Soundproofing Windows 101
People living in both city and suburban environments are subjected to a variety of noises from the outside environment. Windows are the most common way for annoying noise to penetrate into the living and working areas. Thicker glass or double paned windows can reduce noise somewhat, but the best solution is to complement your existing window with a Cityproof City Window to create a Sound Buffer Zone which can reduce noise by up to 95%.
As you'll see from the illustration below, the Cityproof window is an internal window that is placed in front of the existing exterior window. The air space is beneficial to noise reduction because the air trapped inside acts as a damper to sound passing through your windows. Additionally, Cityproof state-of-the-art windows include laminated glass with a special PVB interlayer sandwiched between the glass that helps reduce low and high frequency noises from passing through the windows. For further reading, our glass partner, Saflex, has created a comprehensive overview of acoustical glass performance. Pages 19-23 in the Saflex Acoustical Guide illustrate solutions like the Cityproof system that include interior laminated windows featuring a PVB layer, an air space, and an existing exterior window.
