Characterization of eco-efficient acoustic insulation materials (traditional and innovative)

• Published in: Construction & building materials Vol. 140; pp. 221 - 228
• Main Authors: Pedroso, M., de Brito, J., Silvestre, J.D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01-06-2017
• Subjects: Acoustic insulation; Eco-efficiency; Embodied energy; Natural materials; Sustainable construction; Acoustic insulation; Sustainable construction; Embodied energy; Eco-efficiency; Natural materials
• ISSN: 0950-0618; 1879-0526
• DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2017.02.132

•Current and alternative materials to control noise in buildings.•Evaluation of the environmental, economic and social sustainability.•Characterization in terms of embodied energy, acoustic behaviour and costs.•Alternative materials are perfectly viable to replace the currently used products.
There is a growing awareness towards using materials with less social, economic and environmental impacts in the construction and rehabilitation of buildings. However, the evaluation of the sustainability of acoustic insulation materials in these three dimensions has not yet been presented in reference publications. This paper presents these results for the first time for materials used currently and alternative materials available in the construction market to control noise in buildings.
An exhaustive review has been performed, focused on the most used insulation materials at the European level in construction and rehabilitation. The characterization at the level of embodied energy, acoustic behaviour and costs of these materials is presented, so that the most eco-efficient can be selected and applied.
It is concluded that there are alternative materials that, from the acoustic behaviour, embodied energy and costs points of view, are perfectly viable to replace the currently used products.