Recommended Acoustic Engineer for Timber in Apartment?

Lshags21 on 10/05/2019 - 01:00

Hi OzBargain,

I always look to OzB forums first for help then reddit after but I couldn’t get much info. So I thought I’d finally post in the forums!

I’m looking for an acoustic engineer who can do testing on laminate/hybrid floor boards that we are going to install as well as acoustic underlay.

Do you guys know any decent acoustic engineers who won’t overcharge for a residential job like this? (Also if you know rough pricing I can expect so I can factor into floor board selection)

Also, strata manager has recommended Regulpol 5mm as an underlay but that’s pretty much recommending the RTX 2080 of GPUs sorta. Any other recommendations that can get me through strata? I will be living in an apartment in Parramatta NSW and strata seems strict but very well managed here.

Any help will be appreciated!!

Home & Garden

Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 10/05/2019 - 01:10
    +1

    pretty much recommending the RTX 2080 of GPU

    Just be happy it's not the RTX 2080ti of underlays

    • shags21 on 10/05/2019 - 10:01

      that is true

  • philme on 10/05/2019 - 08:52
    +4

    I'm an acoustic engineer. A job like that we would bill around 2-3 days of work (16-24 hours) which would include testing, reporting, recommendations and checking and verification of the work. so you'll probably be looking at $2000 plus, although smaller consultancies may be able to do it cheaper.

    might also be worth checking the Association of Australasian acoustical consultants guideline on apartments and townhouses.

    https://aaac.org.au/resources/Documents/Public/Apartment%20a…

    The National construction code (formerly the building code of australia) may also provide guidance on impact isolation between tenancies.

    a list of acoustic consultancies can be found here:
    https://aaac.org.au/nsw
    https://www.acoustics.asn.au/joomla/index.php?option=com_con…

    I've also had a collegue in a similar situation and strata was caused him all kinds of problems. So be prepared for an uphill battle.
    Hope this helps

    • shags21 on 10/05/2019 - 10:02
      +1

      thanks for that!

  • jar-unit on 10/05/2019 - 09:04
    +1

    I work for a commercial building company. Another potential option to check if available, is if previously tested products can be used in your situation. For example products on which the manufacturer has already performed testing of the system within the same construction as you are intending to use e.g if you know your building has a 200mm thick slab, the manufacturer may already have a test sheet stating that their product performs to "x" acoustic performance based on this construction.

    • shags21 on 10/05/2019 - 10:03

      i’ll try and check the sheets out, thanks! and also other products

  • jar-unit on 10/05/2019 - 09:05

    You can also find some of these products already have a preapplied acoustic backing which is alot cheaper than adding an entire layer of Regupol 5mm

  • SnoozeAndLose on 10/05/2019 - 09:12

    Why do you need this to be done? you are the one who is going to install and strata have already suggested what to use? if at the end of the day your downstairs neighbor complaint but you have already comply all the rules.

    • shags21 on 10/05/2019 - 10:05

      the owners corp/strata require testing to be done otherwise i wouldn’t have gotten an engineer and just went with a good underlay

      • SnoozeAndLose on 10/05/2019 - 10:06

        that is a very restrict strata, normally if you used what they suggested then it will be fine.

  • [Deactivated] on 10/05/2019 - 10:30
    +2

    Another reason I'm glad my nearest neighbour is 500m away. What a pita.

    • shags21 on 10/05/2019 - 13:49

      are you on a farm? haha

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