A common mistake in soundproofing is buying one product and expecting it to solve the problem. Add a layer of acoustic board and the neighbours are still audible. Lay acoustic underlay and the footfall is still heard downstairs. The reason is that sound transmission through a building element is determined by the weakest link in the assembly — not by the best-performing component in it.
Complete soundproofing systems take a surface-by-surface approach. Each system combines the right mass layers, decoupling, and acoustic fill to work as a unified assembly. The performance you get is the performance of the system as tested — not the sum of individual product claims. That is the difference between a random collection of acoustic products and a properly specified soundproofing intervention.
How the systems are organised
Systems are specified by surface — Wall, Floor, or Ceiling — and by performance tier. Within each tier, the specification is complete: every component is listed, the assembly depth is stated, and published system test data is available for specification.
| Tier | What it is | Appropriate for |
|---|---|---|
| Bronze | Mass-addition system — acoustic board plus membrane layers applied to the existing surface | Improving a poor-performing wall or floor where some performance gain is needed without major disruption |
| Silver | Mass plus resilient channel — adds decoupling to the mass layer; breaks flanking paths through the frame | Party walls, separating floors, and ceilings where mass alone has reached its limit and flanking is the remaining issue |
| Gold | Full decoupled assembly — resilient clips, acoustic fill, mass layers, finished surface; maximum practical performance in conventional construction | Severe noise problems, professional studio builds, high-performance residential conversions, and Part E compliance for demanding separating elements |
Wall systems
| Tier | Approx. budget | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Bronze | [TBD] | Modest improvement to a poor-performing wall; minimal disruption |
| Silver | [TBD] | Party walls and shared walls where mass alone is not enough |
| Gold | [TBD] | Severe noise problems; professional and high-performance residential builds |
Bronze Wall System
- Double layer of acoustic board (total 25kg/m² or above) applied to the existing wall surface
- Acoustic membrane sandwiched between the board layers for additional mass
- All joints staggered and sealed with acoustic sealant
- Approximate performance gain over unimproved wall: Rw +6–9dB
Silver Wall System
- New stud frame set away from the existing wall (25–50mm air gap)
- Resilient channels on the stud face
- Acoustic mineral wool fill in the stud void
- Double layer of acoustic board on the resilient channel
- Approximate performance: Rw 48–52dB for the whole-wall assembly
Gold Wall System
- Independent stud frame (not touching the existing wall) with a continuous air gap
- Resilient clips and hat channels throughout
- High-density acoustic mineral wool fill in both the existing cavity and the new frame void
- Triple-layer acoustic board on the finished face
- Approximate performance: Rw 55–60dB for the whole-wall assembly
Floor systems
| Tier | Approx. budget | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Bronze | [TBD] | Reducing impact noise under floating floor finishes; retrofit |
| Silver | [TBD] | Separating floors in conversions; meeting Part E impact targets |
| Gold | [TBD] | Maximum airborne and impact performance; studio-grade floor isolation |
Bronze Floor System
- Acoustic underlay (high-performance grade) beneath a floating floor finish
- Suitable for laminate, engineered wood, LVT
- Approximate impact improvement: ΔLw 18–22dB
Silver Floor System
- Acoustic membrane over the structural deck
- Acoustic mineral wool or resilient cradle system over the membrane
- Structural deck board over the resilient layer
- Acoustic underlay and finished floor
- Approximate performance: airborne Rw 50–54dB, impact Ln,w 52–58dB
Gold Floor System
- Fully floating deck construction on resilient cradles or resilient clips and battens
- Acoustic membrane within the build-up
- High-density fill between cradles or battens
- Double-layer deck board, acoustic underlay, finished floor
- Approximate performance: airborne Rw 55–60dB, impact Ln,w 46–52dB
Ceiling systems
| Tier | Approx. budget | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Bronze | [TBD] | Modest ceiling improvement; low disruption where access is limited |
| Silver | [TBD] | Residential ceiling isolation; most apartments and houses |
| Gold | [TBD] | Severe impact noise from above; studio-grade ceiling isolation |
Bronze Ceiling System
- Acoustic board applied to the existing ceiling surface
- All joints staggered and sealed
- Appropriate for modest performance improvement where the ceiling can accept additional board without access issues
Silver Ceiling System
- Resilient channel fixed to the existing ceiling joists
- Acoustic mineral wool between the joists (if accessible)
- Double layer of acoustic board on the resilient channel
- Appropriate for ceiling isolation in most residential and commercial situations
Gold Ceiling System
- Independent ceiling frame on resilient clips, hanging from the structural ceiling with no direct rigid contact
- High-density acoustic mineral wool in both the joist void and the new ceiling cavity
- Triple-layer acoustic board on the isolated ceiling frame
- Appropriate for severe impact or airborne noise problems, professional studio environments, or situations where the floor above cannot be treated
Which system do you need?
The right system depends on your current construction, the severity of the noise problem, and the disruption you can accept. Tell us your situation — what the noise is, where it comes from, what your building structure is — and we'll specify the appropriate system and advise on what is achievable.
Technical notes
Published system test data is available on request for each combination listed above. Performance figures quoted are indicative — actual results depend on workmanship, flanking paths, and the existing construction. System performance must be assessed against the relevant standards for your project type: Part E of the Building Regulations sets minimum separating element performance for residential new builds and conversions. BS 8233 provides guidance on sound insulation targets in non-residential settings. We can advise on which standards apply to your project and which systems meet them.