A comprehensive analysis of time influence on floating floors: effects on acoustic performance and occupants’ comfort

Impact noise is increasingly becoming an important issue both in terms of technologies for its reduction and in terms of its perception inside buildings. In fact, a high level of noise clearly affects indoor comfort and liveability of confined spaces. For this reason, this study focuses on the influence which the screed static load has over time on the resilient material of a floating floor and on its final performance. Five different types of resilient materials have been tested for five years and the results are analysed in terms of material type, surface contact and thickness variation, dynamic stiffness measured on 8 different time steps and its application on 6 different bare floors. Obtained parameters values are therefore studied in terms of perceived comfort and compliance with 31 European countries regulations limits. Results clearly show that time has a paramount influence on all types of resilient materials (with the exception of one) in all configurations and that complete floor selection, in time, can greatly change perceived indoor living comfort and compliance with the limits imposed by laws.