Choosing Sliders - Pt. 3
So far we’ve talked about weather performance and design options as it relates to creating your ideal space. Many of you consider what your design looks like. But what does it sound like?
Part of creating an ideal space is the level of comfort in your home. And part of that comfort level is the management of sound. I can’t count how many times I’ve been kept up all night because of the walls settling, or had a surge of energy from the startling sound of a motorcycle engine speeding down the street of my home. I’m sure you’ve had similar experiences.
When it comes to acoustics management and your window and door design, know that you have options and know that your conceptual space, and the surrounding area of your property will all need to be considered.
OITC and STC: What are they?
Why use 2 ratings?
OITC measures exterior sounds, leaning towards mid-low frequencies.
STC measures all sounds, between inside and outside
Considering the STC and OITC rating is extremely important for developing a comfortable living space. You need to consider where the house is, where the opening is, and how they pertain to your needs.
The OITC and STC ratings are measurements of exterior sounds filtering in through exterior-interior barriers such as walls, doors, and windows.
Visualization of a wall with an STC rating of 45.
The number rating is a representation of the decibel deficit that the surface creates - in other words, the loss of sound as the sound travels through the surface. OITC and STC measure sound frequencies through the following Hertz ranges:
OITC - 80-4000 Hz
STC - 125 - 4000 Hz
So, let’s say a wall has an STC rating of 20. A 100 db sound, such as a crying baby, measures at a higher frequency. Therefore, if a wall has an STC rating of 20, the sound of a crying baby in another room would be about as intense as a window air conditioner (80 db).
Generally, the STC Rating is enough, however You may want to consider OITC if your build is near a noisy area - think train tracks, trucks, rock band neighbours.
Now take that same baby, still crying, and plop it right outside your janela sliding door on your back deck. You may be wondering how it got there, and why no one is putting it to sleep. But you’ll also be thankful that it’s about as loud as a quiet conversation on the radio. That’s because your sliding door is a CP 155, and has an STC rating of 40. The crying baby’s painful belting screams, when travelling through a CP155, are subdued to 60 db - approximately the sound level of an NPR host mulling over the biography of some b list jazz musician. Now you’re the one falling asleep, not the baby.
So, where do janela’s sliding doors sit in terms of STC and OITC?
With our sliding doors, you can enjoy sitting in the morning with coffee, looking out past the expansive glass, without having to worry about the jarring of traffic or airplanes overhead. Even the sound of a motorcycle 2 feet away becomes as intrusive as the volume of a normal conversation.
Consider the STC and OITC ratings above - will they facilitate the comfortable environment you’re looking to achieve?
Maybe you don’t need to filter out sound, maybe you live in a quiet neighbourhood - consider the CP 130.
Maybe your neighbours like to party a little too often, and you want to be able to enjoy your own space at night. The Hi - Finity gives you the ability to completely open up your home to the outside, without having to hear much of it.
Or, maybe like in our example above, crying babies often find their way to your back deck. Choose the CP 155, and you won’t be bothered.
Sliding Systems Brochure
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