Achieving high STC ratings for walls and ceilings has traditionally been too costly and risky – until now. Technature offers religious institution construction professionals a complete line of high-performance products to soundproof walls and ceilings. The installation can be easily done either at time of new construction or as a rehab project.

Houses of worship occasionally specify resilient channels, hats and clips to try to achieve STC 45. A word of caution: these techniques are famous for failing. Acoustical engineers estimate failure rates of 50% during installation, and a financially dangerous 90% within three years due to tenant “improvements”. A simple installation of a painting, shelf or other wall attachment can destroy a resilient channel installation (see White Paper).

The most effective way to mitigate noise in houses of worship is to

1. Identify and measure the noise source, both internal and external;
2. Set a dB goal for the desired level of quiet, and translate that goal into the appropriate Sound Transmission Class using the formula “dB in noisy area minus dB desired in quiet area = required STC”;
3. Select and specify the appropriate acoustic materials for your project.