Commercial building- soundproofing.

[Vanilla]

If one were to build a commercial building with apartments upstairs and retail units downstairs, what is the best way to build to ensure adequate sound proofing both as between the two floors and also from the outside? I see some commercial builds are made using precast concrete slabs- is this better than a normal building as regards sound proofing? This would not be a very large building though, and perhaps precast concrete slabs are for larger hotels etc?

 

[z102]

The concrete slab has a much better sound insulation than the standard joist and plank construction. But make sure that the builder/engineer is able to do and supervise the details. When a concrete slab touches a wall a sound bridging might be created and that is the last you want. You should check also the building regulations, it might be necessary to put in a concrete slab to separate the two storeys for fire safety reasons anyhow.