Sound transmission through a double leaf partition with edge flanking

Lightweight double leaf partitions are widely used and with proper design give good sound isolation. However, when these walls are used as party walls between dwellings, then precautions are necessary to prevent the transmission of fire and smoke. This is usually carried out by placing a firestop in the cavity. This firestop introduces flanking transmission paths reducing the airborne transmission loss of the wall. A simple model is developed which can predict vibration transmission across this type of structural connection. The structural vibration transmission loss can then be used with a more general statistical energy analysis model to give the sound transmission through the entire system. Predicted airborne transmission loss results for a variety of different materials are compared with measured results and good agreement is obtained.