NOISE AND VIBRATION CONTROL OF LIGHT FRAME WOOD JOIST FLOORS TOPPED WITH CONCRETE

Light frame wood joist floors have poor sound insulation because of their lightweight nature. The popular solution to the noise transmission problem is to float a 38mm or thicker cementitious topping over them. Although this solution efficiently improves sound insulation of light frame floors, it makes normal walk-induced vibrations more perceivable than with the floors without the topping. Currently, more than half of the housing market in Canada is multifamily buildings. As more multi-family light frame wood buildings are being built, we have been receiving more complaints about excessive feelable vibrations through concrete topped wood joist floors. This paper explains the myths behind this phenomenon, and more importantly sheds light on available solutions.