The Dilemma of Balancing Design for Impact Sound with Environmental Performance in Wood Ceiling Systems—A Building Physics Perspective

Theresa Müller, David Borschewski, Stefan Albrecht, Philip Leistner and Moritz Späh
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Theresa Müller: Institute for Acoustics and Building Physics IABP, University of Stuttgart, D-70569 Stuttgart, Germany
David Borschewski: Institute for Acoustics and Building Physics IABP, University of Stuttgart, D-70569 Stuttgart, Germany
Stefan Albrecht: Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics IBP, D-70569 Stuttgart, Germany
Philip Leistner: Institute for Acoustics and Building Physics IABP, University of Stuttgart, D-70569 Stuttgart, Germany
Moritz Späh: Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics IBP, D-70569 Stuttgart, Germany

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 16, 1-14

Abstract: Due to the high consumption of resources and energy in the construction sector, the development of resource-efficient and sustainable construction solutions is gaining increasing attention. The awareness of sustainability and resource conservation results in the interest of using natural and renewable materials in contemporary architecture. Timber construction methods offer both constructive and ecological potential for sustainable solutions. From a building physics perspective, the acoustic performance of lightweight buildings, such as those made of timber, presents a challenge. Even if standard requirements are met, the increased low-frequency sound transmission typical for light-weight construction can cause discomfort and is already the subject of questions in building physics, which are currently increasingly extending to timber construction. Within the framework of a holistic approach, this paper compares the problem of acoustic properties, design optimizations and the ecological properties of timber-frame and solid timber construction components. The comparison with heavy materials, such as concrete, shows the relation of acoustic optimization with the change of the environmental profile. In order to establish the interaction between acoustic quality of wooden ceiling constructions and their ecological characteristics, this article aims to demonstrate the potential of materials used in the building sector under ecological aspects considering a life cycle analysis.

Keywords: timber construction; wooden ceiling systems; nature-based materials; acoustic quality; life cycle assessment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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