A Characteristic of Floor Impact Noise Reduction using Slab Reinforcement of the Existing Apartment

The largest part of living in modern society is comprised by multi-unit dwellings where noise problems have become a social issue. From this point of view, floor impact noise in an apartment as well as indoor transmission noise are serious social matters that must be addressed in Korea. As time passed the existing housing stock (over 30 year old) has been increasingly subject to remodeling. However, existing apartments have low height under ceiling, making it difficult to increase the thickness of the slab. Therefore, in this study, while maintaining the ceiling height, we are looking for a scheme that would allow to increase the tensile strength of the slab in order to reduce the floor impact noise. Steel, carbon fiber and carbon panel, a reinforcing material, were examined to enhance the performance of the floor regarding impact noise. As a result, heavy weight floor impact noise showed reduced levels of 1~3 dB, and light weight floor impact noise was not reduced.