Sound Fire and Thermal Insulation
SOUND INSULATION
Sound insulation includes measures to be taken to reduce the amount of noise transmitted through constructional components and to basically minimize the negative impacts of noise. Noise on the other hand refers to a group of undesired sounds with irregular and different frequency components. Briefly described as disturbing sounds, noise can occur to extents that threaten our health and comfort in our daily life, as a natural consequence of urbanization.
Ensuring silence in environments such as hospitals, schools, offices, houses, hotels, dormitories, etc. is important for peace and efficiency. Low volume is one of the most important requirements in environments such as studios, cinemas, conference halls, etc.
Applications made to control noise in buildings are grouped under two different categories: acoustic regulation and sound insulation. Acoustic regulation is the whole set of applications aimed at ensuring that the sound from the source reaches ears as accurately as possible. In sound insulation on the other hand, the aim is to reduce the amount of sound transmitted by constructional components. It is important that the materials to be used in sound insulation have the desired level of sound absorption coefficient and the potential to structurally convert sound waves to mechanical and thermal energy. Therefore, stone wool is primarily preferred in sound insulation applications, due to its porous structure and high sound absorption coefficient.
FIRE INSULATION
Structural measures taken to ensure the safety of life and property and limit the effects of fire are called ‘Fire Insulation’. Structures and materials, which are the most important elements of fire resistance and spreading, are affected by basic reasons such as radiation, conduction, convection and air and absorption surface evaluation, ignition temperature of the material, construction, height, unit spreading surface, etc.
Despite the significant role played by active protection systems in fire safety, there is a risk that they cannot function properly due to various reasons such as mechanical failure and activation after the onset of fire. Thus, it is essential to take structural measures that will slow the spreading of fire in the building and neighboring buildings and ensure safe evacuation of individuals from the fire area, in addition to active measures. Spreading of fire can be restricted for certain periods, thanks to fire resistant sections created with A1 class non-combustible insulation materials with mineral fibers such as stone wool. This allows intervening the fire before it grows, which can prevent or reduce loss of life and property.
Almost all developed and/or industrialized countries have their own specific standards for fire. In Turkey, this regulation was developed based on the German DIN 4102 Standard and became effective under the title “Regulation on the Protection of Buildings from Fire”.
THERMAL INSULATION
Economical use of the fossil fuels which have a limited amount in the world and avoiding environmental pollution is the main agenda of today and tomorrow. The cheapest, most common, most effective and most easy to apply method to prevent global climate changes and carbon emissions and their negative effects today is ‘Thermal Insulation in Buildings’.
Today, ‘Energy Efficiency’ and ‘Insulation’ are integrated with each other and more than 1/3 of the total energy consumed is used for heating and cooling in buildings. Insulation made according to standards can easily ensure up to 50% savings and increased importance on insulation increases energy savings as well.
Thermal insulation to be made to reduce energy consumption would not only create physiological comfort and hygienic conditions, but would also reduce investment and consumption costs of heating - cooling systems. Negative effects causing humidity and mold formation in living areas are eliminated and the building life is extended thanks to a thermal insulation that does not contain thermal bridges and is in line with application procedures.