How does Sound Transmission Work and Why are Resilient Channels so Amazing?
Building occupants often care deeply about how much sound gets through their walls or floor/ceilings. So the building industry developed a Sound Transmission Coefficient (STC) rating system. If the sound level in one room is 70 decibels and 20 decibels gets over to the adjoining room, that would be a STC of 50. So the amount of decibel level decrease from one space to the next is the STC rating. The decibel scale is logarithmic, which means that an increase in 10 decibels will sound twice as loud. An increase of 20 decibels will sound four times as loud. Here are some common decibel levels: • Weakest sound able to be heard 0 decibels (dB) • Rustle of leaves 10 dB • Quiet whisper in a Library 30 dB • Average office noise level 50 dB • Normal conversation at 3′ 60 dB to 70 dB • Normal piano practice 60 dB to 70 dB • Truck traffic 90 dB • People shouting 90 dB • Gas lawnmower at 3′ 100 dB • Electric circular saw at 3′ 110 dB • Loud rock concert 110 dB to 120 dB • Jet engine at 100′ 140 dB
