Acoustically Sound
We’ve all experienced the dreaded sound of the adjacent hotel room’s toilet flushing in the middle of the night – it doesn’t get much worse, particularly when you’ve paid a couple hundred dollars for the pleasure.
Noise pollution is one of the biggest areas of complaint in buildings and is one of the construction industry’s most widely debated topics. Internal noises are becoming one of the most highly litigated issues, especially for apartments pre-sold off a plan. Unfortunately the innocent consumer/buyer has no knowledge of any pending problem and they’re left to suffer the consequences.
Prior to construction, consultants analyse the causes of external noise such as air and road traffic; however, they often underestimate and overlook the causes of internal noise caused by service installations such as elevators, heating, air-conditioning and waste systems, which is where we focus our attention on.
When a waste system is called to action, noises are generated inside the pipelines; causing them to vibrate from the fall of the liquid being discharged. Pipework can therefore operate as a major conduit for noise to travel from one part of a building to another.
Most of the generated noise spreads inside the pipe (air-borne noise) but the vibrations are transmitted from the walls of the pipe to the surrounding area and to the bracketing systems and consequently to the building structure (structure-borne noise).
Acoustic plumbing aims to combat the issue of internal noise pollution by containing the sound within the waste and drainage pipes. Pipe insulation can prevent noise transfer by acting to dampen the pipe wall and performing an acoustic decoupling function wherever the pipe passes through a fixed wall or floor and wherever the pipe is mechanically fixed.
To minimise noise levels in waste and drainage systems, not only should the system be designed properly and the waste circuit mounted correctly, it is also important to choose a system with elevated soundproofing performance.
While the traditional method of lagging is proven and effective, the task of lagging each individual pipe can be laborious and time consuming.
A new range of products aims to make lagging a thing of the past. These include the Silere and Triplus from Valsir, REHAU’S RAUPIANO PLUS and the Wavin AS systems.
Each of the acoustic systems aim to save time, space and ongoing maintenance by drawing on refined technologies and materials in their respective layered pipe work. Being push-fit systems, the pipes are straightforward to install, comply with the necessary standards and are starting to make their mark on Australian shores.
If you have been screaming for a product that takes the need for lagging away, these might just prove to be the perfect solution.
RAUPIANO PLUS
“RAUPIANO PLUS is an example for REHAU’s constant aim to improve entrenched plumbing practices,” Nick Lucivero, National Product Manager, RAUPIANO says. “We have always taken proven ideas from overseas and adapted them to the Australian market – not only by fulfilling all standard requirements, but also with customised fittings that are specifically suited to the Australian market.”
Launched in Germany in the early 90’s, RAUPIANO PLUS became a major success.
“We saw a market here in Australia to address and improve several issues at once – in this case sound acoustics, trade waste application and avoidance of unhealthy primers.”
REHAU’S RAUPIANO PLUS reduces noise by cutting down the air-borne and structure-borne noise transmissions. The patented sound-dampening bracket reduces the structure-borne noise transmission by decoupling the vibrations within the drainage line to the wall. The quick and simple snap-on installation ensures repeat performance of the sound-dampening effect by centralising the pipe, and applying the exact fastening force.
The RAUPIANO PLUS system contains no toxic materials, such as halogens, and is 100% recyclable. It requires no glues or primers, reducing hazardous chemicals and eye watering odours during installation. The smooth and abrasion-resistant inner layer ensures the pipes remain free from deposits and scaling. A special coating improves the flow conditions within the pipe system to maintain an excellent drainage flow rate.
“RAUPIANO PLUS is a 3-layer pipe with distinct functions for all 3 layers: the inner layer is abrasion resistant and low friction to ensure easy transit of waste, the outer layer is tough to withstand impacts and shocks while the middle layer is highly mineral-filled and therefore very dense which ensures the superb sound acoustic properties and increased stiffness. All three layers together impart the unique characteristics to the pipe. In addition, the fittings have special reinforced impact areas, and last but not least REHAU offers special sound-absorbing brackets to hold the system while at the same time avoiding sound transmission into the building structure.”
RAUPIANO PLUS’ acoustic performance has been tested and proven in National Acoustic Laboratory (NAL) and deemed to be equivalent to acoustically-lagged PVC systems. The National Construction Code (NCC) specifies a minimum acoustic requirement (Rw + Ctr 40) for living areas in the apartments/town-houses. RAUPIANO PLUS exceeds this requirement without acoustic-lagging, using industry standard suspended ceiling (13mm plasterboard and R1.5 insulation batt).
Not only tested and proven in NAL, but RAUPIANO PLUS has also been extensively tested with various suspended ceiling configurations in TAFE SA, and a few on-site acoustic testing. The results have always been consistent in all scenarios: RAUPIANO PLUS is equivalent or better than acoustically lagged PVC systems.
“The system can be used for acoustic drainage without lagging as well as trade waste applications without welding. This saves time and space while also leaving it maintenance free. For plumbers, the system is very easy to install thanks to a rubber ring jointing system. We have installation guidelines for the installer but we also offer on-site training which is highly recommended,” Nick says.
