Frequently Asked Questions
EWES knowledgeable employees answer a variety of questions daily. To give customers quick answers, we have collected the most common questions for EWES Sound Fastener with associated answers below.
What is EWES Sound Fastener?
The Sound Fastener is a sound dampener, designed as a screw. It is a sound absorber and it is fastener. All in one. You don't need any extra material or new equipment.
Is this really possible?
The thing is, there is nothing strange or complicated with the Sound Fastener as an idea. On the contrary it has a very simple basic design. You cut a screw in two pieces and put a spring between the pieces, very simple if you ask us.
Is it good?
When standard screws are replaced by EWES Sound Fastener, results from independent test institutes show an improvment of 7-8 dB (decibel) for a ceiling and up to 9 dB for a wall. According to acoustic theory, a sound reduction of 9 dB is a reduction of 87% of the sound effect.
A human ear experiences this as a reduction of the sound volume to at least half.
How does is work?
EWES Sound fastener works like a standard screw when mounted but in a fixed position it provides a resilient connection between the panels and the studs forming an efficient sound absorbing system.
What is it more in detail that reduces disturbing noise?
You could say there are three aspects of the product design that stop noise from moving. First, an ordinary screws is like a sound bridge thast brings noise from one side of a wall into the studs to next side. This is more or less impossible with the Sound Fastener as it is cut into two pieces with a gap between the pieces.
Second, the sound absorber creates a gap between the studs and the board that also make it very difficult for noise move to the other side of the wall.
Third, the Sound Fastener screws in connection with the board creates a protecting shield - behing the board hundreds of small absorbers are working together to absorb unwelcome noise.
Can I use EWES Sound Fastener anywhere in a building?
Yes you can. Some changes have to be made for different building systems and materials. The first design is made for wood studs.
How do I install it? Give me more details.
When you use ordinary screws you push the board against the studs. You stop screwing when the head is just inside the surface of the board. You do it exactly in the same way with the sound absorbing screws. It means that the spring is compressed at installation. When you release the pressure on the board all the springs together will create a small gap.
A gap? Is that possible? It sounds as if the wall is instable? And can you putty an instable surface? What happens with paint and wallpaper?
The wall is stiff. All these small sound absorbers work together not only absorbing noise, they also cooperate in managing different forces. And you can easily increase the stiffness if you want to.
Will the system not be punctured if, for example, I mount a TV on the wall?
Imagine a wall of 120 square feet. Befind the bord you will have about 130-140 small sound absorbers working together, day and night, not only to take care of the noise, they also cooperate to manage shocks and if one part will be compressed. And even if a few absorbers will be compressed the other ones continue to work. And remember, sound bridges are still cut though the absorbing material is compressed.
What about the environment? Would you call this an environmentally friendly product?
There is a strong trend to build "green" wood-framed buildings, also in larger scale. While wood binds carbon, many of the other building material industries have problems with the environment. This trend, however, is hampered by the difficulty of finding solutions for efficient sound insulation. EWES Sound Fastener is well adapted for wood building techniques and is therefore suitable for environmentally friendly construction.
You said your first design is for wood, but will you introduce more versions?
We have already developed different designs and installations methods adapted for one and two layers of gypsum board, other meterials like particleboard and OSB, for metal studs and for refurbishing. They will be included in a range of products later on.
Is the EWES Sound Fastener an expensive product?
In comparison with other known sound damping solutions, EWES Sound Fastener offers several distinct advantages: less material needed, thinner build-up of walls and floors, faster, easier and more ergonomic mounting, lower cost and improved sound insulation.
A major advantage, perhaps the most important one, is its ability to release valuable living space.
Do you have another question?
Please contact us, Soundfastener@ewes.com