DensDeck Roof Boards can reduce sound penetration by more than 50 percent
(30/04/2010)

Georgia-Pacific Gypsum has announced that its assembly for retrofitting lightweight commercial roof decks based on its DensDeck® Roof Board product can reduce sound penetration by more than 50 percent.

According to the results of acoustical performance tests conducted in December 2009 by Architectural Testing Inc., the Georgia-Pacific Gypsum roof deck assembly with remediation components received a Sound Transmission Class (STC) rating of 54, versus a rating of 43 for the baseline assembly alone. This 11 decibel improvement equals a reduction in sound penetration of more than 50 percent.

The assembly's significant reduction in sound penetration is just one of its many features. Another is that the lightweight assembly is added on to the existing roof, a sustainability benefit since it eliminates the need to dispose of existing roofing materials. Also, when properly installed the sophisticated design helps prevent the accumulation of moisture between the new and old roofing assemblies, which is a common problem with retrofitted roofs.

"As airports expand and flight paths change, the need for creating a quieter in-building environment is evolving dramatically," said Reinhard Schneider, DensDeck Roof Board product manager, Georgia-Pacific Gypsum. "We have spent nearly a decade developing a number of sound isolating new roof assemblies to address this problem, and we're delighted that these independent tests confirm the effectiveness of the DensDeck Roof Board -based remediation system, as well."

The DensDeck Roof Board-based lightweight commercial roofing sound remediation assembly includes the following layered components, which were used in the acoustical tests:
- 1" rigid mineral fiber board
- 5/8" DensDeck Roof Board
- 45-mil TPO roofing membrane

The assembly is designed for buildings with low-slope roofs in the vicinity of airports or other high-decibel environments. These include hotels, apartments, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, schools and other low-rise commercial buildings.

The acoustical tests of the Georgia-Pacific remediation assembly were conducted in accordance with four industry-standard testing methodologies (ASTM E 90-09, ASTM E 413-04, ASTM E 1332-90 and ASTM E 22350-04).

DensDeck Roof Boards have proven their toughness and versatility. The unique construction has been shown to withstand delamination, deterioration, warping and job site damage far more effectively than paper-faced gypsum board and other conventional roofing products such as wood fiberboard and perlite.

Among the product line's features:
- Treated gypsum core for moisture resistance and sound insulation
- Fire, rot and hail resistant
- Holds up well under normal foot traffic while stiffening andstabilizing roof decks
- Easy to install in all types of roof systems
- Ideal product for direct membrane application