‘Best in Class’ Claim for New Acoustic Floor System   10.11.04

Sound insulation is under the spotlight for housebuilders as never before. New Part E Building Regulations have raised the bar on standards while a new sound mapping initiative by the DoE highlights noise pollution figures for Greater London and plans to extend this process nationwide.

For the quality housebuilder seeking a competitive edge, the opportunity not just to meet the new acoustic regs but to offer ‘best in class’ performance comes with the new total flooring system developed jointly by Puhos Board UK Limited and Trust Joist.
The system offers exceptional performance with a specification up to 3dB in excess of the new 40dB standard for intermediate floors in new-build developments. Trus Joist engineered TJI® joists at 600mm centres have already achieved 41dB in independent tests using standard flooring panels. Puhos Weather Dek2 Fast-Fix flooring can add a further 2dB, resulting a total of 43dB, without the need for added insulation material or expensive ceiling systems which many in the industry expected.

The flooring system is also proven to be highly cost effective, building as it does on the popular time saving characteristics of Weather Dek2 which can reduce build time by up to three working days per unit and provide full weather protection, prior to roof construction, using a specially designed peel off film which reveals a pristine finish on completion.

Flexibility to meet any individual developer or housing association priority is also easily achieved. Extra insulation can be added at will and high performance can also be achieved at 400mm joist centres in properties where shallow lower cost beams are used.
Key elements in exceeding the required standard include the high quality baseboard used for the panels and the precision design and manufacture of Trus Joist Silent Floor® engineered I-joists, the first of their type to be approved by BBA. The high performance Weather Dek2 Fast-Fix bonding adhesive, applied using an application gun, acts as a shock absorber as well as minimising the need for nailing. The net result of this combination is a ‘best in class’ acoustic performance which also eliminates irritating floor squeaks which may arise in less well specified flooring systems.

Andy Moore, managing director of Puhoswood says: “The innovative nature of our relationship with Trus Joist continues to provide housebuilders and housing associations with construction solutions which add value and improve the end product.”

James Sweet, manager UK region for Trus Joist says: “Exceeding the necessary performance is always our aim. By teaming with Puhos, which has a similar philosophy, housebuilders are assured of flooring systems and a support service which benchmarks flooring standards in the industry.”

Further information from:
Chris Wright
WSM Wordsworth Limited
6 Park Steps, St George's Fields
London W2 2YQ
Tel: +44(0)207 262 9180
Fax: +44(0)207 706 8898
Mob: +44(0)7767 660 292
E-mail: cwright@wsmwordsworth.co.uk