Noisy piping can cause issues for the indoor environmental quality for building occupants. Where noise is a concern in plumbing design, Charlotte Pipe recommends cast iron.
However, in systems where PVC was installed as a substitute for cast iron, it’s important to understand how plumbing noises are transmitted.
Charlotte Pipe’s sound experiment video showcases the difference in sound levels for a drainage system that uses cast iron versus PVC—and PVC with sound-deadening insulation.
In the experiment, a Charlotte Pipe associate puts eight piping materials to the test to simulate the experience a commercial building occupant would have.
- Hotel occupants often identify the sound of a toilet flushing as a top annoyance when spending the night away from home.
- Patients in healthcare facilities often report that the noise level in their room at night is the quality-of-care factor with the most room for improvement.
- Children in schools learn better and perform at higher levels when background noise is kept below 50 decibels.
- Correctional facilities have discovered that noise levels have a direct correlation to the stress levels and activities of the inmates and the staff.
Watch the video—Measuring Sound in PVC and Cast Iron DWV Plumbing Systems—on Charlotte Pipe’s YouTube page.
To learn more about the value of quiet pipe performance from a value engineering perspective, visit Charlotte Pipe’s blog, Behind the Pipe.
