How PVC windows reduce street noise
In short: When it comes to noise, the glass does most of the work, followed by the seals and the installation. A good window can reduce street noise so much that the room feels several times quieter. On a busy street, it is worth asking about glass with better sound insulation during the measurement visit.
What decibels mean
Noise is measured in decibels (dB). The scale is not linear: a 10 dB reduction sounds about half as loud to the human ear. That is why the difference between 32 and 42 dB looks small on paper but is large in a bedroom.
Sound | Approx. |
|---|---|
Quiet room at night | 25–30 dB |
Normal conversation | about 60 dB |
Busy street | 70–80 dB |
Passing lorry or train | 80–90 dB |
A window's sound insulation (Rw) tells you by how many decibels it reduces noise. If it is 75 dB outside and the window has an Rw of 35 dB, about 40 dB remains inside – the level of a quiet room at home.
The glass does most of the work
The profile is thick and rigid, so the glass is the weakest point. Sound insulation is improved by:
thicker glass – heavier glass vibrates less;
panes of different thickness in the same unit – they do not resonate at the same frequency, so one dampens what the other lets through;
laminated acoustic glass – two panes bonded with a special film that absorbs vibration.
Triple glazing helps a little against noise too, but for serious noise the thickness and type of glass matter more than the number of panes.
Gealan states that windows made from the S8000 profile achieve sound insulation of 34 to 47 dB, depending on the glass. We agree on the right glass for your room during the measurement visit.
Seals and closing
Sound gets in wherever air gets in. Even a small gap next to the sash lets in more noise than the whole pane. That is why good seals and well-adjusted hardware matter, so that the sash closes evenly all the way round.
Installation and weak spots
The joint with the wall must be completely filled and sealed, otherwise sound travels around the window.
A roller shutter box above the window can let noise through if it is not insulated.
Ventilation openings in the window or wall let sound through as well.
Who benefits most
In and around Subotica: flats and houses on busy streets and main roads, next to the railway, near schools and shops. For such rooms, mention the noise during the measurement visit and we will choose the glass for the bedroom and the street-facing side together.