The developer of a high-rise apartment building filed suit against its general contractor. In addition to typical construction defect allegations, there were widespread noise complaints. This led the developer to believe its contractors built thin, under-insulated, or otherwise faulty walls. From the day of move-in tenants complained they were hearing not only music and loud bangs and booms but conversation, elevator dings, and other softer noises. The developer sought complete soundproofing on almost every interior wall, an eight-figure claim.
YA Group’s Area of Impact
YA Group’s specialized forensic engineering team reviewed construction drawings and specs, then visited the property for an in-person inspection and testing. After testing several units, excessive sound transmission was found, but the source of the sound remained the issue. The allegation was the walls were not constructed properly to comply with the Sound Transmission Coefficient (STC) rating. Destructive testing proved the issue was not with the walls or their construction. Rather, the cause behind the noise complaints was the apartment unit entry doors – they had been installed with large gaps at the sill, and it was these openings that enabled the sound transmission between units. This meant the recommended repair would involve completely rebuilding 50% of every unit.
Finding a Solution
Whereas soundproofing the complex’s walls would have been astronomically expensive, fixing the doors, while not cheap, proved to be a relative bargain for the developer and his insurance carrier. STC testing after the work was completed verified successful resolution and defendants’ liabilities amounted to less than 10% of the original claim.
