Technical Overview

Acoustalay® for
Floated Laminate
or Engineered Floors

Acoustalay® for Fixed
Engineered or
Solid Wood Floors

Thermal resistance is measured according to ISO 11902:BS EN 31092 and is relevant if either underfloor heating is in use, or if heat loss is an issue.

With sub-floor embedded underfloor heating the ACOUSTALAY® will lie on top of the heated sub-floor. According to EN 1264 Part 3 Floor Heating – System & Components, the thermal resistance Rλ, B of all materials (underlay, laminate, wood etc.) laying on top of the heated floor should not exceed 0.150m2K/W to prevent unnecessary increase of the flow temperature of the heating system. Hence in this case the lower the value of the ACOUSTALAY® the greater the flexibility in the choice of flooring.

In the case of surface underfloor heating (ribbon or wire type) the ACOUSTALAY® will lie between the sub-floor and the heating system. In this case, with the ACOUSTALAY® below the heating system, it will not offer an impediment to heat travelling upwards into the room and will provide an insulating layer against heat loss through the sub-floor which it will also provide where underfloor heating is not in use. In either case a high thermal insulation value will be beneficial.

ACOUSTALAY® range: 0.052m2/W - 0.15m2/W

Technical Overview

ACOUSTALAY® for home, office & commercial applications. The range offers sound reduction & energy saving options & underlay ideally suited to high moisture areas, course surfaces, heavy loading & for use with underfloor heating.

Typical Use

Under load, all underlay must provide a minimum of 1.5mm insulating spot levelling between the floor and sub-floor & be thick & elastic enough to compensate for small protruding particles found on the smoothest of floors. By doing so it extends the life of the floor - preventing the creation of undesirable sound bridges and rocking which would otherwise be caused by the new floor contacting the sub-floor.

ACOUSTALAY® range: 1.8mm - 4.5mm spot levelling

Thickness - Spot Levelling

Compressive creep is measured (being equal to thickness loss over time under a specified load) according to EN 1606 and EN 13163.

The value given in kPa (Kg/m2) is the maximum load which can be applied to the underlay so that the loss in thickness remains below 10% after 10 years loading time.

The loading performance (compressive creep) of ACOUSTALAY® gives a minimum of 1.8mm protection between the floor and the sub-floor, ensuring spot levelling and all other benefits are maintained for the life of the floor.

This data is of particular importance in relation to heavy furniture. The higher the value the greater its ability to withstand heavy static loading of this kind.

ACOUSTALAY® range: 250Kg/m2 - 1500Kg/m2, domestic to heavy commercial (2.5kPa - 15kPa)

Loading Performance - Compressive Creep

Compressive strength is measured at 0.5mm deformation according to acc. ISO 844 resp. EN 13163.

A maximum deflection of 0.5mm to a minimum force of 20kPa is required to prevent potential damage to the click or tongue and groove system when puncture load is applied.

The higher the value the greater its resistance to tongue and groove damage.

ACOUSTALAY® range: 20kPa - 60kPa (2000Kg/m2 - 6000Kg/m2) without exceeding the 0.5mm deflection limit.

Joint Protection - Compressive Strength

Moisture content of all mineral sub-floors (cement, screed floor, ceramic and stone tiling) can vary and needs to be ascertained.

European Producers of Laminate Flooring (EPLF) Code of Practice for the installation of laminate flooring recommends the Magnesium moisture test (CM) for measuring relative humidity.

A maximum moisture content within a cement screed sub-floor must be kept to <2.0CM% with a relative humidity not exceeding 60% RH.

To protect floors and to minimise the risk of damage from rising damp with sub-floor moisture level:

Vapour Barrier (Moisture)

Thermal Insulation - Resistance

Drum sound (also called room, emitted or reflected sound) is defined as a perceived level of noise inside a room created by footsteps, falling toys and other impact sources.

The internal test methods adopted relate to the EPLF norm 021029-3. Within the ACOUSTALAY® range the higher the rating (four star being the highest) the better the perceived noise within the room.

In-Room Sound Quality (Drum)

Impact sound transmission of laminate flooring is measured according to ISO 140-8 using a tapping hammer on the floor.

Results are expressed as a single value called impact sound improvement index D Lw (dB) which basically describes the noise level in an underneath located room once with and once without the floating floor.

The higher the value the lower the noise level in the room underneath the floor.

Note: A reduction of the noise level by 10dB corresponds to a 50% reduction of the perceived loudness to the human ear.

ACOUSTALAY® range: 16dB - 22dB

Transmitted Sound Reduction (Impact)

Acoustalay® Brochure

Installation Guides

between 2 & 4%, use ACOUSTALAY® or a separate vapour barrier to EN 13984.

In either case use waterproof joint sealing tape.

>4% use ACOUSTALAY® DPM or ENERGY or a separate Damp Proof Membrane (DPM) to EN 13967.