Sound isolation is defeated mainly by flanking paths like air leaks and structure.

Evidence

Flanking paths, which are the main limitation to sound-isolating structures, arise when there are other paths that the sound can travel through in order to get around, that is, flank, the sound isolating structure, as shown in Figure 6.57. Typical paths for flanking are the building structure, heating pipes, and, most commonly, ventilation systems or air leaks. The effect of the building structure can be reduced by building a “floating room,” as shown in Figure 6.58, which removes the effect of the building structure by floating the room on springs away from it. — David M. Howard, Jamie Angus, Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 2124

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to the reader’s interest in how acoustic environments shape listening — floating rooms and flanking are the physical underside of the silence/noise themes in One Square Inch of Silence. — connects to: In homes, air leaks dominate sound isolation more than the glazing itself — David Howard, Jamie Angus, coustics and Psychoacoustics, 2173