
These include aircraft carriers, trains, highways, and much more. They have the ability to block not only everyday noises caused by day to day living but significant sounds caused by high-traffic areas as well. Mass loaded vinyl products are great not only for the home but for businesses and commercial studios as well. The only alternatives to mass loaded vinyl or lead sheeting is fiberglass insulation – another material now frowned upon in the construction and soundproofing industry – or something similar to Green Glue. They’re amongst the most effective soundproofing products available on the market today, creating a reflective barrier rivaled by none. Mass loaded vinyl products are not only easy to use but look great, too (though not as if you’re going to see the mats after they are sealed into the wall). After the caulk is applied the seams are taped over, ensuring that the seals are completed and that no sound will pass through. The sections are usually attached to the studs or joists of the area in question and then the seams around the edges are covered in acoustical caulk. It was not only a safe alternative to lead but was easier to use and apply. The introduction of mass loaded vinyl products to the soundproofing industry had astounding results. It’s a popular soundproofing agent, especially when it comes to soundproofing personal spaces such as homes or music studios. It is used to add mass to an area, thus making it more difficult for sound to pass through walls and ceilings. The purpose of mass loaded vinyl is exactly as it sounds. This combination gives it a set of characteristics similar to those found in the original lead sheets but without the potentially dangerous side effects. The standard mass loaded vinyl product is made out of a combination of sand and salts. Lead sheeting had been the soundproofing agent of choice for several years but, as we all know, lead was later determined to be a toxic agent and the need to find a replacement product became imperative. These claims can certainly offer some validity, however these materials need to be distinguished from materials that are acoustically engineered.Mass loaded vinyl, otherwise referred to simply as MLV, was first introduced to the soundproofing industry as a replacement for lead sheeting. Typically, any foam underlayment, will advertise that it's effective against sound. This means that not all underlayment is used to offer soundproofing qualities. For our purposes we simply need to know that the higher the rating, the higher the resistance of the material.įloor underlayment is used to create a smooth, predictable surface for new flooring. The process for measuring these values involves a complicated process and apparatus as well as mathematical formulas.

An IIC rating measures the resistance to transmission of the impact through a structure.

An IIC is the ability to block impact.The main tests used in the flooring industry are Impact Isolation Class (IIC) and Sound Transmission Class (STC). However, before we discuss these options we should first understand what these ratings mean. If you’re soundproofing a floor, a good alternative to MLV is an STC/IIC rated floor underlayment.
