Oklahoma Patent of the Month – October 2023
The construction industry is constantly searching for materials and solutions that reduce development costs while creating a more stable outcome. This doesn’t stop at strong materials – construction must consider a broad range of variables like how well sound carries across materials. In multi-storied buildings, the challenge of reducing the transmission of impact sound has been a long-standing concern. Typically, these structures utilize a three-layered flooring system consisting of subfloor, overlayment, and final flooring, as well as other structural features and finishes. Traditionally, the overlayment’s flexural strength provides the primary protection against impact failure.
However, the introduction of a sound attenuating mat into the system significantly weakens the flooring’s flexural strength. This is because the mat separates the overlayment from the subfloor, and the matted material inherently lacks compressive and flexural strength. This typically necessitates a thicker application of overlayment to maintain the desired flexural strength, which can be costly and time-consuming.
Formulated Materials, LLC, has developed a novel Sound Attenuating Flooring System that offers an elegant solution to this age-old problem. This system comprises three crucial components: a subfloor, a sound attenuating material, and an overlayment.
The sound attenuating material, with its first surface adorned by a multitude of outwardly projecting hollow protrusions, is the heart of the system. These protrusions are coated with a vibration-dampening reactive material on their tips. In direct contact with the subfloor, this setup forms the foundation of a game-changing sound attenuating system.
Reducing noise without compromising structural integrity is the core premise of this innovative system. The sound attenuating material’s outwardly projecting hollow protrusions are designed to extend from the surface within a specific range, ensuring both robust support and noise reduction capability.
With the Formulated Materials’ Sound Attenuating Flooring System, a fresh era of construction and noise control has begun. Traditional trade-offs between structural strength and noise reduction are no longer necessary, making it an exciting advancement in the realm of multi-storied building solutions.
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