Acoustic underlay and apartment rules: what building management actually wants
Most towers now require an impact-sound layer under any new floor. Here is what that means and how to pass first time.
The neighbour below
A hard floor on a concrete slab transmits footsteps, dropped keys and chairs straight into the ceiling below. Buildings that once allowed anything now ask for a floor with a measured impact-sound reduction, typically 18 to 22 dB, and a method statement before work starts.
How it is achieved
SPC with an attached IXPE or cork pad, laminate on a dense rubber or PU underlay, LVT over an acoustic layer beneath the levelling compound, or carpet on a heavy underlay. The product data sheet gives the figure; we attach it to the NOC application.
The paperwork
Building NOC, contractor insurance, method statement, working hours and the acoustic data sheet. Allow two to five working days. We do this every week and keep current copies of everything the towers ask for.
The mistake to avoid
Fitting first and asking later. Management can require the floor to come up. Ask us, we ask them, then we fit.
See every option on our flooring types page, or ask us on WhatsApp. Visiting? Get directions to our Dragon Mart 1 showroom on Google Maps.