Georgia-Pacific Gypsum, an innovator in the development and use of fiberglass mat-based gypsum panels, announced that its assembly for retrofitting lightweight commercial roof decks based on its DensDeck Roof Board product can reduce sound penetration by more than 50 percent. 

Georgia-Pacific Gypsum, an innovator in the development and use of fiberglass mat-based gypsum panels, announced that its assembly for retrofitting lightweight commercial roof decks based on its DensDeck Roof Board product can reduce sound penetration by more than 50 percent.

According to the results of acoustical performance tests conducted in December 2009 by Architectural Testing Inc., the Georgia-Pacific Gypsum roof deck assembly with remediation components received a Sound Transmission Class (STC) rating of 54, versus a rating of 43 for the baseline assembly alone. This 11 decibel improvement equals a reduction in sound penetration of more than 50 percent.

Georgia-Pacific Gypsum showcased its roofing assembly, as well as the testing results at the 2010 International Roofing Expo held in February in New Orleans.

The assembly’s significant reduction in sound penetration is just one of its many features. Another is that the lightweight assembly is added on to the existing roof, a sustainability benefit since it eliminates the need to dispose of existing roofing materials. Also, when properly installed the sophisticated design helps prevent the accumulation of moisture between the new and old roofing assemblies, which is a common problem with retrofitted roofs.

The DensDeck Roof Board-based lightweight commercial roofing sound remediation assembly includes the following layered components, which were used in the acoustical tests: 1-inch rigid mineral fiber board, 5/8-inch DensDeck Roof Board, and 45-mil TPO roofing membrane.

The assembly is designed for buildings with low-slope roofs in the vicinity of airports or other high-decibel environments. These include hotels, apartments, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, schools and other low-rise commercial buildings.

The acoustical tests of the Georgia-Pacific remediation assembly were conducted in accordance with four industry-standard testing methodologies (ASTM E 90-09, ASTM E 413-04, ASTM E 1332-90 and ASTM E 22350-04).

For more information on DensDeck Roof Board, visit www.densdeck.com.