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.
[edit] Find out more
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Ash deafening.
- Batten.
- Brander.
- Dwang.
- Floating floor.
- Flooring defects.
- Impact sound.
- Screed.
- Separating floor.
- Suspended ceiling.
[edit] External references
Featured articles and news
IHBC book review: Charles Barry’s monumental struggle to rebuild the Houses of Parliament.
Read about RSHP's British Museum extension which has been shortlisted for the 2017 Stirling Prize.
Read our introductory article to building a house extension.
More updates from DCMS about the large-scale testing of cladding systems and the number of buildings affected.
UandI secure resolution to grant planning consent for major new regeneration project.
Infrastructure and the historic environment
IHBC article considers how heritage is dealt with when infrastructure schemes are authorised.
It was the tallest structure in the world for 3,800 years, but to this day the exact construction techniques are a mystery.
Shortlist for the industry's most coveted award announced.
Government responds to Mark Farmer's review of industry, rejecting the call for a levy on clients.
Peter Hansford to examine what wider lessons can be learned from the fire.
Every project is subject to uncertainty. How can construction better understand uncertainty for performance improvement?
MAD Architects reveal their designs for a futuristic campus for electric car manufacturer.
Homebuyers could borrow more with better forecasting of energy bills, according to industry consortium's new report.
Grenfell Tower articles updated daily
