Does tile have an IIC rating?

For example, a tile installation system incorporating 170 Sound & Crack Isolation Mat adds a ΔIIC of 16 to a typical 6” (150mm) thick concrete floor, that in itself carries an IIC rating of approximately 28, means that the rating for this floor will be 44 IIC.

Can you tile over acoustic underlay?





If your floor’s acoustic underlayment consists of a rubber-like material, you should not top it with tile flooring. Some underlays are flexible, so each tile will move, especially if there is a lot of footfall.

What is a good IIC rating for floors?

The International Building Code suggests a rating of 50 or more for IIC and STC, but allows 45 or more for FIIC or FIIC field tests.

What is a good IIC?

An IIC rating of 50 and above is most common in building code and HOA requirements.

How do I check my IIC rating?

A field test can determine the rating of a partition for compliance with building codes by placing a sound source on one side of the demising wall/ceiling/floor under test, measuring the sound levels in the source room and receiver rooms on both sides of the assembly.

What is the highest IIC rating for underlayment?





High-end underlayment can provide a Delta IIC of 21-32 points yielding assemblies that range from 53-68.

How do you reduce floor noise in an apartment?

The Best Ways to Soundproof a Floor

  1. Lay Down Some Rugs or Carpets. …
  2. Put a Rug Underlay Under the Carpet. …
  3. Use Rubber Mats. …
  4. Get Interlocking Floor Mats. …
  5. Try Cork Tiles. …
  6. Construct a New Layer of Flooring on Top of the Existing One. …
  7. Install Soundproof Floor Underlayment. …
  8. Put MLV Under the Floorboards.

What does IIC mean in flooring?

Impact Insulation Class

IIC stands for “Impact Insulation Class“, the degree of soundproofing of the impact noise of a floor/ceiling assembly in a laboratory.

How can I increase my IIC rating?



To increase the IIC rating, an upgrade to the sound mat and/or the resilient ceiling system must be made. Traditional sound control mats with entangled mesh enhance IIC performance through the mesh being attached to fabric, which is loose-laid over the subfloor and then encapsulated with a gypsum concrete topping.

What does STC and IIC mean?

STC (Sound Transmission Class) is a measurement that indicates how much noise is stopped (absorbed) by the wall or floor ceiling assembly. ( airborne or voice noise) IIC (Impact Insulation Class) is a measurement that indicates how much impact noise is stopped in a floor/ceiling assembly.

What is STC rating for flooring?

STC is a sound rating that attempts to measure the effectiveness of an assembly in addressing ambient or airborne sound. The test measures airborne sound transmission loss between 125 and 4000 Hz IIC. Sounds defined in this range include voices, music, televisions, pet noises, and others common to habitation.

Is STC 73 good?



IIC72/ STC 73 Rigid Core Flooring Underlayment is rated 4.9 out of 5 by 7. Rated 5 out of 5 by Alex from Good flooring underlayment Good rigid core flooring underlayment, only 1.5 mm thick. Rated 4 out of 5 by JJJ58 from The thickness is 1.5mm, not 2mm. Nothing fancy, but hopefully it does its job.

What is the IIC rating for laminate flooring?

Laminate Flooring Sound Ratings
For instance, two types of laminate flooring from one manufacturer have ratings of 54 and 57 IIC, and 58 STC, both on a 6-inch concrete slab. Both are well above the IBC minimum of 50 as tested in a sound laboratory.

Is tile a good sound insulator?

Notably, ceramic tile is a particularly hard surface floor covering which makes it substantially more difficult to soundproof than a wood, laminate or vinyl flooring. Even with the use of a good quality acoustical membrane, results (acoustical ratings) equivalent to other floor coverings cannot be expected.

What flooring is best for acoustics?

Here are some of the best acoustic flooring materials:

  • Carpet. Carpet or carpet tiles are known for mitigating impact sound, making them a perfect choice for hotels, classrooms and offices. …
  • Cork Flooring. …
  • Wood Plastic Composite (WPC) Flooring. …
  • Rubber Flooring. …
  • Vinyl Tile.