What dB Reduction Do I Need? UK Noise Guide

Written by our acoustic insulation specialist — 15+ years experience. About our experts.

One of the most important — and most misunderstood — questions in acoustic insulation is: how many dB do I need to reduce? After answering this question for hundreds of UK customers, here is the clear answer.

How dB Reduction Feels in Practice

What Our Products Achieve

Our 3mm underlay achieves 54dB ΔLw — real, perceptible improvement. Our 6mm at 74dB — meaningful, significant improvement. Our 12mm system — 30dB impact + 58dB airborne — the full package for Part E compliance.

What Part E Requires

Separating floors in new builds must achieve L'nT,w ≤ 62dB (impact) and DnT,w ≥ 45dB (airborne) in field tests. A single underlay product cannot achieve these targets alone — they require a complete floor system.

Browse our acoustic underlay range or contact our experts for a free recommendation.