Acoustic Glazing Solutions
Expert Traffic Noise Reduction for London Homes
Living on a busy London A-road or bus route means constant low-frequency vibration that standard double glazing cannot stop. Our 10.8mm Stadip Silence acoustic laminate glass, paired with an engineered 150mm air gap, is purpose-built to silence the rumble.
Why Standard Double Glazing Fails at Traffic Noise
Traffic noise — particularly from diesel engines, heavy goods vehicles, and tyre contact with tarmac — generates powerful low-frequency sound waves, typically between 50 Hz and 250 Hz. These long wavelengths are exceptionally difficult to block because they carry enormous energy and can vibrate through solid materials with ease.
Standard double-glazed units use two panes of similar-thickness glass (typically 4mm or 6mm) separated by a narrow 12–16mm cavity filled with argon gas. This design is optimised for thermal insulation, not acoustics. In fact, the two matched panes create a mass-air-mass resonance at low frequencies — meaning the window actually amplifies the very rumble you want to eliminate.
A typical sealed double-glazed unit achieves an STC rating of just 28–31. At 125 Hz — the dominant frequency of a passing bus or HGV — it may provide as little as 18 dB of reduction. The World Health Organisation recommends bedroom noise below 30 dB for healthy sleep. If your façade faces 80 dB of traffic, standard glazing leaves you at 50–60 dB indoors. That is not quiet. That is still disruptive.
The Science of 10.8mm Stadip Silence for Road Soundproofing
Our acoustic secondary glazing uses 10.8mm Stadip Silence — a specialist acoustic laminate manufactured by Saint-Gobain. It consists of two sheets of glass (typically 6.4mm and 4.4mm) bonded with a 0.76mm PVB (polyvinyl butyral) acoustic interlayer that is specifically tuned to dissipate the energy of traffic frequencies. This is not ordinary laminated glass; the PVB interlayer in Stadip Silence has a modified resin formulation that targets the coincidence dip where standard glass becomes acoustically transparent.
Mass-Law Advantage
At 10.8mm and ~27 kg/m², the panel is nearly three times heavier than standard 4mm glass. Every doubling of mass adds approximately 6 dB of sound insulation — a step-change in low-frequency blocking power.
Tuned PVB Interlayer
The Stadip Silence PVB converts sound energy into negligible heat through viscoelastic damping. It is engineered to absorb vibrations at the coincidence frequency — the exact point where standard glass lets traffic noise through.
Asymmetric Construction
The 6.4mm + 4.4mm asymmetric layup ensures the two glass sheets resonate at different frequencies, eliminating the destructive mass-air-mass resonance that undermines standard double glazing at low frequencies.
The 150mm Rule: Why Air Gaps Matter for Low-Frequency Sounds
Glass selection is only half the equation. The air gap between your existing window and the secondary glazing unit is the critical second variable. We recommend a minimum 150mm air gap — and ideally 150–200mm — for traffic noise applications.
This gap serves a precise acoustic function: it decouples the two glass structures. When the outer window vibrates under the pressure of a passing lorry, that vibration must cross a substantial air cavity before it reaches the inner pane. The wider the gap, the less energy is transmitted — especially at low frequencies where wavelengths are long and need more space to attenuate.
A 12mm gap (as found in standard double glazing) provides almost no low-frequency decoupling. A 100mm gap improves matters. But at 150mm, the decoupling effect becomes highly effective against the 50–250 Hz band that defines road traffic noise. Combined with our 10.8mm Stadip Silence glass, this configuration consistently achieves measured reductions of 45–54 dB.
The Result: From A-Road to Library
Independent testing confirms that an 85 dB busy A-road or bus route is reduced to approximately 30 dB — a whisper-quiet environment. This meets the World Health Organisation's threshold for uninterrupted sleep.
54 dB
Maximum Reduction
150mm
Recommended Air Gap
30 dB
Indoor Result
Standard Windows vs. Our Acoustic System
A side-by-side comparison of conventional double glazing against our 10.8mm Stadip Silence secondary glazing system.
| Metric | Standard Double Glazing | Our Acoustic System |
|---|---|---|
| Glass Thickness | 4mm float | 10.8mm Stadip Silence |
| Acoustic Interlayer | None | 0.76mm tuned PVB |
| Air Gap | 12–16mm (sealed unit) | 150–200mm (decoupled) |
| STC Rating | 28–31 | 50+ |
| Reduction at 125 Hz | ~18 dB | ~42 dB |
| Overall Noise Reduction | ~30 dB | Up to 54 dB |
| Result (85 dB road) | 55 dB indoors | 31 dB indoors |
Bespoke Solutions for London's Busiest A-Roads
Every road produces a different noise signature. The A4 in Chiswick has a different frequency profile to the A205 South Circular in Dulwich. Our acoustic engineer surveys your specific property, measures the dominant frequencies with calibrated equipment, and specifies the exact glass configuration and air-gap depth to deliver maximum reduction. There are no generic packages — every installation is engineered to your road.
Your home faces an A-road, dual carriageway, or Transport for London bus route
You hear a constant low-frequency hum or rumble that existing glazing cannot stop
Heavy goods vehicles or buses cause vibration you can feel through floors and walls
Your existing double glazing has made no perceptible difference to noise levels
Sleep quality has deteriorated since moving to a busy road
You live in a conservation area where replacement windows are not permitted
Accredited & Trusted
Certified
STC Rated
25+ Years
Experience
Lifetime
Warranty
500+
Happy Customers
Request Your Free Traffic Noise Survey
Our acoustic engineer will visit your property with calibrated equipment, measure the exact noise profile of your road, and recommend the most effective glass and air-gap configuration — with no obligation.
Explore Related Solutions
Pricing Guide
See what traffic noise glazing costs for your property type — from 1-bed flats to 5-bed townhouses.
Glass Specifications
Compare the acoustic performance of every glass type — from 4mm float to 10.8mm Ultimate Acoustic.
Secondary Glazing Guide
How decoupled air gaps and laminated glass combine to block up to 54dB of noise.
Aircraft Noise Solutions
High-frequency noise from Heathrow and Gatwick flight paths — a different challenge requiring different glass.
City Living Solutions
Slimline acoustic glazing for apartments dealing with sirens, nightlife, and construction noise.
Cost Estimator Tool
Get an instant ballpark price for your property — enter your window count and postcode.
Related Local Guides
Hampstead & Belsize Park Guide
Conservation-area acoustic glazing advice for NW3 period homes near the Heath.
Richmond & Twickenham Guide
Noise solutions for homes on the A316, A205, and under the Heathrow flight path.
Dulwich & Herne Hill Guide
Acoustic glazing for SE21 and SE24 homes facing South Circular and rail noise.
Islington & Canonbury Guide
Tackling bus-route rumble and night-time noise in N1 Georgian terraces.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much traffic noise can secondary glazing reduce?▾
What glass thickness is best for traffic noise?▾
Does secondary glazing work for low-frequency traffic rumble?▾
How long does installation take?▾
Will secondary glazing affect my property's appearance?▾
Sources & References
Government & Regulatory
- World Health Organization (WHO). "Environmental Noise Guidelines for the European Region". WHO Regional Office for Europe, 2018温},{annotation:.Link
This comprehensive report outlines the detrimental effects of road traffic noise on public health, supporting the need for effective noise mitigation in residential areas.
Citations generated with AI assistance. Please verify sources independently.