John Sayers' Recording Studio Design Forum Archive

Has anyone installed a Mini Split on a Green Glue Whisper Clip/Hat Channel isolated wall?

I’m Building a new 700 sq ft two room studio, with sound lock hall between, from ground up. Masonry block construction, interior 2x4 wood framing, and plan to use Green Glue Whisper Clips and 5/8” drywall layers to float the walls and ceilings. The HVAC guy said the Mini Split head units typically mount to a bracket on the outside of the drywall, drilled through the drywall, into plywood attached to the framing/concrete. Does this negate the isolation job of the whisper clips? Is there a commonly accepted method of integrating mini splits and floated walls? Any other insight re: soundproofing/isolation on a mini split install? Please help!

Hi Scotta - why are you using whisper clips to mount the drywall?

You only need them if it was a single stud wall with no outer skin.

cheers
john

Thanks for the reply! I’m Using whisper clips to decouple the drywall from the framing of the walls and ceiling.

Do you have any overview plans/room layouts - relationship of the rooms... and where are you?

What are the vertical timbers on the block walls on the left?

scotta wrote:Thanks for the reply! I’m Using whisper clips to decouple the drywall from the framing of the walls and ceiling.

Why? There's no need to decouple the drywall from the stud walls as the walls are part of the inner skin.

cheers
john

Purelythemusic wrote:Do you have any overview plans/room layouts - relationship of the rooms... and where are you?

What are the vertical timbers on the block walls on the left?

Thanks again for the reply.

I’m in Tampa Bay, Florida. The vertical 2x4 timbers are bolted into to the concrete block, and per code, this is what the drywall is screwed into. I thought I understood that I should screw whisper clips to those to decouple the drywall from that framing. Same w ceiling framing. Am I greatly missing the concept?

Hi,

Amateur advice warning:

No I don’t think you’re missing the concept... curious as to why code requires that for masonry walls... is it some sort of flex stability in strong winds? Cheaper than steel reinforced concrete I imagine!

I believe usually you build a stud wall which is not touching the outer leaf, the inner leaf is ideally not touching anything that is connected to the outer leaf, so a separate ceiling frame to the outer leaf (inside out ceiling preferably - mass is fixed on the top of the ceiling joists so you have exposed joists to fit absorbant material, then cover with fabric if you want an absorbant ceiling...

Ideally floors are not connected either but it all depends how much isolation you are aiming for. What is your need db isolation between which rooms/outside?

Tom

Ah I see what you are doing now. I thought the wall frame wasn't connected to the masonry wall but seeing as they are connected the whisper clips will work.

cheers
john