Clearview National December 2014 - Issue 157 | Page 6

INDUSTRYNEWS

Time to make a noise
about acoustics
Mark Barsby, Head of Technical at The VEKA UK Group,
explains more about noise reduction ratings and how
The VEKA UK Group is ahead of the curve once again.
»»Heathrow’s potential third
runway and ‘Boris Island’ are stories that
have been all over the news recently. While
additional airport capacity may well be required
in future to support the UK Economy, the
current political battleground is being fought
on the impact that noise pollution from an
airport expansion would have on those affected
and their long-term health.
Indeed, I read a recent
article where the Mayor
of London suggested
that a third runway
would mean there are
more than a million
people in the city that
would be affected by
noise pollution of more
than 55dB.
I am not attempting
to write an article in
support of either (or other)
airport expansion schemes.
Regardless of when and
where airport expansion
may take place, I think
it is safe to assume that
eventually it will happen, and as
we live on a largely over-populated,
relatively small Island - regardless of
where it happens, many thousands of people
are likely to be affected by noise pollution as
a result.
As an industry, we have become relatively
comfortable with selling the performance
benefits of our products against the onslaught
of inclement weather (weather performance),
unwanted intruders (security) and also rising
energy bills (thermal efficiency and WERS)
but what if you were asked to provide
documentary evidence about noise and
acoustic performance?
In the past, our industry may have been
able to easily provide acoustic information
about our Double Glazed Unit, but
what about a whole frame performance?

6 » DEC 2014 » CL EARVI E W- UK . C O M

(Information we have been providing on
U-Values and WERS now quite comfortably
for some years).
As a guide, a typical WER ‘A’ rated double
glazed window may have a weighted sound
reduction capacity of around 40-45dB, still
quite some way short of what may be expected
for underneath a third Heathrow runway.
In 2012, The VEKA UK
Group launched Halo’s
TwinSash as among the
most thermally-efficient
products available on
the market anywhere.
For those not aware
of this groundbreaking
product, the concept of
secondary glazing has
been modernised and
updated and along with
the incorporation of
triple glazing,a concept
has been realised where a
whole window U-Value
as low as 0.42W/m2k
can be achieved with
Krypton Gas and 0.48W/
m2k with Argon.
However, we also anticipated the
likely benefits that TwinSash could
bring to the field of noise reduction,
and now coupled with the BM TRADA
Q-Mark Noise Reduction Rating Scheme,
there is a way of clearly demonstrating the
acoustic performance of a glazed product to
homeowners and specifiers.
To give an idea of where a typical WER
‘A’ Rated double glazed window may sit in
acoustic performance, a window of this type
would be likely to reduce sound by between
26-35dB, which would be rated ‘E’ or ‘F’ on
the BM TRADA Rating.
To meet the criteria of 55dB described
as the noise pollution expected for a third
Heathrow runway, a window with a Noise
Reduction Rating of ‘A’ would be required.

Anything deemed above 50db is classed as ‘A’
rated under the scheme.
After extensive testing earlier this year, I
am pleased to announce that Halo TwinSash
is the first window to achieve an ‘A’ under
The BM TRADA Q-Mark Window Noise
Reduction Rating Scheme.
Indeed, TwinSash is not only the first
window to achieve an ‘A’ Rating; it has actually
achieved nine different ‘A’ Ratings between
52-56dB using a combination of different
double and triple glazed IGUs. Indeed 52db
is possible with 2x28mm DGU’s using 4mm
glass.
In addition to this, Halo TwinSash has been
tested to BS 6375 and PAS 24. This ensures
that no matter what location or building
type in the UK - TwinSash can deliver high
end performance; whatever the specified
requirements, be it weather protection,
security, heat loss, noise reduction or all four!

Wishing you a merry
Christmas and a
prosperous New Year