The rules concerning the acoustic insulation of walls in an apartment are described by the PN-B-02151 – 3:1999 standard. The acoustic insulation coefficient RA1 specifies the number of decibels reduced by a particular type of partition, although in the construction industry the R’A1 coefficient is typically used. It can be treated as the absolute value of the permissible noise regardless of the quality of the partition’s execution or the transfer of sound through the ceilings and adjacent walls. The higher the ratio, the better the noise reduction of the wall. Standard values are 30 dB for walls between rooms and 35 dB for partitions separating the kitchen or the bathroom from other rooms. We should keep this in mind while erecting walls in a house, as it may turn out that the manufacturer of the wall material (e.g. aerated concrete) has clearly determined the acoustic insulation coefficient for a barrier of certain thickness – and it is insufficient for comfortable existence. In such cases there are two solutions, both associated with the necessity of renovation works. The first solution consists in adding an additional partition on one side of the wall, made of bricks, hollow bricks or aerated concrete. The thickness of the wall should be adapted both to the load-bearing capacity of the ceiling as well as the level of noise. It is accepted that an additional partition with a thickness of 6 cm is enough for an aerated concrete wall with a standard thickness of 24cm. It is important to leave 6 cm of free space between the two partitions, which can be filled with insulating material. The second solution consists in attaching a light plasterboard partition to the wall, whose frame is attached to the insulated wall as well as the ceiling and the floor. Such a partition with a width of several centimeters should be filled with insulating material and then enclosed with a plasterboard on one side. Of course, the frame can be enclosed with plasterboard on both sides, but this is not necessary.
