Jul 7 2008
From barking dogs to honking horns and roaring airplanes, outdoor noises can become especially obtrusive when they make their way inside. In response, Saflex®, a unit of Solutia Inc. and the world’s leading PVB interlayer manufacturer, has developed a way to block that irritating noise: Saflex SilentGlass Technology™.
“Sound enters buildings through the path of least resistance – usually the windows,” says Doug Marren, market manager for the Americas, Saflex. “Our new SilentGlass Technology is a proprietary, advanced acoustical interlayer system designed to dampen noise and decrease sound transmission of perceived noise.”
Saflex SilentGlass Technology combines three interlayers which are designed to decouple and disseminate sound waves for state-of-the-art sound dampening performance. The heart of this patent pending product is an advanced acoustical interlayer that transforms sound energy into heat energy, which then easily and quietly dissipates.
The technology targets sound in the 1000 to 3000 Hz range, which is the “noise transparency” range that lets most of the noise through. This range of noise includes irritating sounds like car horns, barking dogs, amplified music and aircraft.
Utilizing Saflex’s SilentGlass Technology in a window system can result in a reduction of up to 10 decibels in the “transparent” frequency. This equates to up to a 50 percent reduction in perceived sound.
These noise-dampening characteristics make SilentGlass Technology an ideal solution for projects in which a higher level of sound reduction is a critical concern, including buildings such as airports, hotels, health care facilities, educational facilities and housing and offices near transportation corridors.
“As urban density continues to increase, so will the need for products and technologies to mitigate irritating noises. We developed SilentGlass Technology to meet that need,” says Julie Schimmelpenningh, applications manager, Saflex.
In addition to offering superior acoustic performance, SilentGlass Technology provides the added benefits for which Saflex laminated interlayers are known. The interlayer is tough and durable, which makes it difficult to penetrate. As a result, it provides significant protection against forced entry and adds considerable security to residential and commercial buildings. In fact, Saflex SilentGlass Technology is capable of passing Underwriters Laboratory Burglary Resistance Test UL 972. The interlayer also blocks 99 percent of UV light, which helps protect interior fabrics, art and furnishings from damage and fading.
SilentGlass Technology will be available through Saflex’s preferred fabricator network nationwide. For additional information, visit www.saflex.com/silentglass or call 1 (877) 674-1233.
Saflex is known globally as the leader in PVB quality and reliability. When laminated between layers of glass, Saflex PVB interlayers greatly enhance the performance characteristics of glass, providing benefits such as safety, security, UV protection, and sound attenuation. For more information about Saflex visit: www.saflex.com