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Overview
Acousti-Tech Membranes are up to
nearly 100% recycled and recyclable, needle punched, synthetic
polyester thermo-acoustical underlayments for hard surfaces.
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PRODUCT
SPECIFICATIONS
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Options
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Please click here for Acousti-Tech
Options.
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Colours
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Green and grey.
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Warranty
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Manufacturer replaces product which, under normal use and
service, proves to be defective.
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Expected Life
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Manufacturer states that synthetic fibres will not deteriorate
over time and therefore life expectancy is as long as the floor
covering. This warranty has a term of 25 years or the original
warranty of the hard floor covering. See supplier for terms and
conditions.
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Indicative Costs
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Contact supplier.
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Purchase Options
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Outright purchase only.
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Constituents
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Please click here for Acousti-Tech
Constituents.
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Technical
Specifications
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Please click here for Acousti-Tech
Technical Specifications.
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National & International
Standards
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Acoustic tests: IIC:ASTM*-E 1007-90; ASTM*-E-989-89
STC:ASTM*-E 336-90; ASTM*-E-413-87
CSIRO TEST REPORT INR159a&159b achieved a Lnw+C of 54
&55
Reflectivity: ASTM* E308-01; ASTM* C518; ASTM* C1371
Robinson: ASTM* C-627-93
Water vapour transmission of materials: ASTM* E96-00
Anti microbial: ASTM* G-21
CCMC** 13092-R
ISO9001:2008
CaGBC***
NFPA rating****
Qualify for LEEDS points
*American Society for Testing and Materials
**Canadian Construction Materials Centre
*** Canadian Green Building Council
*** National Fire Protection Association
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Country of Origin
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Canada.
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Projects
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Contact supplier.
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Preparation
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Click here for information.
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ECOSPECIFIER LIFE-CYCLE
ASSESSMENT
INTEGRATED DESIGN AND POLICY
ISSUES
Acousti-Tech Membranes improve energy efficiency
through providing flooring insulation, which may lead to a reduced
need of heating and cooling capacity and may assist in reducing the
cost of acclimatising buildings.
Some products are suitable for floating floors as vapour
barrier, preventing damage in the flooring installation.
Acousti-Tech Membranes provide long term durability,
will not deteriorate and will maintain soundproofing properties
over time.
HUMAN HEALTH
Health
Products contain small percentage of titanium dioxide. In 2006,
the IARC reclassified titanium dioxide as possibly carcinogenic to
humans (Group 2B). This issue of concern relates to the inhalation
of pure powdered and ultra-fine titanium dioxide dust during
manufacture, and is not considered a risk, as the TiO2 is not
in a respirable form when bound into the product. Accordingly
the sanding, grinding and other occupational production activities
of products containing titanium dioxide may present issues if
appropriate precautions are not taken. Precautions for workers such
as reducing exposure to product in dust form and using appropriate
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) mitigate potential issues
to low risk in accordance with
an ecospecifier Risk Assessment. Refer to
Material Safety Data Sheet for further information.
Comfort
Product improves thermal comfort and also enhances
acoustic noise conditions by limiting noise transfer.
Indoor Environment Quality
Manufacturer states that product is non toxic, anti
microbial, rot resistant and does not emit significant amount of
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) through its
lifecycle.
Electromagnetic
Radiation
Not applicable.
Safety
Not applicable.
Accessibility
Not applicable.
ECOLOGICAL QUALITY
Terrestrial
Emissions -Product contains large amount of
recycled materials and is itself recyclable, reducing toxic and
pollutant impacts compared to products made from virgin
materials.
Product contains minor amount of aluminium. The
production of alumina from bauxite ores uses a chemical treatment,
known as the Bayer Process (see Glossary). The alkaline
(fluoride containing) mist associated with this process may have
adverse land and soil impacts.
Physical-Product's recycled content
partly eliminates the physical pollution of oil extraction related
to production of petrochemical based virgin polyester.
Mineral extraction of bauxite during the
production of aluminium will disrupt landscapes and alter
ecosystems. Because bauxite deposits are found near the Earth's
surface, mining requires removal of topsoil and overburden before
deeper excavation occurs.
Aquatic
Emissions - There are no known toxics emitted by
this product that will impact aquatic and marine ecosystems.
Physical-Petrochemical production
of virgin polyester can contribute to oil spills at sea.
Bauxite residues of red mud are disposed of
in dams. Bauxite residue (chemically stable and non-toxic) is
pumped to disposal dams where the mud is allowed to settle. The
excess water is discharged into marine environments.
Atmosphere
Greenhouse (GHG) - Placing Acousti-Tech
Membranes within buildings, can assist in reducing energy
heating and cooling loads, reducing energy consumption and
therefore reducing greenhouse gas emission of fossil fuelled
plants.
This product utilises minor amounts of
virgin polyester, which is fabricated from fossil fuels. Fossil
fuels generate both atmospheric pollutants and greenhouse gases on
combustion. Product may contain significant amount of recycled
polyester which requires less energy input than producing virgin
polyester from scratch.
Alumina processing requires high-energy
consumption and therefore greenhouse gas emissions are associated
with the production of refined alumina, however the thermal
benefits of product mainly offset this emission.
Greenhouse intensity:
- Acousti-Tech Lead 6: 0.4
kgCO2e/m²
- Acousti-Tech Lead 4.5: 0.3 kgCO2e/m²
- Acousti-Tech Lead 3.3: 0.2 kgCO2e/m²
- Acousti-Tech Maximum: 0.3 kgCO2e/m²
- Acousti-Tech Premium: 0.2 kgCO2e/m²
- Acousti-Tech
VP: 0.2
kgCO2e/m²
- Acousti-Tech Ceramic: 0.08 kgCO2e/m²
Calculation is based on data sourced from Bath University.
