Double glazing your home or office space can lead to many benefits, one of which is the reduction of outside noise. Whether you’re at home or at work, reducing outside noise and distraction can lead to increased productivity in the office and improved home comfort – especially when it comes to quality of sleep.

So how does double glazing reduce outside noise? While many people are familiar with double glazing, few actually understand how it works.

Understanding sound

In order to understand how double glazing can effectively reduce noise in your home or office, first we must look at sound:

• Sound is a form of energy which enters our ears via sound waves.
• Sound waves are caused by molecules vibrating in gas, liquids or solids.
• These sound waves can be low or high pitched.
• Sound waves are measured in decibels.

Did you know that a comfortable level of sound for the human ear is around 35 decibels during the day and around 30 decibels at night? Obviously, this will vary from person to person and you also may want your property quieter than this due to concentration levels required (especially if it’s an office building) or if you have young children or babies asleep.

Double glazing and sound

Double glazing can be really effective in reducing the energy carried in the sound waves. When you consider that sound travels at around 1234 kilometres per hour and arrives at a surface (such as a window) in a pressure wave, you can understand why a regular window may not always be effective in reducing this pressure.

Sound can vibrate a single glazed window pane which then vibrates the air on the other side and passes the sound onto your ear. If a window is double glazed, this is significantly reduced.

It’s important to understand the different types of outside noise though – it can sometimes be harder to block lower frequency sounds such as traffic. Generally, you just need to find the right type of double glazing for your specific needs.

How much can double glazing reduce outside noise?

This will depend greatly on the individual property and the sounds experienced in your particular location (e.g. proximity to a highway, airport, general street noise).

Well installed double glazing can reduce outside noise by up to 31 decibels – this is the difference between normal speech and a quiet whisper!

It’s also really important that you engage experienced professionals to fit your double glazing. Even the best double glazed windows cannot be fully effective if they are poorly installed, as any cracks or gaps will reduce the effectiveness of the window in reducing noise.

Different types of double glazing

The right type of double glazing will depend on where you live or work, the type of building you have and the type of location you’re in – this will determine the noises that you are looking to reduce.

It’s also important to note that while double glazing can reduce noise, they’re also effective in improving the energy efficiency in your space by helping to stabilise the internal temperature. In Summer, double glazing can help to deflect the harsh rays of the sun entering via your windows and in Winter, keep the warmth in while you’re running heating.

To ensure you select the right window solution for your home or office, it’s recommended that you speak with an expert in double glazing. They will take the time to learn about your environment, the type of noise you are looking to reduce and recommend a product that will be most suitable for you.

Contact us today and speak to our expert team about double glazing solutions for your home or office.