Companies have rolled up their sleeves to solve the issue of noise between floors, which is directly linked to the quality of residential living.
◆Development of Cushioning Materials and Wall-Supported Ceiling Systems
Lotte Construction has been conducting research to minimize noise between floors. In February last year, they established a dedicated team of 13 experts with master's and doctoral degrees to achieve 'zero noise between floors' and began developing noise reduction technologies.
Lotte Chemical developed noise reduction technologies such as cushioning materials using eco-friendly new materials and a 'wall-supported ceiling system.'
The cushioning material using eco-friendly new materials was developed using EPP (Expanded Polypropylene), an eco-friendly material produced by Lotte Chemical, overcoming the cushioning performance limitations of existing EPP while maintaining its eco-friendly characteristics.
Additionally, in collaboration with EPS Korea, a specialist company in floor cushioning materials, they obtained certification for floor impact sound insulation structure and completed commercialization. Unlike existing floor cushioning materials that are processed once and incinerated after use, EPP can be recycled through grinding and re-foaming. Moreover, it is considered an eco-friendly material as no debris is generated during installation, preventing environmental pollution.
The ceiling system minimizes the installation of daldae (members connecting the upper unit's floor slab and the lower unit's ceiling) directly fixed to the floor slab, blocking the transmission path of vibrations from the upper unit, and applies a method fixed to the wall to reduce noise between floors. This differentiates it from conventional apartment ceilings that fix daldae directly to the upper unit's floor slab using lightweight steel frames or wooden structures.
◆Joint Research on Noise Blocking Technology... High-Performance Floor Structures Customized to Floor Plans
In August this year, Lotte Construction signed a business agreement for 'joint development of noise reduction technology between floors' with Samsung C&T Construction Division and POSCO Construction. They plan to jointly apply the developed noise reduction technologies.
They set a goal to develop an optimal solution that significantly reduces noise between floors while ensuring cost-effectiveness by the end of next year by combining each company's strengths. In particular, the technology developed through this agreement will be shared for use by all construction companies, including the three parties, to lead the resolution of social issues.
Lotte Construction continues to develop floor impact sound insulation structures optimized for each complex's floor plan to achieve better performance beyond their existing noise reduction research and development achievements.
Although complexes have various housing floor plans, the industry typically uses standardized floor structures that have been previously verified. In contrast, Lotte Construction developed the 'L-Mute series' to propose optimal floor structures that reflect customers' demands as much as possible.
The L-Mute series is a floor structure series that combines cushioning materials and the thickness and types of finishing mortar in various ways to achieve optimal performance tailored to the characteristics of different housing floor plans. Lotte Construction is currently conducting certification tests for three structures within the L-Mute series and plans to sequentially verify performance by obtaining floor impact sound insulation structure certifications for various structures in the future.
Lotte Construction plans to apply these research results to upcoming apartment sales to build apartments that minimize noise between floors while reducing environmental burdens.
◆Application of 'Noise Cushioning Material' in Hannam 2 District
Lotte Construction, which has entered the bidding for the redevelopment project of Hannam 2 District in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, plans to apply new noise prevention technologies to the complex as much as possible.
They proposed a semi-dry sound insulation material (60mm) with a 260mm slab, 60mm sound insulation material, 50mm high-performance mortar, thicker than existing apartment flooring materials, and a special noise reduction technology unique to Lotte Construction used in high-end residential complexes.
The plan is to minimize noise between floors by using a 260mm thick floor slab, which is thicker than the minimum performance standard of 210mm for concrete slabs, and a 60mm thick floor sound insulation material.
A Lotte Construction official said, "We will continue to develop noise reduction technologies to provide residents with psychological stability and comfort, enhancing emotional satisfaction."
Meanwhile, on August 23, the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport prepared a revision of the 'Regulations on the Scope and Standards of Noise Between Floors in Multi-Family Housing,' lowering the criteria for judging noise between floors.
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