Transport
intensity - Product is manufactured in Canada. GHG
intensities for shipping product are shown below, provided that
shipping port from country of origin is Montreal and destination
port is Sydney.
Greenhouse Intensity for Container Shipping
of:
- Acousti-Tech Lead 6:
0.14 kgCO2e / m²
- Acousti-Tech Lead 4.5: 0.01
kgCO2e / m²
- Acousti-Tech Lead 3.3: 0.1
kgCO2e / m²
- Acousti-Tech Maximum: 0.01 kgCO2e
/ m²
- Acousti-Tech Premium: 0.1
kgCO2e / m²
- Acousti-Tech
VP:
0.05 kgCO2e / m²
- Acousti-Tech Ceramic: 0.1
kgCO2e / m²
Table below provides
land transportation greenhouse intensity figures to help calculate
the greenhouse gas intensity of land transportation from shipping
port.
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Light commercial
vehicle
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Rigid Truck
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Articulated Truck
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0.001451
kgCO2e / kg.km
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0.000195
kgCO2e / kg.km
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0.000069
kgCO2e / kg.km
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Transport intensity figures sourced from
Australian National Greenhouse Gas Inventory 1990, 1995 and 1999
and WWF International, Inland Navigations and Emissions, 2005.
Operational efficiency - Product can
assist in reducing energy cooling and heating loads, saving on
energy and therefore reducing greenhouse gas emission of fossil
fuelled plants.
Re-use Efficiency - In floating floors,
the membranes can be re-used when floor covering is replaced.
Product is also recyclable, saving on energy consumption and
greenhouse gas emission of production of virgin materials.
Toxics and Pollutants - Product itself
has no known toxic and pollutant impacts.
Product contains a small percentage of aluminium.
The process of alumina refinement generates plant emissions,
including coal dust, fugitive lime dust, alumina dust and aerosol
generated from plant process liquor including fluorine/fluoride
emissions that are known toxins.
Ozone Depletion
- Product does not result in ODP in production or in use.
Urban Heat Island
Effects - Not applicable.
Noise
-Thermo-acoustical underlayment for hard surface will
considerably reduce impact and airborne noise. See CSIRO test
report resulting in a Lnw+C of 55/54 for the Acousti-Tech 3.3.
Biodiversity
The use of minor volumes of virgin polyester generates
biodiversity impacts through the atmospheric emissions generated
during the refining and manufacturing processes of the virgin
polymer. These have not been quantified in terms of impacts on
biological systems, except in the case of oil-spill impacts which,
while rare, can have significant localised impacts. The use of
recycled polyester reduces these impacts.
Products contain a small percent of
aluminium. Bauxite mining leads to modified soil profiles,
topography and drainage which impacts natural vegetation and
biodiversity impacts. Aluminium smelting has significant potential
microorganism, animal and vegetation impacts up to within 5km of
smelters.
RESOURCE DEPLETION
Resource Efficiency
Large amount of the products components are derived from
recycled or reclaimed materials. Polyester content come from
post-consumer and post-industrial waste. The use of recycled
materials decreases the need for virgin plastic production. The
product itself can be recycled.
Embodied Fossil
Fuel Energy
Embodied Fossil Fuel Energy for:
- Acousti-Tech Lead 6: 15 MJ/m²
- Acousti-Tech Lead 4.5: 9.33 MJ/m²
- Acousti-Tech Lead 3.3: 6.5 MJ/m²
- Acousti-Tech Maximum:9.9 MJ/m²
- Acousti-Tech Premium:6.4 MJ/m²
- Acousti-Tech
VP:
4.20 MJ/m²
- Acousti-Tech Ceramic: 34.7 MJ/m²
Calculation is based on data sourced from Bath Uni, UK and
Baggs, Ecospecifier
Transport intensity - Product is
manufactured in Canada. Energy intensities for shipping product are
shown below. Shipping port from country of origin is Vancouver.
Destination port is Sydney.
Energy Intensity for Container Shipping of:
- Acousti-Tech Lead 6:
1.7 MJ/m²
- Acousti-Tech Lead 4.5: 1.08 MJ/m²
- Acousti-Tech Lead 3.3: 0.78 MJ/m²
- Acousti-Tech Maximum: 1.15 MJ/m²
- Acousti-Tech Premium: 0.78 MJ/m²
- Acousti-Tech
VP: 0.53
MJ/m²
- Acousti-Tech Ceramic: 1.78
MJ/m²
Embodied
Water
No information is available.
Durability
Made of synthetic fibre and needle punched technology,
the durability is extensive. Product keeps its acoustical
properties and structural stability over time.
Reusability
In floating floors, the membranes can be re-used when
floor covering is replaced. It is practically impossible to
separate the membrane from the floor covering if it is glued down,
however if the membrane is not glued to the substrate then re-using
is possible for the next floating floor covering if relevant.
Repairability
Product cannot be repaired.
Design for Dematerialisation
Product is not designed for dematerialisation.
Design for Disassembly
Product is not designed for disassembly.
Recyclability
Product is recyclable, recycling facilities are common
throughout Australia.
Maintenance
Product does not require maintenance.
Product Takeback Scheme
No.
Extended Producer Responsibility
(EPR)
No.
CORPORATE AND SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY
Audits and Environmental Reporting
No.
Convictions
No.
Environmental Policy
No.
Social Enhancement Programs
No.
Technology Transfer Programs
No.
Environmental Management Systems (EMS)
No.
ECOSPECIFIER ISSUES OF CONCERN / RED
LIGHTS
None.
Information last verified on 4th
September 2012.
ASSESSMENT COMPARISON
Underlay, thermo-acoustic insulation
RELATED TOPICS
Floors, Insulation & Acoustics