Use and Care Manual

There are three kinds of audible sound. First is Impact: Sound transmitted due to impact of an
object with the floor surface. Examples can be walking in heels, a hammer, an object drops to
the floor etc. - IIC value. Second is Air: Any acoustic sound that is transmitted through air such
as talking, TV Sounds, vacuum cleaner - STC value. And third is Structural: Sounds transmitted
through construction or framed structures.
When measuring the IIC and STC values, it is not the values for the underlayment alone, but a
values for the whole structure. The structure tested is commonly composed of finished floor
covering, underlayment, concrete slab (such as used in between floors of a building, may vary in
thicknesses: 6”, 8”, 10”, 12”), ceiling insulation, drop ceiling or any sheetrock ceiling fixed on
metal frame. The thicker the above-mentioned layers of the tested structure, the higher the
numbers that the test will yield.
When companies advertise IIC and STC values of 70-76 dB it means they conducted their testing
on thick concrete slabs and with thick drop ceilings. The most reliable results is done with a
structure that consists of: Finished floor covering, underlayment, concrete slab of 6” (not 8” or
10”) and measured without a drop ceiling or any ceiling insulation
Very few underlayments can claim 50 dB or higher when tested under the above conditions.
Wood fiber material can.
US building code requires tests on 6' slab with no ceiling assembly the rates to be 50 and up.
Link to an acoustic tests or specs
INTERLOCKS AND CLICK-LOCK PROTECTION
STEICO underlayment has a unique capability of leveling the floors and high pressure resistance.
Wood fiber boards are very durable. They can handle pressure at a load of 20 tons per square
meter (21.32 PSI), but, simultaneously due to plasticity, they can effectively level unevenness of
the subfloor. This unique property protects the interlocks of the finish floor from squeaking and
damage, maintaining the flooring joints' stability and integrity and eliminating a very
unpleasant "springy" effect when walking. That reduces the movement of the flooring planks,
prolongs and enhance performing of the floors.
Typically, the underlayment thickness corresponds to the size of the defect that it can level out
(these may be protruding subfloor defects, small metal objects or concrete particles remaining
after construction, glue leftovers, etc.). Boards can be used to smooth small potholes, dents,
cavities, or chips on the subfloor surface in accordance with the installation technology.