Timber Floating Floors

An acoustic floating floor creates a separated floor layer above the structural floor using a resilient acoustic material. This helps reduce vibration and sound transferring from the finished floor into the structure below.

Floating acoustic floor panels can be used to improve both impact and airborne sound insulation, depending on the panel and complete floor construction.

A floating floor reduces noise by creating resilient separation between the walking surface and the structural floor. This helps reduce the direct transmission of vibration caused by footsteps, dropped objects and furniture movement.

The additional mass provided by acoustic floor panels can also contribute to reducing airborne sound passing through the floor.

Acoustic underlay is generally a flexible or resilient layer installed beneath the finished flooring, whereas an acoustic floating floor typically uses a rigid overlay panel combined with a resilient acoustic layer.

Floating floor systems are generally used where a more substantial acoustic treatment is required or where the acoustic layer also needs to provide a stable floor surface.

Yes. Reducing impact noise from footsteps, dropped objects and furniture movement is one of the main reasons for installing an acoustic floating floor.

The resilient layer beneath the floating panel helps isolate the walking surface from the structural floor, reducing vibration passing into the building.

Yes. Acoustic floating floor panels can contribute to reducing airborne noise such as voices, television and music by adding mass and improving separation within the floor construction.

For significant airborne-noise problems, performance will depend on the complete floor and ceiling construction rather than the floating floor panel alone. In these situations, consider a complete acoustic floor system.

Acoustic floating floor systems are commonly used within floor constructions designed to help achieve the sound insulation requirements of Approved Document Part E.

The required system will depend on the existing floor construction and project type, and compliance relates to the acoustic performance of the complete separating floor rather than an individual panel alone. You can also view our Part E compliant systems for projects with Building Regulations acoustic requirements.