Performance testing
A series of comprehensive test programs to establish airborne sound insulation performance of Kilargo acoustic seals have been carried out at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) acoustic laboratory in Australia and Sound Research Laboratories (SRL) in the United Kingdom.
Tests were conducted using:
- AS1191:2002 – Acoustics – Method for laboratory measurement of airborne sound insulation of building elements
- ISO 140-3:1995 – Acoustics – Methods of measurements of sound insulation in buildings & of building elements. Part 3 – Laboratory measurements of airborne sound insulation of building elements.
They were tested in accordance with:
- AS1276-1:1999 – Acoustics – Rating of sound insulation in buildings & building elements. Part 1 – Airborne Sound Insulation
- ISO 717-1:1997 – Acoustics – Rating of sound insulation in buildings & of building elements. Part 1 – Airborne Sound Insulation.
Building regulations
Building regulations exist to ensure the safety and comfort of people entering or using a building.
The Building Code of Australia 2011 sets out specific sound insulation acoustic performance requirements for door assemblies in a number of situations. Section F5.5 and Section F2.4.6 require a door assembly in a Class 2, Class 3 or Class 9C building – which separates a sole-occupancy unit from a stairway, public corridor, public lobby or the like – to have a minimum sound insulation rating of Rw30. Building classes are categorised as:
- Class 2 buildings: apartment buildings & blocks of flats
- Class 3 buildings: hotels, motels & larger boarding houses
- Class 9C buildings: aged care buildings.
Please check with your local regulatory authority to determine what regulations may exist for your region.
Acoustic sealing systems
Under test conditions, door assemblies are tested with standard operational clearances in the following three conditions.
- Un-caulked – with no seals present around the door perimeter & threshold.
- Fully-caulked – all perimeter and threshold gaps are completely sealed with a high density putty to determine the maximum possible acoustic performance of the door assembly.
- Un-caulked but with Kilargo seals fitted to the perimeter & threshold gaps.
By comparing the results obtained in the three conditions, it is possible to determine the sound insulation contribution achieved by fitting Kilargo seals to a door assembly.
In many cases, the weakest point of a door system is in fact the acoustic performance of the door leaf itself. This is highlighted when a sealing system performance equals the performance of the fully caulked door.
For higher acoustic ratings a proprietary acoustic door panel construction is necessary. Kilargo has conducted testing in partnership with major acoustic door manufacturers and we can assist in finding a door solution for your specific requirement.
Our team of technical specialists is on hand to provide any further detail you may need on the acoustic performance of the Kilargo range of door sealing solutions.
To learn more please view our Sound Insulation page.