Resilient batten
The term ‘batten’ generally refers to a strip of timber (although it can also be steel or plastic) used in the construction of buildings. Battens are typically used as spacers to raise the surface of a material, or as a secondary framework onto which a surface may be fixed. Battens are used in the construction of roofs, walls, floors, ceilings and a number of other applications.
According to 'Housing and sound insulation, Improving existing attached dwellings and designing for conversions', published in 2006, the term 'resilient batten' refers to a timber batten with a resilient layer that can be placed under floor surfaces to reduce impact sound.
A resilient layer is a layer that isolates an element (such as screed or a floating floor) from another element (such as the base floor). Generally, the resilient layer is pre-bonded beneath the batten (although it is sometimes on top of the batten). It may be formed using foams, cellulose compounds or fibrous polyesters, and may use two or more densities or compounds of material, with different compositions giving different degrees of performance. For example, a 65–90mm system installed at 400 centres might give an airborne improvement of 8–12dB and an impact improvement of 12–18dB.
Resilient battens must be installed onto a flat surface and not directly laid onto joists or ribbed structures. Where there are timber joist floors, the resilient battens should be placed on a sub-deck board. It is important to ensure fixing tween the for flooring board to batten do not penetrate into the resilient layer.
Approved document E: Resistance to the passage of sound, 2003 edition incorporating 2004, 2010, 2013 and 2015 amendments, states: ‘A floating floor consists of a floating layer and resilient layer.” Where a floating layer is: ‘A surface layer that rests on a resilient layer and is therefore isolated from the base floor and the surrounding walls.” And a resilient layer is: ‘A layer that isolates a floating layer from a base floor and surrounding walls.”
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
Featured articles and news
Plumbing and heating for sustainability in new properties
Technical Engineer runs through changes in regulations, innovations in materials, and product systems.
Awareness of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism
What CBAM is and what to do about it.
The new towns and strategic environmental assessments
12 locations of the New Towns Taskforce reduced to 7 within the new towns draft programme and open consultation.
Buildings that changed the future of architecture. Book review.
The Sustainability Pathfinder© Handbook
Built environment agency launches free Pathfinder© tool to help businesses progress sustainability strategies.
Government outcome to the late payment consultation, ECA reacts.
IHBC 2025 Gus Astley Student Award winners
Work on the role of hewing in UK historic conservation a win for Jack Parker of Oxford Brookes University.
Future Homes Building Standards and plug-in solar
Parts F and L amendments, the availability of solar panels and industry responses.
How later living housing can help solve the housing crisis
Unlocking homes, unlocking lives.
Preparing safety case reports for HRBs under the BSA
A new practical guide to preparing structural inputs for safety cases and safety case reports published by IStructE.
Male construction workers and prostate cancer
CIOB and Prostate Cancer UK encourage awareness of prostate cancer risks, and what to do about it.
The changed R&D tax landscape for Architects
Specialist gives a recap on tax changes for Research and Development, via the ACA newsletter.
Structured product data as a competitive advantage
NBS explain why accessible product data that works across digital systems is key.
Welsh retrofit workforce assessment
Welsh Government report confirms Wales faces major electrical skills shortage, warns ECA.
A now architectural practice looks back at its concept project for a sustainable oceanic settlement 25 years on.
Copyright and Artificial Intelligence
Government report and back track on copyright opt out for AI training but no clear preferred alternative as yet.
Embedding AI tools into architectural education
Beyond the render: LMU share how student led research is shaping the future of visualisation workflows.
Why document control still fails UK construction projects
A Chartered Quantity Surveyor explains what needs to change and how.
Inspiration for a new 2026 wave of Irish construction professionals.
New planning reforms and Warm Homes Bill
Take centre stage at UK Construction Week London.