| Abstract | This report presents the results of an extensive series of direct sound insulation tests of cold-formed steel-framed walls and floors. The direct airborne sound insulation of 30 walls with cold-formed steel framing was measured in accordance with ASTM E90-09. The walls had steel studs with a depth of 92 mm (3-5/8”) or 152 mm (6”), and with a steel thickness of 1.09 mm (0.043”) or 1.37 mm (0.054”). Other parameters that were investigated included the number of layers and thickness of gypsum board, the cavity insulation, the stud spacing, and the use of resilient channels. The test results for some non-standard wall configurations that were tested for research purposes (e.g. for walls with gypsum board on one side only) are also included in this report. The direct airborne and impact sound insulation of 17 floors with cold-formed steel framing was measured in accordance with ASTM E90-09 and ASTM E492-09, respectively. The floors had steel joists with a depth of 254 mm (10”) or 317 mm (12.5”), and with a steel thickness of 1.37 mm (0.054”). The top surface of the floor/ceiling assemblies was composed of a corrugated steel deck with poured gypsum concrete, while the bottom surface was composed of a gypsum board ceiling on resilient channels. The influence of the joist depth and the number of layers and thickness of the ceiling gypsum board was investigated, as well as the influence of several floor coverings (e.g. laminate or carpet). The report presents the detailed specimen descriptions and specimen properties and the results from the standardized tests according to ASTM E90-09 and ASTM E492-09. Brief analyses of the parameters affecting the sound insulation of the steel-framed assemblies are provided. The tests presented in this report were part of a large research study that also included an investigation into the flanking sound transmission in cold-formed steel-framed buildings. The results of that study are described in the NRC Research Report RR-337, “Apparent Sound Insulation in Cold-Formed Steel-Framed Buildings” [1]. The NRC Research Report RR-337 also includes some of the airborne sound insulation results presented here, albeit without listing the detailed specimen descriptions and specimen properties that are provided in this report. |
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