If You Build It, Will It Make a Sound? Learning through Acoustic Testing of Mass Timber Floor Assemblies

A hollow massive timber (HMT) floor system was developed at Clemson University to address several overarching objectives: long spans, low-embodied carbon, building systems integration, and end-of-life circularity. One related goal was a departure from concrete toppings, which complicate disassembly and reuse. However, concrete toppings are key contributors to sound attenuation, so the acoustic performance of the HMT system needed rigorous testing in order to determine if it could meet stringent sound rating requirements, particularly for residential and hospitality settings.