The Effects of Glass on Sound Insulation in Office Partition Systems
- MA
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Ensuring silence and privacy in office design is a critical element for employee productivity and comfort. While transparency and aesthetics are important in modern offices, sound insulation also plays a significant role in your office space and operation. In this article, we will examine the effect of glass on sound insulation in detail and share the details of sound insulation in our Izofleks office partition systems and the factors that stand out in increasing these values.
The Role of Glass in Sound Insulation
Glass provides both visual openness/transparency and physical separation in office partitioning systems. However, the sound insulation performance of glass varies depending on the type, thickness, and structure of the glass.
Single-pane glass generally provides poor sound insulation. Thin glass allows sound waves to pass through easily.
The use of double glazing or laminated glass significantly improves sound insulation. However, the air gap between double glazing or the PVB (Polyvinyl Butyral) layers used between the two glass layers in laminated glass to bond and insulate them impair sound transmission.
As the thickness of the glass increases, so does the sound insulation. In fact, this is the most effective element in sound insulation in glass.
Below, we show the variation in sound transmission values in two different office partition types: single-glazed and double-glazed .
SINGLE-GLAZED OFFICE PARTITION SYSTEMS - a42 | |||
Glass Structure | Explanation | Approximate Sound Insulation (Rw / STC) | Performance Level |
8 mm Tempered Glass | Single monolithic tempered glass | 31–33 dB | Low-Medium |
10 mm Tempered Glass | Single monolithic tempered glass | 33–35 dB | Middle |
5 mm + 0.38 PVB + 5 mm Laminated Glass | Standard laminated glass | 35–37 dB | Average-Good |
5 mm + 1.52 Acoustic PVB + 5 mm Laminated Glass | Acoustic laminated glass | 40–43 dB | High |
12 mm Tempered Glass | Thick single monolithic glass | 35–37 dB | Average-Good |
DOUBLE-GLAZED OFFICE PARTITION SYSTEMS - a100 | |||
Double Glazing Structure (100mm profile width and approximately 75mm air gap) | Explanation | Approximate Sound Insulation (Rw / STC) | Performance Level |
8 mm + HB + 8 mm | Double monolithic tempered glass | 40–42 dB | Good |
10 mm + HB + 10 mm | Double monolithic tempered glass | 42–44 dB | Good-High |
(5 mm+0.38 PVB+5 mm) +HB+ (5 mm+0.38 PVB+5 mm) | Double standard laminated | 44–46 dB | High |
(5 mm + 1.52 Acoustic PVB + 5 mm) +HB+ (5 mm + 1.52 Acoustic PVB + 5 mm) | Double acoustic laminate | 48–52 dB | Very High |
12 mm +HB+ 12 mm | Double thick monolithic tempered glass | 43–45 dB | High |
The Importance of Aluminum Profiles in Sound Insulation
Aluminum profiles support glass panels while also playing a role in sound insulation. Well-designed profiles provide a seal to reduce sound transmission.
The rubber seals/EPDM and sealing materials used in the profile's internal structure prevent sound from passing through the profile.
The quality of the profile's assembly and the absence of gaps enhance sound insulation.
Aluminum itself does not provide sound insulation, but the design of the profiles and the materials used limit the spread of sound.
Therefore, not only the choice of glass but also the profile and installation quality are important factors affecting sound insulation in office partition systems.
Is glass alone sufficient for sound insulation?
In short, no. In actual field performance, the significant portion of sound leakage consists of the following points:
Door bottom gaps (can be closed with accessories such as a guillotine, etc.)
Profile combinations
Ceiling connections
Wick quality
In addition, the gaps between the raised floor/slab or drywall/ceiling strip where your partition is connected should be wrapped with sound insulation products (rock wool, glass wool, etc.). Strengthening the insulation value of the partition while leaving gaps between the ceiling and floor connections will negatively affect your sound transmission values.
Tips for Improving Sound Insulation in Office Partition Systems
Choose double or laminated glass: Using double-glazed or laminated glass systems instead of single-glazed glass can reduce sound transmission by 30-50%.
Increase the glass thickness: Thicker glass blocks the passage of low-frequency sounds.
Pay attention to the quality of the profiles and seals: Using high-quality rubber seals that provide a watertight seal will improve sound insulation.
Do not leave any gaps during installation: Gaps allow sound to pass through easily. Installation must be done professionally.
Use additional sound insulation materials: Adding extra insulation tapes or sound barriers to the profile and glass joints is beneficial.
These methods are important for creating quiet and comfortable workspaces within the office.
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