The construction industry is also coming up with specialized designs to minimize the transmission of noise between floors. (image: KobizMedia/ Korea Bizwire)
SEOUL, June 27 (Korea Bizwire) – As the city of Seoul has recently established a ‘Seoul Resident Grievance Center’ at the Seosomun local government office to resolve conflicts between residents due to inter-floor noise in apartment buildings, the construction industry is also coming up with specialized designs to minimize the transmission of noise between floors.
According to an industry official, some construction companies are even applying for patents for designs and technology that reduce inter-floor noise.
Daelim Industrial Co. registered its inter-floor noise prevention technology in 2013. The patented technology involves using 250-mm thick concrete, instead of 210-mm, for flooring, and a 60-mm thick noise insulation material for the living room, kitchen, and bedroom floors, instead of the conventional 30-mm thick material.
Lotte Engineering & Construction, too, has filed a patent application for its highest-level (received top rating from an accredited certification body) noise insulation material in May. This patented noise insulation material is 60-mm thick, unlike the company’s traditional design where a floor noise insulation material of 20 – 30 mm in thickness is used.
Hanyang Corporation’s Hanyang Sujain Apartments that are going on sale this month in Siheung’s Eungye District Block B5 are built with a 4.5-mm thick noise-proofing PVC flooring material, which minimizes the noise generated by traditional wood floors.
Builders are promptly applying these patented techniques to new apartment complexes that are on pre-sale.
On top of using thicker and better-quality floor noise insulation materials, improved plumbing systems with layered pipes are being used in newly-built apartment buildings.
The KCC Switzen Apartment complex being built by KCC Engineering & Construction Co. in Seongbok-dong, Yongin, is constructed with an individual floor drainage pipe system that minimizes the water pipe noise in bathrooms.
A perspective drawing of the KCC Switzen Apartment complex (image: KCC Engineering & Construction Co.)
“Many potential buyers are greatly interested in finding out if buildings are built with noise-proof materials. With construction companies constantly developing high-end technology for noise insulation, the demand for quieter apartment buildings should continue to increase,” said an industry official.
By Nonnie Kim (nkim@koreabizwire.com)