It is highly resistant to various types of chemicals and wastewater that can cause corrosion, wear and tear. It can withstand chemicals ranging from pH 2-pH 12. RAUPIANO PLUS can also withstand extreme temperatures. It can handle hot water up to 90°C or 95°C for short periods, making it suitable for both domestic and commercial kitchen applications. It can also be installed under extremely cold conditions of -10°C.
“RAUPIANO PLUS comes with a 10 year product warranty; however, if installed within the correct application parameters, the design service life would exceed 50+ years.”
VALSIR SILERE & TRIPLUS
An important supplier to the Australian market with acoustic piping systems is Valsir and they have introduced two patented soundproof push-fit waste systems that are manufactured in Italy. Valsir’s Triplus and Silere systems both guarantee exceptional soundproofing performances, perfect hydraulic tightness, excellent mechanical resistance and an easy and rapid installation.
The acoustic properties have been tested at CSIRO in compliance with the National Construction Code (NCC) 2013 and BCA (Building Code of Australia) and appraised by Day Design Consulting Acoustical Engineers. With these tests Valsir Triplus has been proven to meet the NCC/BCA acoustic requirements (Rw + Ctr 40) for habitable rooms without any pipe lagging and using an industry standard ceiling structure (13mm plasterboard and 75mm R1.5 insulation batts).
Also, Silere meets the same requirements permitting to use either 10mm plasterboard with the insulation batts or a 13mm plasterboard without the insulation batts. This is another guarantee of the capacity of the technology of Valsir to supply versatile and effective products that meet a multitude of system requirements, challenging at the same time the traditional approach of acoustic lagging.
The Triplus system, for example, with diameters of up to DN250, can be used not only for stacks but also for branches travelling in the ceiling space and for soundproof waste collector pipes in high rise buildings such as hotels, apartments and hospitals.
Moreover, Valsir supplies ventilation branches in the acoustically insulated materials associated with Triplus and Silere.
Ventilation branches are special waste fittings that provide a clever solution to the problems met in the construction of waste plants in high rise buildings that involve the simultaneous use of a large number of sanitary appliances. A stack that is fitted with ventilation branches guarantees 65% greater flows than those of a stack of equal diameter with parallel ventilation and also guarantees a more efficient management of connections on each floor and a significant economical advantage thanks to the possibility of creating single 110mm stacks.
The sockets on the Silere pipes and fittings are fitted with a single-lipped seal inserted in a special housing and pre-fitted in the factory. Such a system facilitates jointing and guarantees the seal.
Valsir Triplus and Silere pipes and fittings are Watermark approved and both of them are manufactured from ‘green friendly’ polypropylene, thus being ideal for ‘Green Star’ buildings. The polypropylene-based compound makes Silere and Triplus perfectly suitable to any trade waste application, as well as to the conveyance of a wide range of chemicals.
WAVIN AS
Wavin is the new kid on the block in Australia but its rich 25 year history and proven success overseas paves the way for similar success here.
Reducing sound in a building’s soil and waste system is a challenge that the Wavin AS system aims to deal with. Wavin AS is the complete low-noise soil and waste system made of Astolan,” says Mark McInnes, National Product Manager for Waven Australia. “Astolan is a mineral filled polypropylene designed to absorb a lot of sound – it is the acoustic property of the system.”
“The Wavin AS was originally designed to mimic cast iron products without the heavy lifting requirements. It is a lot easier to install than cast iron too with no cements or solvents required – rubber rings and push fittings have made it much simpler.”
The excellent sound protection properties of Wavin AS can be attributed primarily to its thick-walled design as well as the high density of 1.9 g/cm3 of the Astolan pipe and moulded parts. This property enables Wavin AS to absorb airborne sound as well as mechanical vibrations.
The unique Wavin AS clips also make up part of the system and possess a rubber insulated clip within them to reduce sound even further. “If you have plastic on plastic or metal on metal it does reverberate sound. With the rubber insulated clip the sound is absorbed into the rubber so noise isn’t extenuating into a room.”
A contribution to sound protection is also made by the compensator socket that functions as the control connector between Wavin pipes. Used at a maximum spacing interval of three metres, it isolates the sewage pipe from mechanical vibration.
Wavin AS is appropriate for installation wherever noise is potentially an issue, e.g. in hospitals, hotels, old-age homes, office buildings, apartments and restaurants. The system is designed for professional wastewater installations in, primarily multiple-storey buildings and can be installed in the following fields of application: single waste or drain pipes, collector pipes, stack pipes, ventilation pipes, rain stack pipes and underground pipes up to the inspection chamber.
“While best suited and most predominantly used in commercial applications, there is scope for Wavin AS to be installed in residential properties where owners place importance on silence and comfort.”
Wavin AS has compiled an extensive technical guide to aid plumbers with best installation practices. “As long as plumbers install it as per the technical guide, it shouldn’t fail. Full training will also be provided on the job to ensure the transition to the new system is as easy as possible,” Mark says.
The acoustic plumbing sector shows promising signs of continually growing as green star buildings become more prominent and plumbers become more aware of the many benefits these drainage and waste systems possess.