Acoustics

Arena Stage, Mead Center for American Theater, DC, U.S. Bing Thom Architects. © Nic Lehoux.

Wood provides excellent acoustics

Where sound insulation is important, wood can be a high-performance choice. A study by the Canada’s National Research Council’s Institute for Research in Construction (NRC-IRC) shows when it comes to acoustical performance, a properly designed and constructed wood floor/ceiling assembly performs on the same level as other construction types.

Wood is not as acoustically lively as other surfaces and can offer acoustically absorptive qualities. Generally, a wood-finished building is not as noisy as a complete steel or concrete structure.

The Acoustical Value of Wood An article in Wood Design & Building, Summer 2010 on the structural requirements that affect sound insulation in wood frame buildings (pg 41).
Technical Information on Acoustical Performance From FPInnovations, Forintek Division, Canada’s national wood products research institute.
Sound Transmission in Wood-Frame Residential Buildings Information on sound insulation from this Canada Wood publication.
Buildings Account for Half of All CO2 Emissions An article on CO2 emissions.