Lightweight floors are in line with a sustainable construction concept and have become increasingly popular in residential buildings. The acoustic performance of such floors plays a pivotal role in the overall building quality rating. There is, however, no clear and complete method to predict their impact sound insulation. A new approximation method and new acoustic indicators—equivalent weighted normalized impact sound pressure levels for lightweight floors—are proposed and outlined in this article. The prediction procedure and indicator values were initially validated on the basis of laboratory measurements taken for different lightweight floors with the same well-defined floor covering. These preliminary analyses and comparisons show that the proposed method is promising and should be fully developed on the basis of further research.

The acoustic performance of floors plays a primary role in the total quality rating of a residential building. The sound insulation of lightweight frame floors, which are increasingly being used in housing, depends on a number of factors and technical details. In effect, the sound transmission scheme is distinctly more complicated than in the case of homogeneous massive partitions. The aim of the study was to develop effective insulating layers of lightweight floors intended for use in residential buildings. The floor system should satisfy legal requirements in terms of airborne and impact sound insulation. The research was based on laboratory measurements taken in a standard test facility. Ten different models of wood and metal floors were considered. The acoustic performance of their basic structure was insufficient; however, the application of effective floating floors and suspended ceilings improved it greatly and succeeded in potential meeting requirements and satisfying most inhabitants’ expectations. The results demonstrate how different lightweight floor components influence the acoustic performance of the floor and how the insulating layers cooperate when applied together. The findings will be useful in working on a new floor design and optimizing its structure in terms of acoustics.

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Airborne and impact sound insulation of composite panels arranged in different configurations were investigated in this study. The use of Fiber Reinforced Polymers (FRPs) in the building industry is growing; however, poor acoustic performance is a critical issue for their general employment in residential buildings. The study aimed to investigate possible methods of improvement. The principal research question involved the development of a composite floor satisfying acoustic expectations in dwellings. The study was based on the results of laboratory measurements. The airborne sound insulation of single panels was too low to meet any requirements. The double structure improved the sound insulation radically at middle and high frequencies but the single number values were still not satisfactory. Finally, the panel equipped with the suspended ceiling and floating screed achieved adequate level of performance. Regarding impact sound insulation, the lightweight floor coverings were ineffective and they even enhanced sound transmission in the middle frequency range. Heavy floating screeds behaved much better but the improvement was too small to satisfy acoustic requirements in residential buildings. The composite floor with a dry floating screed and a suspended ceiling appeared satisfactory with respect to airborne and impact sound insulation; the single number values were Rw (C; Ctr) = 61 (−2; −7) dB, and Ln,w = 49 dB, respectively. The results and conclusions outline directions for further development of an effective floor structure.

Lightweight frame structures become increasingly popular in housing. They are used in single-, as well as multifamily, residential buildings. Such a tendency is in the line with sustainable development and the need for energy conservation. Lightweight frame partitions provide a certain comfort of life and remain environmentally friendly. However, they are tricky in terms of acoustics. Different factors and technical details influence their sound insulation. The paper presents the analysis of the acoustical effects resulting from different layers used on lightweight frame floors. Airborne, as well as impact sound insulation, have been considered, based on the results of laboratory measurements according to ISO 10140 standard.