John Sayers' Recording Studio Design Forum

Happy New Year everyone!

So, I need a better understanding of how to deal with
wall and roof ventilation for wood-frame sound-studios.

My reference is cold climate, where hot air is likely to condense in/on wall and under roof.

I'm not an experienced carpenter, but as I understand it the following are normal building practice around where I live:

Soffit ventilation

And/or this could be on the gable end.

Ventilated wall

(Image for illustration of ventilation only)

As I understand it sound-studios are to airtight like an aquarium. Is that right?

So, how to build a roof and walls with proper ventilation and sound-proofing?

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- Geir
My build: Small room [G-Sun, no]

Depending on the existing structure it may require compromise. The convection flow of air is a requirement for the roof assembly to throw off build up in the attic cavity. This is common all over the world when a wooden structure is part of the conversation.

There are methods to decouple the ceiling, and making certain it fits and matches your design should help you get a better build, e.g. clips and hat track, mass the upper ceiling.

If a fully decoupled project is what you are talking about then all things have to be considered. In the most extreme case you would cut out the upper ceiling joists (with required professional help) and band them to maintain integrity of the structure. That will open up the cavity and aid in developing a mass/air/mass. Problem is the air is leaky due to the venting that the structure requires in order to stay healthy.

You would have to get "X" distance away from the venting to allow for a doubling of space to reduce the expected ambient noise levels.

It will also introduce litigation with you and code personal and Insurance persons. But the introduction of external climate into the cavity can be dealt with to some extent.

Then you would install joists on the interior framed wall assemblies thereby decoupling the interior from the exterior but still you have to deal with the introduction of the external environment into the air cavity essentially creating a fire stop that works as a thermal break.

_________________
Brien Holcombe
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Sound: You can't stop it, you can only try to contain it.

Ok, thanks!

So, it's a sort of compromise,
and making some three leaf structures around the venting?
Or air-channels sound-proofed?

Do you have any links to pictures describing possible solution to wall-venting, fire and sound-proofing?

Normal places for venting is (as far as I know it) wall-bottom, soffit, gable end and roof-ridge.
What is most common to use/ not use?

_________________
- Geir
My build: Small room [G-Sun, no]