Glossary

ACOUSTIC CONSULTANT (ACOUSTICIAN)

Certified consultant that specializes in architectural acoustics and how to effectively control noise and vibrations as it relates to buildings. The Acoustic Consultant analyzes the source of the unwanted noise or vibration and suggests solutions that will contribute to constructing a more soundproof building.

ACOUSTICS OF BUILDING (ARCHITECTURAL ACOUSTICS)

Scientific and technological field that seeks to understand and control the sound quality of building such as office towers, hotels, apartments and condominiums.

AIIC

Apparent Impact Insulation Class

AIRBORNE NOISE

Noise that comes from, for example, voices, radio, television, etc. These noises are transmitted by the structures (floors or walls) or through openings in the room's inner wall and the outside shell of the building (windows, vents, etc.).

ASTC

Apparent Sound Transmission Class

ASTM

American Society for Testing and Materials

CCMC

Canadian Construction Materials Center

CGBC

Canada Green Building Council

CLT

Crossed Laminated Timber

CONCRETE SLAB

Concrete surface in varying thicknesses (generally between 6" and 10") used for both structural purposes and general use in a building.

CONCRETE TOPPING

Layer of cementitious products, resin or lime applied to the structural elements, intended to smooth, level, surface a support and/or embed elements (a heated floor system, for example), to which finished floor, for example ceramic tiles, a resilient floor or a parquet, glued or floated, is then applied.

dB

Decibel

DOUBLE GLUED-DOWN

Installation of a glued floor with an acoustical membrane by applying adhesive (glue) under and over the membrane.

FIIC

Field Impact Insulation Class

FLOOR/CEILING ASSEMBLY

The cross section of all materials of a floor structure, that is to say from the ceiling of the unit below to the finished floor of the upper unit. The term "sandwich" is often used in the industry and has the same meaning.

FSTC

Field Sound Transmission Class

HEARING ACUITY

Bandwidth of frequencies perceptible by the human ear and the threshold perceptibility. The range of sound perception varies according to the person's age, heredity and the ear abuse of intense activity, which make the ear more sensitive to sound. The hearing threshold of the human ear is 0 dB and the threshold of pain occurs at around 120 dB.

HIIC

HIIC - "High Impact Insulation Class" New impact acoustic performance rating, in the medium-high frequency spectrum, expressed in decibels and measured in the laboratory. (Ceiling/Floor assembly)

IIC

Impact Insulation Class

IMPACT NOISE

Noise that comes from a shock or a vibration and transmitted by vibrating through the structure, walls and floors of the building. An impact noise transmitted directly through the wall inevitably becomes an airborne noise.

INTERNAL COHESION

Mechanical force which links the components of a material.

LEED

Leader in Energy and Environmental Design

LIGHT CONCRETE

Concrete mix of 8 megapascal (MPa) and Styrofoam, used to leveled existent concrete slabs on structures that can't support the increased weight of standard concrete.

NBC

National Building Code

NOISE

Complex sound produced by various vibrations, often diffused and not harmonic. A noise is usually disturbing and unpleasant, whether the amplitude is high or low.

NRCC

National Research Council of Canada

NWFA

National Wood Flooring Association

PINK NOISE

Standardized noise where the acoustical energy is distributed uniformly in frequencies 125, 250, 500, 1000, 2000 and 4000 Hz.

PLYWOOD

Sheet material manufactured from thin layers or "plies" of wood veneer that are glued together with adjacent layers having their wood grain rotated up to 90 degrees to one another.

PRECAST CONCRETE

Concrete slabs, structures or building components which are cast off site, delivered and then lifted into place as required on the actual job site. Flooring slabs may have continuous circular cavities and are commonly referred to as 'core slab'.

R VALUE

Value that represents the thermal resistance of materials (insulating value). The higher the R-value of the insulation is, the more effective it will be in preventing the transfer of thermal energy.

REINFORCED CONCRETE

Composite material provided with steel bars which combine resistance to compression of the concrete, and tensile strength of steel.

RESILIENT CHANNEL (or RESILIENT BAR)

Metal channel that reduces the transmission of vibrations while supporting gypsum boards which are effectively detaching the ceiling assembly from the structure.

STANDARD CONCRETE

Concrete commonly used in all types of standard construction.

STC

Sound Transmission Class

STUD

Pieces of dimensional lumber or metal that once assembled are used in the structural component of interior or exterior walls & partitions.

TCNA

Tile Council of North America

THERMAL BREAKAGE

Partial or complete blockage of the transfer of heat flow from one material to another by a product with an R factor installed between these two conductive materials.

UNCOUPLING

Process by which we prevent direct contact between the rigid materials of the structure and the floor finishes which could result in the transfer, transport or even the amplification, pending the application, of sounds and mechanical vibrations, by resilient materials.

VERTIMA

LEED Certification Expert in Quebec

VOC

Volatile Organic Compounds

WHITE NOISE

A consistent sound or noise that has a relatively wide continuous range of frequencies of uniform intensity. A constant background noise which is capable of masking or drowning out other sounds.