Noise reduction - Double or triple Glazing?

mettlemickey

Hi,

I have double glazing presently, but would like to reduce noise coming in from the road outside. Ive had a few quotes, all similar in price but....

Im getting conflicting information from different window companies as to what offers the best sound reduction. Most firms say triple glazing, the usual 3 layers of 4mm glass (some add a layer of lamination). But ive also been advised that double glazing utilizing two different thicknesses of glass would be better. I have a quote for 10mm glass 12 mm spacer and 6mm glass in a double glazed unit which one firm says offers better sound reduction than triple glazing.

I've seen some older threads asking similar, but no really clear answers....

Are there any window installers out there or people who have tried double/triple specifically for noise reduction that can offer their advice? Which offers the greatest sound reduction?

Many thanks
JC

SailorSam

To try and lesson noise, it's the gap that's important, the larger the better. So the best 'cure' could be secondary glazing with a gap of say 6".

mettlemickey

Thanks SailorSam, I did consider secondary glazing but the wife ruled it out as she doesnt like the look of it!

So i really need to get to the bottom of this double versus triple quandary.

2013yearofthehouse

Happy to be corrected as I'm trying to remember this off the top of my head and therefore may have it muddled, but I thnk I read at some point that if using glazing for noise reduction then the 2 or 3 panes of glass should be different thicknesses in order to block (disperse?) different frequencies of sound. Otherwise if sizing is consistant then any noise that passes through one pane will pass through two or three panes also. The air gap should be as wide as possible, obviously more difficult if triple glazed due to overall depth of glazing in the frame. Also, weight can be an issue.

I think double glazing with one pane being acoustic glass is considered more effective than triple glazing (with non-acoustic panes) though.

Don't forget, trickle vents aren't a good idea if you're trying to keep noise to a minimum.

You can fill the air gap with gases that help reflect noise too, but I'm guessing they'd be expensive.

themull1

Sarah Beeny did a test on tv with double glazing and triple glazing, and the double glazing won.