CertainTeed's interactive tool tests indoor noise

Now there's an app for testing and demonstrating the acoustical performance of wall systems.

CertainTeed launched an interactive tool called dBstation that simulates the acoustical performance of its SilentFX Noise-Reducing Gypsum Board. 

Designed for use on the Apple iPad or Motorola Android mobile devices, dBstation allows architects and builders to actually hear the acoustical differences of wall systems in real-world applications, the company said.

“When dBstation users hear the change in decibel levels for each of the wall systems, they are amazed at how the acoustical comfort of a space can vary,” said Angie Day, residential marketing manager for CertainTeed Gypsum. “The dBstation helps architects and building professionals demonstrate the benefits of high performance noise reducing wall systems. These systems are especially important for commercial projects with stringent acoustical requirements, such as hospitals, schools and hotels, as well as for residential homes with media rooms, nurseries and home offices.” 

The products scenario application demonstrates how specific noises -- such as ringing telephones in an office, watching television at home, or multiple conversations in a busy hospital corridor -- can impact interior spaces. Wall system configurations apply to both wood- and steel-stud assemblies for residential and commercial construction.