When you look at the skylines of our major urban centers, it’s no surprise that RHINO Sound Control ®™ has dominated the skies for 20 years.
In multi-family residential construction, the line between a peaceful home and a noisy nightmare comes down to the materials separating the floors. While achieving acoustic privacy was once considered a luxury, it is now an essential structural requirement. But there is a massive difference between simply passing a building code and actually delivering the quiet, high-quality living experience that residents expect.
The Baseline: NBCC and OBC Recommendations
The National Building Code of Canada (NBCC) and the Ontario Building Code (OBC) are designed to establish baseline safety and habitability standards. Currently, these codes mandate that floor and ceiling assemblies separating dwelling units must achieve a Sound Transmission Class (STC) of at least 50 to manage airborne sounds like voices or music.
However, regulatory requirements historically leave a critical gap when it comes to impact noise—the structure-borne vibrations caused by footsteps, dropped objects, or moving furniture. Impact noise travels directly through the building's skeleton and is the primary driver behind noise complaints in modern condominiums.
The Reality of Concrete and Wood Frame Construction
Without supplemental acoustic treatment, standard building materials are inherently inadequate at stopping impact noise.
- Concrete Slabs: An 8-inch concrete slab—the standard for the vast majority of condominiums—might meet the code for airborne noise, but it fails completely at isolating footfall vibrations. Bare concrete offers minimal defense against impact noise transferring to the unit below.
- Wood-Frame Assemblies: Wood construction presents an even greater challenge. Without high-performance damping, the hollow cavities and rigid connections of wood joists act like a drum, amplifying vibrations and making premium acoustic underlayment an absolute necessity.
The RHINO Advantage: Exceeding the Standard
Code compliance is merely a starting point. To truly neutralize footfall noise and protect the peace of mind of residents, developers and property managers need materials engineered for real-world application, not just laboratory conditions.
RHINO Sound Control ®™ is manufactured to the highest industry standards, utilizing specialized testing equipment and methodology to ensure flawless real-world results. Composed of 90% recycled rubber, this 4-millimeter underlayment is uniquely engineered on a molecular level to absorb shock energy and convert it into negligible thermal energy.
Whether installed over a standard 8-inch concrete slab with no suspended ceiling, or integrated into a residential wood-frame build, RHINO doesn't just meet the NBCC and OBC recommendations—it exceeds them.
Key Performance Benefits:
- Unmatched Damping: Absorbs massive amounts of shock energy and dramatically reduces vibration transmission in both concrete and wood structures.
- Lifetime Durability: Unlike foam or felt products that crush and degrade over time under the weight of furniture, RHINO's high-quality rubber composition maintains its acoustic integrity for the life of the floor.
- Versatile Application: Engineered to perform seamlessly under floating floors (laminate, luxury vinyl plank, engineered wood), double glue-down hardwood, and tile or stone.
- Eco-Friendly & Safe: 100% environmentally sound, VOC-compliant, and naturally resistant to mold and mildew.
The Blueprint for Condominium Boards
Noise disputes are among the most expensive and disruptive liabilities for condominium corporations. Relying on inflated, laboratory-only acoustic claims often leads to failed floors and costly legal battles.
Over 4,500 high-rise condominiums rely on RHINO Sound Control to permanently reduce persistent noise disputes. By mandating a proven, premium acoustic underlayment, condo boards and property managers shift the focus away from subjective noise complaints and create a legally defensible standard for their buildings.
For two decades, RHINO has proven that true acoustic comfort isn't about meeting the minimum building code—it’s about rendering it irrelevant by setting a completely new standard for high-rise living.
The Floor Studio | Acoustic Floor Solutions, specializes in high-performance recycled rubber acoustic products designed to meet and exceed the National Building Code of Canada and International Building Code. Contact us today to discuss your project and find the right solution for achieving superior sound insulation and resident satisfaction. info@thefloorstudio.ca
Why RHINO Sound Control is the Right Choice for Your Condo Project?
The Ontario Building Code (OBC) sets a recommended standard for acoustic separation in multi-family dwellings, with a target of Impact Insulation Class (IIC) 55 for floor-ceiling assemblies to ensure resident comfort. This is not a requirement, but instead only a recommendation.
As detailed below by HGC Noise Vibration Acoustics, RHINO’s results confirm that it does not simply meet but exceeds the acoustic recommendation of the OBC, when tested over an 8" concrete slab with NO suspended ceiling.
HGC Noise Vibration Acoustics (HGC) was commissioned to peer review an Intertek Laboratory “Acoustical Performance Test Report”
Conclusion: "The IIC performance of this test specimen meets and exceeds minimum IIC-55 criteria in the National Building Code (NBC) of Canada, and the Ontario Building Code (OBC). "
Note: While our product(s) are proven to be effective at mitigating noise from normal residential use, no sound insulation product can be expected to completely absorb the excessive impact noises (thumping, dropping items, dragging furniture) often associated with residents who are not mindful of their neighbours. This is a matter of building governance and enforcement of rules regarding quiet enjoyment.