Noise - Double Glazing enough?

20 years ago

I live in Shanghai, China which has weather similar to Tallahassee, Florida (it gets a bit hotter in the summer and a bit colder in the winter here though). I recently bought an apartment in a poured concrete building on a relatively low floor (14th) very near to a train station and over a busy street. In my current older apartment, I have two sets of windows with about 6Â¡Â± in-between them; double glazed on the outside and single on the inside and it is very quiet. Is so much glazing really necessary to keep noise out with the modern products available today? If I have to spring for 2 sets of windows I will, but IÂ¡Â¯d rather save the money if possible.

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Comments (5)

surfer1966
20 years ago
I live on a street that is busy for the morning rush hour and evening rush hour. With the window open it is really loud. When I moved in it had a single pane sliding door and it was somewhat loud. I replaced it with a dual pane sliding door with laminated sound control glass:
http://milgard.com/products/sound-control-windows/
and now it's okay. If I had to do it again I might have gone with triple pane windows or argon gas filled windows as they are suppose to be even quieter.
stuckinsh
Original Author
20 years ago
Hmmmm. Is your slider the kind with a fixed panel on one side and can tilt or slide or just a regular slider. I know that the sliders with the tilt function create a better seal when shut. I also hope someone can comment on how much difference a fixed panel as opposed to a window that can open makes for noise reduction.

Based on what you've written, I think that I will definitely still need to consider doing two sets of windows in the bedrooms at the very least...and will probably stick with dual pane glass elsewhere in the apartment. Now I just have to try and figure out how to say "laminated sound-control glass" in Chinese!!!
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oberon476
20 years ago
surfer,

Argon really has no effect on sound propagation. Some sources will say that adding argon will help, but in real life it doesn't.

Now argon will make a difference in your energy numbers, but don't feel you missed out on the sound issue.

Even triple pane may be overrated for sound control...IF you are dealing with a narrow airspace triple pane unit.
For sound control you want the widest airspace you can find and make sure it is sealed tight (emphasis on tight).

Triple pane works - in a wide airspace. Otherwise, you get very little if any advantage with a triple pane over a dual pane if the overall width of the IGU is the same.

And stuckinsh....

I would STRONGLY suggest if you have something that actually works then continue with it.

I suspect that you are not in a good place to experiment and see if something else will work for you.

Laminated will help and adding laminated to the exisiting design should make it even better, but if I were in your position I would figure that overkill beats underkill everytime.
surfer1966
20 years ago
oberon,

Thanks for the info. I'll keep it in mind if I ever need to replace the door. Do you know if there is much difference between manufacturers? I went with Milgard cause they had a rep for good quality and a great warranty.
mikie_gw
20 years ago
I just added relatively inexpensive window film/heat control film by Gila from HomeDepot, to a wall that is 50% (single pane) windows. Certainly removed lots of outdoor sounds, the a/c sure cyles off for way more time too.

Amazing how I can't hear the phone or vacuum or anything from the patio that the wall lines where I used to be able hear the phone ringing just fine. Vacuum's I hate that sound anyways, glad I can hide from more than just its dust now.