Acoustic Dampening Firestop for Multi-Storey Frame Construction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tall multi-storey buildings constructed with lightweight wood and metal frames face challenges in sound control due to material flexibility and the creation of acoustic flanking paths through inter-unit floor plates, leading to poor sound and vibration transmission between units.
Innovation Solution
A sound control firestop device is integrated into the building's frame structure during construction, featuring a horizontal pad portion made from elastomeric or fibrous materials with a different vibrational frequency than the frame, combined with a compression-resistant spacer to prevent wall assemblies from moving apart or together, and filled with mineral wool for fire protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If lightweight wood and metal frame materials are used for construction, then construction speed and cost are improved, but sound control and structural rigidity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining lightweight wood and metal frame structures with acoustic dampening materials (mineral wool, elastomeric compounds) and mass-loaded vinyl barriers. This creates a multi-layered wall assembly that maintains the construction advantages of lightweight materials while adding sound blocking and vibration damping properties through the composite structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the vibrational frequency parameters of the wall structure by introducing viscoelastic dampening materials with specific loss factors and mass-loaded vinyl with high surface density. These material parameter changes alter the resonance characteristics of the wall assembly, reducing sound transmission at critical frequencies while maintaining structural integrity.
2Stability of the object's composition
If inter-unit floor plates are inserted to increase structural rigidity, then building stability is improved, but acoustic flanking paths are created leading to poor sound control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces acoustic isolators and resilient channels as intermediary elements between the floor plate structure and the wall assemblies. These intermediaries decouple the structural connection from the acoustic transmission path, allowing the floor plate to provide rigidity while preventing direct sound flanking through the intervention of vibration-damping materials.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If acoustic dampening materials are added to improve sound control, then sound transmission is reduced, but device complexity and construction time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into integrated wall assembly components where structural framing, acoustic insulation, vapor barriers, and fire stopping are combined into a single coordinated system. The dampening materials are pre-positioned within the wall cavities during the framing process itself, eliminating separate installation steps and reducing overall construction complexity despite the added acoustic performance.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enhances the structural rigidity of the building, reduces sound and vibration transmission between units, and acts as a firestop by hindering the spread of fire and smoke, while maintaining stability and improving sound control.
Implementation Method 1
made from a material with a vibrational frequency that is different from that of the building's frame structure
Implementation Method 2
sound control firestop device... reduces the travel of sound and vibration between the different units
Implementation Method 3
The horizontal pad portion may be made from an elastomeric or fibrous material... has stretch resistance to prevent at least one of the floor assemblies; and the opposed wall assemblies from moving apart
Implementation Method 4
a compression-resistant spacer to prevent wall assemblies from moving apart or together
Implementation Method 5
The sound control firestop device acts as a firestop by hindering the travel of fire and/or smoke through the firestop gap
Data Source
AI summary
A sound control firestop device. It has a horizontal pad portion made from an elastomeric or fibrous material with a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the horizontal pad portion having a length and a width; and a vertical projection spacer portion projecting outwardly from the second surface, wherein the vertical projection portion extends across at least a portion of the width of the horizontal pad portion. A method of installation thereof.