Finding and solving acoustic leakage and flanking paths and what it tells us

It is a well-established fact that acoustic leakage or flanking paths reduce the transmission loss of a partition. Quantifying the reduced transmission loss of a partition in frequencies of concern because of acoustic leakage is essential to optimize the acoustic efficacy of the partition, especially when the acoustic leakage point is not easily identified with a standard visual inspection. Whether the partition is a wall, floor/ceiling, door, or window, the effectiveness of an acoustic installation is significantly improved by incorporating acoustic leakage testing into standard inspections, and by repairing the identified leakage points and paths prior to project completion. Construction administration gains importance when the acoustic engineer can identify and advise how to address acoustic leakage points while on a construction site. Available techniques are detailed along with examples that demonstrate the transmission loss improvements of a partition. An innovative product and methodology, the dB Focus Tube, that was recently patented will also be presented.