![]() ![]() Ultimately, Mass-Loaded Vinyl and other soundproofing membranes can be most effective when used in tested assemblies where STC performance is critical. ![]() Consensus on MLV and Soundproofing Membranes: Soundproof floor underlayments can be MLV based or crumbled rubber based (most common), and are mainly used in multi-family developments. Mass Loaded Vinyl can also be used to improve the STC and IIC rating of floor assemblies. However, for long-term projects that can afford a premium soundproofing materials then Wall Blokker provides superior performance and results. For projects that have significant cost restraints, MLV might be the only option to increase the STC without breaking the bank. NOTE/DISCLAIMER: Commercial Acoustics offers both PVC-based Mass Loaded Vinyl as well as Ethel Vinyl Acetate (EVA) soundproofing membranes, and numerous other types of soundproofing products (including acoustic gypsum, resilient vibrational products, and mineral wool, among others).īy offering several approaches to achieve STC targets, and always supplying lab-tested supporting data, we believe that customers can compare apples-to-apples performance data with price comparisons in order to determine the best material for their projects. Although it does improve STC rating, it is much more effective when used on staggered wood studs, and performs even better on metal studs. Mass Loaded Vinyl does have some limitations when used on wood studs. Off-gassing: The plasticizers in MLV can off-gas at room temperature over time, diminishing its acoustic performance.Tear Strength: Low tensile strength makes tears common without proper support.Installers should ask for detailed installation instructions and/or a complimentary site visit Installation Difficulties: Can be challenging to install due to high weight, flexible material.Resilient Channel), MLV tends to perform near its lab value even when installation conditions are not ideal Field Performance: While many products test well in the lab, but underperform in the field due to grounding issues (i.e.Skilled technicians can install 700/SF of material per day. Scheduling: Along with cost savings, using Mass Loaded Vinyl Barrier instead of multiple layers of drywall also provides schedule savings.Most Mass Loaded Vinyls will cost about $1-$2/sf, but some thinner variations (standard is 1/8″, but it can come in 1/16″ thickness) may be as cheap as $0.50/sf. Pricing: Numerous suppliers of near-identical polymers makes it easy to shop around for best price.Pros & Cons of Using MLV Pros of Mass Loaded Vinyl: MLV and Wall Blokker in Field Installation.Consensus on MLV and Soundproofing Membranes.Certain manufacturers can actually extrude custom roll lengths for taller walls, to make installation easier and minimize material waste. Mass Loaded Vinyl is often used to soundproof movie theater walls, and increase the STC rating. While these products typically cost around $0.30/sf to manufacture, the retail prices vary widely from $1.00-$8.00/sf. When considering an MLV supplier, it is critical to ask for performance data (lab and field) and compare pricing. The polymer is an extruded Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) which is “mass-loaded” with a cheap filler, typically Calcium Carbonate or Barium Sulfate. Some of the trade names include MLV Blokker, TuffMass, AcoustiBlok, and Vinaflex, but many others are similar or equivalent. Standard Mass Loaded Vinyl is known by many trade names, though it is largely the exact same product extruded from the same few manufacturers in the US. double-studs or resilient channel), but can also be effective in industrial settings. MLV is most useful on steel-stud walls that can benefit from some additional weight while not needing significant decoupling or dampening (i.e. This is why a single layer of mass loaded vinyl can block as much sound (measured in STC rating) as 2-3 layers of drywall. This provides a thin, flexible membrane that adds significant mass to the wall (hence the name), but also adds flexibility to the partition. Mass Loaded Vinyl is simply an vinyl plastic that has heavy particles loaded into it during formulation, such as Calcium Carbonate (or in previous years, Barium Sulfate and Lead). While effective in many assemblies, it may not be as effective in others. First and foremost, it should not be considered a “panacea”. What makes Mass Loaded Vinyl (also known as MLV) effective and what are its limitations? While it’s been around for several decades there is still a lot of misinformation about MLV within the construction industry.
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