given
medium such as air. And since it travels as waves, it can be absorbed,
diffused, reflected, or transmitted. When sound is absorbed, it is
minimized and is quieted down; this effect is achieved through carpets and
thick curtains. On the other hand, when sound is diffused, it scatters--it is
heard in a much larger area. When sound is reflected, it bounces off a surface,
and when it is transmitted, it passes through surfaces and enters other spaces.
As mentioned, sound may be absorbed--acoustic insulation may be
installed in our homes to pacify the noise and make the environment more
peaceful and living-conducive.
How Acoustic Insulation Works
A lot of us prefer that our homes have little to no noise as
disturbance, and that our noise inside would not reach the outside world; as
much as possible, we would want our homes to be as quiet and as private.
Advancements in technology have come up with solutions to this daily dilemma,
and one of these is acoustic insulation.
Acoustic insulation limits the mobility of the sound waves by reducing
the transmission of sound from one area to another through a material that
absorbs and inhibits vibration. Insulators may be installed in your
homes’ walls, ceilings, or floors; these insulators envelope the source of
noise and form a barrier, absorbing the vibrations and preventing them from
propagating further.
Conclusion
Noise is a problem we most probably didn’t think we had until now, but
we would be surprised of the impact it has been making on our lives once we
start addressing it. Once our homes are much quieter and much more peaceful, we
would be surprised by the stark difference. This positive change may increase
productivity since it eliminates distractions; our houses would be more like
homes, and the overall quality of our lives would be so much better.
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