Rating of the best vibration dampers and fasteners for 2020

One of the main disadvantages of living in a multi-storey high-rise building can be called with great confidence the almost zero level of sound insulation. Moreover, if the house is an apartment building, then each of the tenants has their own idea of ​​the permissible volume level: some are not averse to starting deafening repairs starting in the morning of the day off, some are not embarrassed by loud music right in the middle of the night. And if these examples are most often episodic, then the sounds of neighbors' steps will be constant companions of living in such a dwelling. However, this problem has a solution in the form of installing a soundproofing system for each specific apartment, with the help of which the owner will not only not interfere with the neighbors, but will also save his family from extraneous sounds. And the leading role in such a system will be played by vibration-isolating suspensions and fasteners (also referred to as vibration suspensions and vibration fasteners).

general information

The main purpose of such suspensions and fasteners is to increase the overall sound insulation performance, that is, to effectively absorb sound vibrations emanating from the inside of the room and not transmit vibrations received from outside into the room. This is especially true for plasterboard ceilings. In the process of installing such a ceiling sheet, the frame is first assembled, and then it is sheathed. At the same time, an air gap appears between the frame and the skin, which is not only an excellent acoustic conductor, but it is also capable of amplifying sound vibrations by several times. As a rule, this issue is solved by simply filling the voids with mineral wool or other sound insulating materials. However, this method does not fully solve the issue, because the frame itself is also capable of transmitting sound vibrations, since it is attached to the ceiling by means of suspensions, which, in turn, are usually made of metal, which makes them an additional excellent sound conductor. This is where vibration-proof fasteners and suspensions come to the rescue.

The whole essence of the secret of the effectiveness of these devices lies in their special design and they consist of:

• Directly the most direct suspension - it is attached to the frame profile;
• Fasteners are the element that is responsible for fixing the suspension directly to the floor;
• Gaskets made of elastic metal - it is she who distinguishes the vibration-isolating suspension from the standard one, since it is the main shock-absorbing part, which is responsible for damping vibrations and general noise absorption.

There are also vibration suspensions, the fastening elements of which are coated with an anode solution - these samples have increased strength indicators.

The vibration isolation fasteners / suspensions that are widely used today are usually capable of withstanding a load of 20-30 kilograms, however, there are also heavy-weight models that can withstand weights of 40 kilograms or more.

Before starting the installation of the ceiling, simple calculations should be made regarding the number of vibration suspensions that will be required for reliable sound insulation. Experts are inclined to use the following ratio: for every 15 square meters, on average, 40 to 50 vibro suspensions are required.

It is worth remembering that vibration isolation fasteners / hangers are the most important element of the ceiling construction in the room. Mankind has not yet invented to extinguish sound vibrations in a different, less expensive way. The simplicity of the design of these devices suggests that it is quite possible to make them yourself. However, in the wrong hands, such an initiative can result in low efficiency of the entire system, coupled with a short overall service life.

The choice between partial and full soundproofing

Different solutions in engineering will affect the suppression of extraneous sounds in different ways.

Partial soundproofing can be carried out on one or more surfaces. At the same time, it has a point of concentration of efforts, concentrating on a certain direction from which the sound comes. In this case, the sound-absorbing material is laid inside the ceiling frame, which is fixed on vibration suspensions.

IMPORTANT! It must be remembered that different materials will deal with unwanted acoustic waves in different ways: drywall and gypsum fiber sheets (gypsum boards) will absorb sound, while cork, mineral or foam fillers will reflect it.

Complete soundproofing is a comprehensive solution that insulates not only the ceiling, but also the walls and floor. Such arrangement of the premises will allow getting rid of even the indirect transmission of acoustic vibrations. The main disadvantage of this scheme is that it will significantly reduce the volume of useful living space in the room, since frame structures will be installed everywhere. In addition, with complete insulation, the floor will be made in a "floating" format, which means a thickening of the floor covering itself by an average of 50 - 80 millimeters. Naturally, such a coating will completely extinguish the noise from running children or movable furniture, and the sound insulation index will reach the limits of 15 - 18 decibels with an acceptable 10. As practice shows, such a decision will be justified with large areas of the apartment and if the owners have advanced financial capabilities.

Partial sound insulation applications in various types of buildings

• Panel houses - their supporting structures are more than predisposed to a high level of indirect sound transmission, because they successfully spread not only over the floors, but also reflected from surfaces that have the same structure. For example, it is because of this that the sound of a switched on drill is perfectly distinguishable in any room. It should be noted that soundproofing the ceiling alone without additional wall insulation will not give a positive result.
• Brick houses - they have a heterogeneous structure of walls and ceilings, which is why the transmission of indirect noise is noticeably worse. In such apartments, it is quite possible to do only with soundproofing the ceiling.
• Monolithic-frame buildings - a slightly different situation is observed in them, in which powerful vibrations are transmitted from compacted floors to thin partitions.It is also preferable here to combine wall and ceiling insulation.

