CONTROL ROOM v. LIVE ROOM INSULATION?

[gullfo]

in the ceiling description you provided, their is not much you could do easily to create an "inside-out" assembly (i.e. the insulation facing the room). two factors - fire rating in NYC is typically 2 hour and no exposed joists in your layering. so if you went with the necessary fire rating for the ceiling then used framing below that to hold the insulation and cloth etc then you could probably do it. same issues for the walls. it's doubtful the building department would let you build true inside out walls. probably best to focus on getting the proper isolation and fire ratings etc done then treat.

for treatments, unless you have worked through all the calculations and can design it beforehand - consider building out the rooms, measure the acoustics, then build appropriate treatments.

[avare]

Originally Posted by gullfo

in the ceiling description you provided, their is not much you could do easily to create an "inside-out" assembly (i.e. the insulation facing the room). two factors - fire rating in NYC is typically 2 hour and no exposed joists in your layering. so if you went with the necessary fire rating for the ceiling then used framing below that to hold the insulation and cloth etc then you could probably do it. same issues for the walls. it's doubtful the building department would let you build true inside out walls. probably best to focus on getting the proper isolation and fire ratings etc done then treat.

for treatments, unless you have worked through all the calculations and can design it beforehand - consider building out the rooms, measure the acoustics, then build appropriate treatments.

+1.

Andre

[circa70]

Ok. I'm slightly confused...I'm understanding I need to insulate walls to avoid resonance in the wall spaces.

i.e. ICF + space + framing + insulation + sheetrock = total wall.

[avare]

Originally Posted by circa70

Ok. I'm slightly confused...I'm understanding I need to insulate walls to avoid resonance in the wall spaces.

i.e. ICF + space + framing + insulation + sheetrock = total wall.

What are asking about exactly. I was under the impression it was ceiling, as was Glenn.

Andre

[circa70]

I'm asking about insulating the walls. Right now my wall plans read: 2x3 framing + 1" airspace + rc-2 + 5/8 sheetrock. No insulation. Has the architect made a mistake leaving out insulation (seems to be yes). What kind should go in the walls? 703/Rockboard 60 or comparable?

[GIK Acoustics]

Originally Posted by circa70

I'm asking about insulating the walls. Right now my wall plans read: 2x3 framing + 1" airspace + rc-2 + 5/8 sheetrock. No insulation. Has the architect made a mistake leaving out insulation (seems to be yes). What kind should go in the walls? 703/Rockboard 60 or comparable?

Hello!

The architect hasn't made a mistake per se, a lot of walls are built without insulation. Typically, only the outer shell walls are insulated. However, walls can and do resonate without insulation, so you should insulate them. It won't necessarily act like a bass trap, but it will prevent the walls from resonating, and will help with sound transmission as well. For filling the cavity, use whatever is cheapest. You do not need 703 or any rigid boards. Pink fluff insulation will work great.

[circa70]

Thank you Alex. And the Reward Wall? Does the concrete/styrofoam factor into needed treatments? Probably just have to test regardless.

[gullfo]

you should have insulation and vapor barrier to ensure that moisture is contained. use light insulation something like the R11 pink insulation will suffice for the space between drywall and concrete walls. depending on the room and mass, the 2x3 may be too small for purpose, and if you're separating the frame from the concrete, why the RC? the RC will potentially reduce your LF isolation.

[circa70]

Thanks for all this, this is helpful. The architect I'm working with has not designed a studio before so it's possible she added some redundant features like decoupling framing AND rc. I'm trying to interpret her plans/learn her language and fill in her blanks. Re: decoupling frame v. rc, just do one or the other?

[Rod Gervais]

Originally Posted by GIK Acoustics

Hello!

The architect hasn't made a mistake per se, a lot of walls are built without insulation. Typically, only the outer shell walls are insulated. However, walls can and do resonate without insulation, so you should insulate them. It won't necessarily act like a bass trap, but it will prevent the walls from resonating, and will help with sound transmission as well. For filling the cavity, use whatever is cheapest. You do not need 703 or any rigid boards. Pink fluff insulation will work great.

Glenn,

When it comes to standard construction you are absolutely correct - but when it comes to constructing walls specifically to create isolation between spaces - insulation in the cavity adds a lot of cheap additional isolation, I have never designed a wall for the purpose of isolation that did not have insulation in the cavity.........

Rod

[Rod Gervais]

Originally Posted by circa70

Thanks for all this, this is helpful. The architect I'm working with has not designed a studio before so it's possible she added some redundant features like decoupling framing AND rc. I'm trying to interpret her plans/learn her language and fill in her blanks. Re: decoupling frame v. rc, just do one or the other?

You get small benefits with resilient channel - larger benefits with RISC clips systems - and even larger benefits with isolated framing......

Once you have isolated framing - you begin penalizing yourself by adding things like resilient channels.

It's my experience that most architects don't have much of a clue when it comes to sound isolation systems.

Rod

[circa70]

Thank you for adding that. Right now I have an empty concrete space measuring 14'3" x 22'3". There's expansion/neoprene down the center effectively making two slabs.

My architect specs 2x3 framing, I'm thinking 2x4.

She specs no insulation. I'm thinking regular r19 with rockwool up the corners.

She specs a 2" gap in the double-walled partition. I'm thinking 4" at least.

I guess I should plan for isolating framing and skip rc or clips?

[circa70]

Here's a pic of slab with expansion down the center, a piece if pipe for cables to pass under, and my electrical panel. Also some other pics on another forum. Trying to condense.

John Sayers' Recording Studio Design Forum • View topic - CA70 Studio Build