STC Achieve a Sound Transmission Class rating up to 68 with ease by adding SONOpan to your walls
Where to buy
Achieve a Sound Transmission Class rating up to 68 with ease by adding SONOpan to your walls
Where to buySTC is a reduction in DB
Scale of sound dB
| 0 dB | Silence |
| 60 dB | A business office |
| 80 dB | A moving car |
| 120 dB | A plane taking off |
Soundproofing is the process of reducing sound transmission through walls & ceilings by implementing a combination of building materials & building strategies.
Soundproofing is measured using STC, which measures the average DB reduction achieved over the human hearing spectrum.
SONOpan Panels STC 27
SONOpan panels alone have an STC rating of 27
- Panel dimensions 4 foot x 8 foot 3/4 inch thick
- Made from 100% recycled wood, natural binders and food grade colour, they’re easy to work with and don’t contain any harsh glues or chemicals
- Install SONOpan OVER the joists or studs on any wall or ceiling
- SONOpan can be installed behind drywall in new construction or sandwiched between the existing and a new drywall sheet of drywall in retrofit situations
Sound Transmission Class
Sound Transmission Class (STC) is a standardized rating measuring reduction in sound decibels (dB) based on different wall or ceiling assemblies. STC accounts for sound measured between 125 Hz to 4000 Hz.
Sound decibels (dB) are a measure of sound intensity. In simpler terms, sound decibels are measured as the magnitude of the fluctuations in air pressure caused by sound waves. Both DB and STC ratings are based on a logarithmic scale, meaning each reduction of 10DB essentially doubles the soundproofing
Insulation Isn’t Enough
It is highly recommended that SONOPAN be used in conjunction with insulation to reduce sound travel. Insulation plays a key role in soundproofing by capturing certain frequencies and stopping resonance (echoing) in an empty cavity, but SONOpan soundproof boards for walls & ceilings will prevent the majority of sound from traveling.
For more information on Sound Transmission Class and SONOpan’s soundproofing panels, please contact us.
Maximizing Sound Transmission Class
The best soundproofing is achieved by employing 4 soundproofing elements that work in harmony to maximize STC
Insulation – This stops resonance in an empty cavity and helps capture certain frequencies. The human ear cannot hear the difference between specialty, fiberglass, wool or cellulose type insulation so it is our recommendation to simply use the appropriate size insulation for the cavity.
SONOpan – Our panels are dual function, they create a solid barrier to stop sound while also absorbing a wide range of sound frequencies, including low bass. Our Noise STOP Technology is the key to this, SONOpan has over 17,000 impressions in both sides of the panel resulting in a varying density throughout. When it comes to soundproofing, each frequency range has a corresponding sound wave where the peaks and valleys of that range are a certain size. The peaks and valleys in SONOpan are what make it extremely effective at soundproofing.
Drywall (mass) – Mass is also an important element in soundproofing. There are several options when it comes to mass but the simplest is drywall, ideally 5/8″ thick drywall and in extreme soundproofing situations up to 2 sheets can be used on each side of the wall or on the ceiling. Don’t let that intimidate you though! Most situations will do just fine with a single sheet of 1/2″ drywall.
De-Coupling – There are several ways to de-couple. Essentially decoupling breaks the connection between two building materials. This reduces the transmission of sound vibrations from one material to the other. Decoupling is not always a necessary addition to soundproofing but it is quite effective when heavy vibrational frequencies are present.