Soundproof glass: which type dampens noise the most?

Do you live on a busy road, near a railway or in a neighbourhood with a lot of ambient noise? Then soundproof glass is one of the most direct improvements you can make. But which type of glass works best, and what can you expect?

How is the sound insulation of glass measured?

The sound insulation value of glass is expressed in decibels (dB) and indicated as an Rw or Ra value. The higher the value, the more sound the glass blocks. Ordinary double glazing has an Rw value of about 30–32 dB. Soundproof glass usually starts at 36 dB and can reach 44 dB or more in special versions.

Laminated glass: the most effective choice

For sound insulation, laminated glass (also called VSG glass) is by far the most effective. In laminated glass, two panes are bonded together with a special interlayer. This interlayer dampens vibrations and absorbs sound waves differently from ordinary air or gas. The result is a significantly lower level of noise getting through.

Laminated glass is available in several thickness combinations. The thicker the glass build-up, the better the sound insulation — but also the heavier and more expensive the glass. Fortunately, laminated glass can also be combined with an HR++ or HR+++ coating, so you combine sound insulation and thermal insulation in one unit.

HR+++ glass and sound insulation

HR+++ (triple glazing) has three layers of glass with two air or gas cavities. Thanks to the extra layer and the asymmetric build-up (where the three panes are not all equally thick), triple glazing naturally insulates sound better than HR++. For homes with a moderate noise problem, HR+++ is therefore already a good combined solution: you improve thermal insulation and acoustic comfort at the same time.

When is special soundproof glass worthwhile?

• A home on a busy provincial road, ring road or city street
• A nearby railway or tram line
• An aviation zone or industrial estate in the area
• A ground-floor home or apartment with noise from above or from neighbours

What you can expect

An improvement of 6 to 10 dB may not sound like much, but in practice it's clearly audible. Every 10 dB reduction is perceived by the human ear as halving the noise. After soundproof glass is installed, residents usually notice straight away that they feel less tired, sleep better and have a calmer living environment.

Tailored advice

The best solution depends on the noise level, your frames and your budget. At Ausma Glas & Kozijnen we look together at which glass build-up delivers the most for your specific situation in Veenendaal, Ede, Rhenen, Wageningen or the surrounding area.