Do you know that almost all Indian cities violate noise pollution standards? The government-mandated noise safety levels must not exceed 55 decibels during the day, and 45 decibels at night. The reality, however, is far from ideal. Metros and mini-metros easily go up to 79 decibels, while the smaller towns are not too far behind.
Noise pollution can be overwhelming and causes stress and fatigue. Whether you are in the office or at home, noise-free surroundings are imperative for productivity as well as relaxation. The long-term solution to the Indian problem of noise pollution is better traffic management and patient-driven road sense from citizens. However, the short-term solution that can provide you with long-term relief from all the unwarranted noise is acoustic glass windows. If you live or work in a particularly cacophonous neighbourhood, fortifying your windows with soundproof or acoustic glass is imperative.
What Is Acoustic Glass?
Acoustic glass is highly effective in muffling the sound of horns honking, rain clattering, loudspeakers blaring, etc. It provides impeccable sound insulation. This type of glass is manufactured by having two layers of glass that have been laminated together with a PVB (Polyvinyl Butyral) film in between. This PVB interlayer acts as an acoustic membrane that bonds the two glass panes together, giving a single-paned appearance. The PVB membrane absorbs noise and prevents sound vibrations from passing through to the other side.
Acoustic glass can be installed in several types of thicknesses and glazing, depending on the amount of soundproofing required. For instance, a very thick acoustic glass pane is used inside a music studio, to create eerie silence for exceptional music recording. However, relatively less thick acoustic glass panes can be installed inside your home or office, where there is no such recording.
Benefits of Acoustic Glass
Apart from the obvious benefit of keeping noise pollution at bay, and providing a more comfortable overall dwelling experience, acoustic glass doors and windows have other advantages, as listed below –
Increases Safety
This is a commonly overlooked advantage of acoustic glass, even though it is fairly obvious. Laminated safety glass provides a higher safety profile, as compared to both annealed as well as tempered glass. Since it contains an inner PVB layer, acoustic glass does not break easily. Even if it does break, the glass pieces remain stuck to the PVB interlayer and do not fall out, having a spiderweb-like appearance. For this very reason, acoustic laminated glass is also very popular with automotive and appliance manufactures.
Increases Thermal Comfort
Acoustic glass windows and doors insulate your home optimally. During summers, they keep interiors at a comfortable temperature range by not letting cool conditioned air leak out. During winters, when it is cold outside, these windows do not allow warm air to escape out of your home or office, thus, keeping pleasant. This also makes acoustic glass energy-efficient. Since the interior temperatures are never fluctuating between extremes, your heating and cooling devices also become more efficient.
Unsung Health benefits
As discussed, acoustic glass improves our mental health by dampening nerve-shattering decibel levels. But, it also protects from harmful ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) rays. Not only is that great for you, but also your upholstery and other home and office furnishings. Modern architecture prefers glass over other materials to open up spaces. This ends up exposing your furnishings to a great deal of sunlight. Acoustic laminated glass lets in all that glorious natural light but reflects away UV and IR rays, keeping your interiors fresh for years.
Better Security
Acoustic glass is tough and can be constructed with multiple panes in all manners of thickness. Its sturdiness provides you with a sense of enhanced security. Specially toughened laminated glass is also used to manufacture bulletproof vehicles.
An Important Thing to Keep in Mind
An important thing that you should discuss with your vendor before installing acoustic glass is the STC or Sound Transmission Class rating of the glass used. The STC rating measures the intensity of sound stopped at 10 most common frequencies, measured in decibels. Glass panes with a higher STC rating stop noise better. Having this conversation with your vendor will speak volumes about how truly knowledgeable the installation company is. Also, ask them about the nature of the warranty on their products and services.
Final Thoughts
Acoustic glass windows must be installed by a professional service like AIS Glass. As a subsidiary of India’s largest integrated glass manufacturer – Asahi India Glass Limited – we are well-equipped to address all your glass-related needs. You can request a quote for your specific requirement or simply talk to us about our installation processes, the quality of our technicians, and our turnaround time before committing.
Pining for relief from street noise? Get our acoustic glass solutions installed in your home or office. Our acoustic glass is made from the best quality laminated glass, featuring a PVB layer that has exceptional sound absorption qualities and can reduce external sounds by up to 90%.
So, what are you waiting for? Get in touch with us today!