Design features of vibration isolation hangers

The vibrating suspension is a U-shaped profile structure, on the upper crossbar of which a special insert made of elastic material is installed. Typically this material is polyurethane, rubber or regular rubber. It is this soft base that takes on the influence of the sound wave and extinguishes it. The whole process of exposure consists in the fact that the force of the acoustic wave is significantly wasted to compress the elastic gasket, rotate the hinge, and in the future, its forces are simply not enough to act on the protective structure itself. The efficiency of the gasket directly depends on its thickness - the thicker it is, the greater the vibration amplitude it is able to damp. As a rule, the vibration suspension is fixed with an anchor to the wall / ceiling, and the reverse part is attached to the frame by means of self-tapping screws.

The main advantages of using vibro suspensions

The great popularity of these devices among the population is due to the following important advantages:

• Effectively prevent the penetration of extraneous low-frequency noise into the room due to its highly active vibroacoustic characteristics;
• Simple design for lightweight installation conditions;
• Multifunctionality (suspensions can be used for both ceiling and wall sound insulation);
• They have confident moisture resistance, have increased anti-corrosion characteristics, and their design assumes an increased service life.

Existing types of fasteners / hangers for vibration isolation

The modern market of finishing materials is able to provide the buyer with a wide range of these devices. They can differ in the type of fastening, in the place of use, in dimensions, as well as in the materials and dimensions of the insulating washers.

Among professional finishers, it is generally accepted that the best option for the type of fastening is a box-type vibration suspension. Its design is most successfully designed to absorb acoustic waves, almost completely preventing them from penetrating the surface of the ceiling or plasterboard wall. The main disadvantage of this type is that before installation, you will need to set the studs on the profile as accurately and scrupulously as possible. In addition, their cost is far from small.

In terms of their dimensions, vibro suspensions for gypsum plasterboard sheets can be standard, used for mounting on a profile with a width of 6 centimeters, and can be made in economy class for a narrow profile, where their width will be 4.7 centimeters. Absorbent washers are usually made of rubber, polyurethane or rubber. All described devices must withstand a maximum load of up to 30 kilograms. Their adjustment can be carried out by means of holes that are located on the sides of their U-shaped structure.

DIY suspension devices for vibration isolation

The simplicity of the design of suspensions / fasteners allows you to make them yourself, despite the fact that the technology is quite simple, and the end result may not be inferior in efficiency to factory samples. For the entire procedure, you only need perforated metal plates and pieces of porous rubber. The required number of suspensions must be calculated in advance, based on the area of ​​the insulated room (approximately 40 pieces per area of ​​15 squares). For the direct manufacture of vibration fasteners, you need to bend the perforated metal plate to the shape of a rectangle (U-shaped view), and fix a rubber gasket in the center. The final stage will be the usual bending of the edges of the plate. In order to increase efficiency, it is worth installing not one, but several gaskets on each mount - this will increase the quality of sound damping and prevent the further spread of vibrations to the drywall as much as possible.

At the end of the suspension production procedure, it is worth testing them. To do this, the vibro suspension is fixed on a small wooden block, after which they need to hit the floor well. Immediately, after the impact, one should carefully observe the vibrations that the plates produce. The faster the vibrations of the edges of the structure go out, the better the vibration isolation properties and the general ability to damp the vibration of the entire system as a whole will be.

Smart choice problems

When choosing factory samples of suspensions / fasteners, you should pay attention to their strength. The vibro-suspension has a significant load to maintain the gypsum plasterboard, coupled with the insulating material, and they also need to hold the putty layer. The budget versions of these devices are usually adapted to hold a weight of up to 12 kilograms, the standard ones are already designed for 15 or more. The heavyweight versions are adapted to weigh 40 kilograms for the wall and 30 kilograms for the ceiling. Also, the high-quality functioning of the fasteners will depend on the thickness and area of ​​the elastic washer - the larger it is in volume, the better the insulation will be. The same parameter will also depend on the elasticity of the material: for example, for greater efficiency, rubber gaskets should be preferred over conventional rubber ones.

Some features of the installation of gypsum board and vibration suspension

The installation of the plasterboard structure itself will consist of several steps:

• Making measurements of the ceiling area - here you need to use a building level and determine the lowest angle. Further, it is necessary to measure the distance from it, which is required to install the lamp and the sound insulation material.
• Installation of frame guide profiles - on metal structures that will dock with the overlap, you need to stick adhesive tape for sealing. Thanks to this operation, the risk of noise bridges can be significantly reduced, and this, in turn, will have a beneficial effect on the insulation characteristics of the entire structure as a whole.
• The marking designation consists in marking the junction points of the jumpers and rack rails. At the same time, the future position of the vibro-suspension is marked.
• This is followed by the procedure for directly attaching the suspensions and lowering their working edges.
• Then you need to install the carrier rails and fix them with hangers.
• The final stage will be the laying of the insulation material on the frame and its subsequent sheathing.

