In the construction of hospitals and schools, acoustic performance is not just an optional extra, it is a clinical and educational necessity. For Tier 1 contractors delivering these critical assets, meeting Building Regulations (Part E) or HTM 08-01 (Acoustics in Healthcare) is the minimum standard. However, to create environments that truly foster recovery and learning, we often need to go beyond the code.

At Streif, we have engineered our Advanced Timber Construction systems to deliver acoustic isolation that rivals, and often exceeds, the performance of traditional masonry builds. Here is how our offsite manufactured systems deliver the acoustic performance required for the even most demanding public sector projects.

The Consultant’s View

We spoke to Emma Anderson, Director and Education Sector Lead at Anderson Acoustics, about the specific challenges of acoustic design in modern timber frame buildings. 

“In the past, lightweight construction has been associated with poor airborne and impact (footsteps) sound insulation,” says Emma. 

“Because of the need for structural robustness and offsite manufactured assurance, Streif has created a set of partition solutions that significantly exceed the minimum acoustic performance standards, resulting in excellent acoustic performance standards via multiple, high density board layers, full fill acoustic insulation, and often double stud systems. 

We have found Streif systems to achieve reliable acoustic performance when tested on site for both airborne and impact sound insulation. We have worked with Streif in the past on sound insulation prediction for wall buildups, and junction detailing for projects. This ensures flanking via partition heads, flooring and roofing, external walls, and building services routes does not undermine the overall measured acoustic performance. Early design collaboration is key to get the acoustic design right and avoid pitfalls on site, and to ensure acoustic tests pass first time around.”

The Technical Specs: Hitting High Decibels

While expert design is crucial, the raw performance of the system components is the foundation of acoustic success. Streif’s portfolio includes wall types specifically designed for Severe Duty environments where sound transfer must be aggressively mitigated.

The Peace Keeper: Internal Wall Type 4
For spaces requiring maximum privacy, such as confidential consultation rooms in hospitals or music practice rooms in schools, our Internal Wall Type 4 is the gold standard.

  • Performance: It achieves a huge Acoustic Rating of 81 dB.
  • The Build: This performance is achieved through a complex 325mm buildup involving twin 100mm solid timber frames separated by a 50mm cavity, multiple layers of 100mm mineral wool insulation (15kg/m³), and four layers of British Gypsum Rigidur H board.

The Educational Standard: Internal Wall Type 3B
For standard classroom-to-corridor or classroom-to-classroom separation, Internal Wall Type 3B offers exceptional performance without the bulk of the Type 4.

  • Performance: It delivers an Acoustic Rating of 71 dB Rw.
  • The Build: Utilising a 300mm profile with a 50mm cavity between frames and double boarding on each face, it ensures that a noisy corridor does not disrupt a lesson.

Envelope Protection: External Wall Type 1C
Keeping external noise out, whether from a busy road or a playground, is vital for sensitive environments. Streif’s External Wall Type 1C offers one of the highest available Acoustic Ratings of 96 dB Rw, creating a near-impermeable barrier to environmental noise. It is even suitable in extreme noise environments, such as at an airport.

Why Timber Frame Acoustics Work

The secret to Streif’s acoustic performance lies in the precision of Offsite Manufacture and the materials used.

  • Mass & Damping: We use British Gypsum Rigidur H boards across our range. These high-density boards provide significant mass, while the mineral wool insulation (typically 15kg/m³) acts as an effective absorbent layer within the timber cavities.
  • Separation: Our high-performance walls (like Types 3A, 3B, and 4) use separated timber frames with cavities. This mechanical decoupling prevents sound vibration from travelling directly through the structure, a technique often harder to achieve with monolithic concrete or blockwork.
  • Floor Performance: Our Floor Cassette Standard is engineered to dampen footfall impact, achieving a typical LnTw 53 dB (Impact Sound) and DnTw+Ctr 58 dB (Airborne Sound), essential for multi-storey care homes and schools.

Mitigate Risk – Verify Before You Build

For contractors, risk mitigation is key. You don’t want to wait until the sound test at practical completion to know if the building works, using the Streif system avoids this completely.

Transparency is central to the Streif process. We provide downloadable Acoustic Modelling Reports for almost every wall type in our System Selector. These reports enable acoustic consultants to verify our data against your project’s specific requirements before a single panel is manufactured.

Whether you are building a quiet ward for recovery or a lecture hall for focus, Streif’s acoustic solutions provide the certainty required for high-stakes projects. By combining advanced materials with downloadable technical verification, we ensure that your next project sounds as good as it looks.

 

Contact the Streif team for more information on how their System could help your next project and contact Anderson Acoustics on hello@andersonacoustics.co.uk tel. 01273 094194