Flooring - replacing carpet with wooden flooring
Wooden flooring noise transfer, acoustic underlay
Relevant Tribunal ruling
This case from the ACT recently tested a flooring by-law. The by-law for this building was specific and demanded that any type of wooden flooring must be laid on a "six-star acoustic rating" underlay as set out by the Australasian Association of Acoustic Consultants (AAAC). This is the highest noise insulation that can be achieved for an apartment floor. These owners decided that the by-law did not apply to them, as they had a floating floor. The Tribunal found otherwise and has ordered that the flooring be covered with underlay and carpet or replace the flooring and start again.
Noise transfer - what may help
Thick rugs and runners in high-traffic areas with rug pads placed under
Indoor footwear
Acoustic-underlay
When quoting up flooring options, it is the owner's responsibility to ensure that underlay is suited for use for residential apartments. (typically approx 8mm thickness). If the application for underlay states "residential", it is likely that this will not be sufficient to prevent noise transfer between floors. Owners should seek specialist advice before proceeding with changes. Carpet in upstairs apartments is the safest option.
Owners should know that if they change the flooring, they will be responsible for answering complaints from residents below, should there arise. There are many SAT cases on this issue, including the case mentioned ↑ above from the ACT. Owners are advised that they should do their own research and due diligence before any installation goes ahead and seek all the formal approvals and check by-laws.
