Laminate Flooring Noise and Sleep Disturbance

"WHO guidelines say that for good sleep, sound level should not exceed 30 dB(A) for continuous background noise, and individual noise events exceeding 45 dB(A) should be avoided."

The DEFRA study on Laminate and Hardwood flooring says: "Impact noise from footfalls** is quite unique as the exposed dweller feels they are unable to avoid it, no matter which room they are in. Impact noise from footfall can occur at all times of the day and night dependent on the living style and sleep patterns of the upper occupants."

On the same page of the DEFRA study Table 3.1 displays the typical impact performance of floors in various dwellings. The table shows impact noise transmission of hardwood flooring ranges between 59 dB and 72 dB.

If it is the case that simple footfall transmissions at their lowest level measure 59 dB and WHO guidelines state that individual noise events exceeding 45 dB should be avoided during sleep, then it is not unreasonable to suggest that laminate flooring creates a noise problem that causes sleep disturbance.

**As stated in a previous post, footfall is only one type of impact sound experienced by those living below properties where laminate flooring has been installed.

How Low Frequency Noise Affects Health

"In humans the effects studied have been on the cardiovascular and nervous systems, eye structure, hearing and vestibular function, and the endocrine system. Special central nervous system (CNS) effects studied included annoyance, sleep and wakefulness, perception, evoked potentials, electroencephalographic changes, and cognition. Reduction in wakefulness during periods of infrasonic exposure above the hearing threshold has been identified through changes in EEG, blood pressure, respiration, hormonal production, performance and heart activity." (From DEFRA Study on the Health Effects of Low Frequency Noise)

This suggests that daily exposure to the Low Frequency Noise generated by laminate flooring could have serious health implications. The World Health Organisation (WHO) have also produced studies relating to the health effects of exposure to noise. The WHO document, Guidelines for Community Noise, contains a chapter detailing the Adverse Health Effects of Noise detailing the following:

• Noise-induced hearing impairment
• Interference with Speech Communication
• Sleep disturbance
• Cardiovascular and physiological effects
• Mental health effects
• The effects of noise on performance
• Effects of Noise on Residential Behaviour and Annoyance