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STC & NRC: Understanding Sound Loss vs. Sound Absorption Measurements
When searching for soundproofing products, chances are you have stumbled across the letters ‘STC’ and ‘NRC.’ You, like most others new to the idea of soundproofing, probably had no idea what these little three-letter acronyms meant. Despite the fact that the abbreviations are simple, the concepts behind these terms are oftentimes hard to grasp.
To make matters worse, the technical terms don’t end there. With talk about decibels, transmission loss, and frequencies, it is easy to get lost in all the jargon. All you really want to know is the difference between sound absorption and sound blocking, as well as which noise barriers will best serve your needs. The first step to understanding do it yourself soundproofing is understanding STC, which is basically the rating used for exterior and interior walls, doors, windows, floor/ceiling assemblies and other room building materials. By understanding both STC and NRC ratings, many of your most commonly asked questions in the soundproofing business will be answered, and the benefits of Audimute products will become clear.
An Explanation of STC
Common STC Ratings Table
Peacemaker: STC Ratings
An Explanation of NRC
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