In principle, the installation, as well as the general operation of the vibration suspension, is not much different from the use of a standard direct mount. The main thing here is to choose the right fastening material, which should be fully combined with the type of ceiling used. The connections of the vibrating suspensions themselves with the frame profile should be carried out by means of self-tapping screws or press washers. As a result, it should always be remembered that in the conditions of an apartment building, when using vibration suspensions, 100% sound insulation will never be achieved. However, their use can make the life of apartment residents much more comfortable in conditions of the lowest possible ambient noise.

Rating of the best vibration dampers and fasteners for 2020

"Sonokrep Protector PRO"

Simple and affordable option. For ceiling mounting only. The lightweight metal used makes it possible to successfully damp sound waves. The installation procedure is simple and straightforward. The elastic plug is made on a rubber base.

Name	Index
Manufacturer country	Russia
Material	Galvanized steel
Estimated load	40 Kg
Scope of application	Ceiling
Price, rubles	150

• Improved sound insulation;
• Increased load mass;
• Low price.

• Limited scope.

SoundGuard Vibro M (12 mm)

This suspension is focused on the reflection of structure-borne noise, both shock and transmission. Recommended for use when installing plasterboard ceilings and walls.It successfully dampens vibration passing through sufficiently strong gypsum board structures.

Name	Index
Manufacturer country	Russia
Material	Galvanized steel
Estimated load	15 kg
Wall consumption	3 pcs per sq. m.
Quantity included	60 pcs
Thickness	1 mm
Applied elastomer	Rubber
Scope of application	Ceiling and walls
Price, rubles	230

• Versatility;
• Can be used as a reinforcing element in ready-made structures;
• Easy to install.

• Poorly resistant to mechanical damage.

"Sonokrep Protector" (62х30х125)

The sample has a galvanized body for improved durability. Additional tabs between the gimbal body and the elastomeric washer prevent unwanted contact and, as a result, they do not chafe. It is possible to adjust it according to the thickness of the profile base.

Name	Index
Manufacturer country	Russia
Material	Galvanized steel
Estimated load	40 Kg
Thickness	1 mm
Scope of application	Ceiling and walls
Price, rubles	100

• Versatility (ceiling and walls);
• Specialized design;
• Improved acoustic suppression performance.

• Not found.

"Ultrakustik"

The model is designed to be used as a reinforcing element in an already finished frame. Proper placement will increase sound insulation by an additional 25%. The model uses a combination of two elastomer washers at once - 6 and 12 mm.

Name	Index
Manufacturer country	Russia
Material	Steel
Estimated load	15 kg
Thickness	0.9 mm
Scope of application	Ceiling and walls
Price, rubles	110

• Multifunctionality;
• Acceptable price;
• Specialized design.

• Recommended for use as an additional element.

"Vibrofix SPU"

This vibro suspension can be used for both household and industrial needs. In particular, it can be used to provide sound insulation of cinemas, recording studios, technical transformer rooms. Differs in special reliability. A superelastic material of Austrian production "Silomer" is used as a rubber gasket.

Name	Index
Manufacturer country	Austria
Material	Galvanized steel
Estimated load	12 Kg
Thickness	1.5 mm
Scope of application	Ceiling and walls
Price, rubles	390

• Used innovative technologies;
• The scope of application is extremely wide;
• The antennae are extremely thick.

• Overpriced for a small kit.

"SoundGuard Vibro DUO"

The updated design of this suspension uses double U-shaped fasteners, which allows talking about the maximum reliability of the fastening. The used elastomer is made using the latest Vibro technology and is able to additionally damp up to 10% of incoming sound vibrations.

Name	Index
Manufacturer country	Russia
Material	Galvanized steel
Estimated load	30 Kg
Thickness	1 mm
Scope of application	Ceiling and walls
Price, rubles	350

• Lightweight yet robust double body;
• Strengthened the properties of the elastic washer;
• The price corresponds to the applied technologies.

• Not found.

WellDone Protector

The product is specially designed for vibration isolation of frame systems in increased areas. The elastomer used in the construction is made of aviation rubber, which allows to achieve maximum effect. The fastening between the wall and the profile is carried out by means of a supporting fastening element, which means an increased degree of reliability.

Name	Index
Manufacturer country	Russia
Material	Galvanized steel
Estimated load	40 Kg
Thickness	2 mm
Scope of application	Ceiling and walls
Price, rubles	790

• Double reliability of fastening;
• The use of an improved elastic washer;
• Decent completeness.

• Extremely high price!

Instead of an epilogue

The analysis of the vibration fasteners market shows that the Russian consumer is more focused on the domestic manufacturer. This situation can be explained by the simplicity of the product design, which makes it absolutely unnecessary to chase world brands. You can purchase fasteners / hangers at any hardware store or on the Internet site, since the variety of types is very wide.