How do acoustic windows and doors work?

Windows and doors usually are the weak point in the acoustic insulation of a room, and it happens mainly because of the gaps that may exist. If air can pass, sound can pass as well. It doesn’t matter how small the gap is, sound will always find it’s way to the other side and that’s why good acoustic doors and windows must close with water-tightness.

On casement windows and doors it is important to have rubbers on the jamb closing tightly. Double jambs are recommended for better acoustic insulation performance. If you don’t want to put a jamb on the floor, there is also an option to use a door retractable seal, a mechanism that goes down when the door is closed sealing the gap with the floor. Sliding windows and doors are harder to insulate because they leave many gaps, but there is already available technology to solve this problem by closing tight.

Besides sealing the gaps, it is necessary to insulate the whole system. The insulation of the set must be enough for the noise source that should be insulated and the desired noise level achievement. For high frequency noise, sealing the gaps could be enough, but for low frequency noises, thicker and heavier windows and doors are need. It is important that the frame also has height, because it is hollow in most of the times. In these cases, filing the frame with heavy material raises it′s acoustic insulation.

Be it wood, glass, aluminum, PVC, iron, steel or any other material, it is hard to predict precisely the insulation of the whole set because it has too many details. That’s why it is better to count on manufacturers that have tested their products on laboratory and present an appropriate technical report.

Check this video for better understanding:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRAnYcfU6xQ