Insulation/isolation - difference?

What's the difference between INSUlation and ISOlation? My dictionaries return the same Norwegian word to me.. Best, Alex

Insulation: to cover and surround something with a material or substance in order to stop heat, sound or electricity from escaping or entering. Isolation: to separate something or someone from other things or people with which they are joined or mixed, or to keep them separate. In real world studio building terms, (as i understand them...) insulation is really only used to to stop an air cavity from resonating, and is used against drywall to stop it for the same reason (oh and is used in various forms of acoustic treatment). It can also give a few dB better STC and TL, but nothing really to write home about. Isolation is key to the good noise attenuation, as physically decoupling, or isolating a floor, walls and ceiling will dramatically reduce structural born noise and flanking. Hope that clears it up abit. oZ

Alex, Insulation is related to heat transfer - the greater the insulation the higher the R-value of a material Isolation is related to sound transfer - the greater the STC rating - the greater the isolating value of an assembly. The greater the TL value at a particular frequency - the greater the isolation value of the assembly. You can see R-Values for particular items - the effects of those items when combined is cumulative. You cannot compute the actual TL value of an assembly strictly through it's individual components. It has to be tested as a complete assembly. I hope this helped Rod

Here's a way to keep it straight in your mind: INsulation is the stuff that goes IN the walls and ceiling. :-)