Has anyone measured the difference in isolation between a staggered stud assembly on a single frame vrs. decoupling the studs by assembling them on different frames?
Is there a significant difference in isolation (significant enough to justify the extra time/cost)?
Dual Frame/Staggered Studs?
Originally posted at johnlsayers.com, topic 10139.
In chapter four of Rod's book -
Home Recording Studio: Build it Like the Pros
Paraphrasing here, but the cost/benefit difference for having a double wall assembly (one not connected at the top and bottom plates) is significant.
Exceptions are if you're building on a common wooden surface/deck, like the 2nd floor of an apt or something similar.
There was not a specific study mentioned to prove this point, as you ask. I'd tend to agree with confidence from all that I've read and witnessed myself.
Yes, someone has tested it -- the Canadian government did.
It's the fifth link on the Reference Area thread:
- Gypsum Board Walls: Transmission Loss Data (IRC-IR-671) (External)
This document shows isolation performance of dozens of different wall assemblies.
By the NRC Institute for Research in Construction in Canada