Transferring sound between rooms

Professional Definition

This is the set of physical phenomena that leads to the propagation of acoustic energy from one designated area (source room) to another (receiving room).

The resultant sound transmission consists of the sum of all transmission paths: direct path (through the separating partition) and indirect paths (lateral, through ventilation systems, gaps). The parameter describing resistance to this phenomenon is the specific acoustic insulation ($R'$), which takes into account the actual installation conditions in the building, as opposed to the laboratory indicator $R$.

Acoustics in Simple Words

Think of sound in a room like water being poured into a leaky bucket that is placed inside another, larger bucket. The walls of the first bucket are the walls of the room. If they are thin or have holes (gaps under doors, electrical sockets), the water (sound) will quickly spill into the second vessel. But even if the walls are tight, hitting the bottom of the first bucket will create vibrations that will transfer to the second one. Sound transmission is the sum of all those “leaks” and “vibrations.”

Summary

Effectively limiting sound transmission between rooms requires a holistic approach. It is necessary to take care not only of the mass and tightness of the main partition but also to seal the installation openings and eliminate acoustic bridges.