Is a precast concrete wall the best option to reduce noise?

There is a growing demand to reduce noise in indoor areas such as restaurants, homes, and office buildings. Believe it or not, the type of material you use may or may not have a relatively high impact on noise deterrence. One of the types of building materials that is subject to many different opinions is that of precast concrete.

There are many reports that we will cover on our new concrete fence wall blog that have shown that any type of concrete simply echoes noise and can potentially increase it. However, there has been recent research that has shown that precast concrete, either as an interior fence or an exterior wall, provides the highest sound transmission loss value compared to other anti-noise wall products. This research has shown that reducing noise from these barriers requires a considerably smaller footprint compared to ground beams.

One feature of precast concrete is that it can be fabricated and inspected prior to installation, which can reduce construction time for you or a contractor. You will find an extensive selection of textures and finishes with precast concrete and because it is produced in a controlled environment, it is built with high quality and uniformity.

There are virtually an infinite number of aesthetic options that come with precast concrete, which can be beneficial in reducing noise. This allows you to design and style the walls where you plan to put noise barriers. You will see that many buildings and offices take this opportunity to capture a theme in the rooms.

The reason it is able to adapt so easily to different construction situations is because precast concrete barriers have a low water to cement ratio. By using this low ratio, higher strengths and lower permeability can be achieved. With air gaps within the concrete, there are more opportunities for the ice water to expand. In essence, this minimizes the possibility of scaling and deterioration of the concrete.

When researching offline, you will find conflicting discussions about whether precast concrete is the optimal material for noise reduction. There have been considerable arguments for both cases, but it is difficult to go against the research mentioned above. It is up to you to draw your own conclusion as to whether or not precast concrete is the best option for noise reduction, and further research may better support your decision.