Sound Insulation Estimator — The Complete Guide: Sound Insulation Upgrades and Their Cost
The Sound Insulation Estimator was developed for NAVFAC, the US Navy’s engineering command, and is distributed free on WBDG. It is aimed at buildings near airfields: you set the outdoor noise level and the indoor target, and the tool suggests which envelope elements need upgrading and at what cost.
Sound Insulation Estimator
NAVFAC (U.S. Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command)
Tool for selecting acoustic insulation upgrades for a room envelope and estimating their cost to meet an indoor noise target against aircraft noise.
Get it from the vendorWhat you get
- Scenario setup — property and construction type, sound source, outdoor noise zone (DNL) and indoor goal.
- Up to six envelope elements — walls, roof, windows, doors and more for each room.
- Upgrade selection — which changes are needed to reach the target noise level reduction.
- Cost estimate — material and labour for each upgrade.
- Clear result — expected noise reduction against cost.
A note for readers outside the US
Labour rates are based on US states, and the noise goals follow American guidance. In Israel, acoustic insulation requirements for buildings are set by SI 1004, so the tool is suited to comparing options and early estimates, not to proving compliance. It runs on Windows and requires Excel 2010 or later, and the element database covers only common materials.
Related tools
For acoustic measurements in a room with a microphone — Room EQ Wizard. For the thermal performance of windows — WINDOW. For choosing building materials by environmental impact and cost — BEES Online.
Room EQ Wizard (REW)
REW / John Mulcahy
Acoustic measurement of a space — frequency response, reverberation time and background noise.
Get it from the vendor
WINDOW
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Thermal and optical properties of glazing systems — U-value, SHGC and visible transmittance.
Get it from the vendor
THERM
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
2D heat transfer analysis of envelope sections — thermal bridges, U-value and condensation checks.
Get it from the vendor
BEES Online (Building for Environmental and Economic Sustainability)
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
NIST's online tool for choosing building products by environmental (LCA) and economic (life cycle cost) performance.
Get it from the vendorThe bottom line
A focused, simple tool for a quick estimate of an acoustic upgrade and its cost, mainly for buildings exposed to aircraft noise. Binding design still calls for an acoustic consultant and the local standard.