As a company who regularly educates condominium property managers through CMRAO and CAMICB accredited programs on vibration, impact noise, and objective compliance, the recent CAT decision in Stoneburgh v. York Condominium Corporation No. 266 highlights a much larger issue facing condominium communities.
The takeaway is not that noise complaints should be ignored.
The takeaway is also not that condominium corporations are suddenly “off the hook” when dealing with impact noise, vibration, or nuisance complaints.
They are not.
The real takeaway is that condominium corporations must understand how noise complaints are investigated, measured, documented, and verified.
Personal opinions from residents, managers, security guards, contractors, or board members may be part of the story.
But when a dispute reaches a tribunal, mediator, lawyer, expert, or court, opinions alone are rarely enough.
Objective evidence matters.
So does the process used to collect it.
Understanding the Numbers
In Ontario, acoustic performance is often misunderstood.
For airborne sound, such as voices, music, television, or general sound transfer between units, the Ontario Building Code uses ratings such as STC and ASTC.
STC refers to Sound Transmission Class.
ASTC refers to Apparent Sound Transmission Class.
The important difference is this:
STC is generally based on the direct sound path through an assembly.
ASTC considers both direct and flanking sound transmission paths.
Flanking simply means that sound does not always travel straight through one floor or one wall.
In real buildings, sound can move through connected walls, ceilings, floors, junctions, penetrations, and structural elements.
That is why real-world building assemblies matter.
For impact noise, such as footsteps, dropped objects, furniture movement, or floor impacts, the commonly referenced rating is IIC.
IIC stands for Impact Insulation Class.
A minimum IIC 55 is commonly referenced as a recommended design target for impact noise, but it should not be confused with the airborne sound requirements of the Building Code.
Airborne sound and impact sound are not the same thing.
They are measured differently.
They behave differently.
They require different solutions.
The Problem with Condo Flooring Rules
Let’s discuss the elephant in the room.
Many condominium boards, property managers, and flooring contractors do not fully understand how acoustic ratings are achieved.
That is a problem.
Far too often, we review condominium flooring rules requiring products with IIC ratings of 72, 73, or 75 without anyone confirming how those ratings were achieved, what assembly was tested, or whether the results apply to the actual building.
An acoustic test is only meaningful when it relates to the building assembly in question.
If your condominium was constructed with an 8-inch concrete slab and no suspended ceiling, then approving a product based only on a high IIC number from a completely different assembly can create a false sense of security.
It may look impressive on paper.
But it may do very little to address the real noise problem in the building.
This is not opinion.
It is basic acoustic science.
You do not need to be a building scientist or acoustic consultant to understand the principle.
You would not install a motorcycle tire on your car simply because it is round, rubber, filled with air, has tread, and fits a 17-inch rim.
The tire may look similar.
But it was not designed or tested for that vehicle.
Acoustic underlayments are no different.
They must be selected based on the actual floor and ceiling assembly, the type of noise being addressed, and the level of performance required.
Three Questions Every Condo Should Ask
Before approving flooring products, condominium boards and managers should ask three simple questions:
- Was the product tested on the same floor and ceiling assembly found in our building?
- Does the test data match the buildings floor and ceiling assembly?
- Does the resident or contractor have proof of purchase?
Professional Experience
“When reviewing flooring replacement requests, the biggest misconception I see involves acoustic underlay requirements. Owners and contractors often submit product sheets boasting impressive IIC ratings of 71 or higher. My role is to then ensure the laboratory test environment actually matches our building’s construction – an 8-inch concrete slab with no suspended ceiling.
More often than not, those 71+ IIC ratings were achieved using a suspended ceiling assembly, which drastically cuts down noise and vibration. Since our suites don’t have suspended ceilings, that underlay won’t perform as advertised in our building.
This creates a frustrating uphill battle when communicating with owners who have already been misled by their contractors. Better education at the contractor level would make the entire approval process much smoother for everyone.”
MICHAEL SCHWARTZ
Senior Condominium ManagerPalace Place - MTCC 1053
One Palace Pier Court | Etobicoke, ON M8V 3W9
Better Education Means Better Decisions
The solution is not more paperwork.
The solution is better education.
Condominium boards and managers need to understand how acoustic products are tested, how sound travels through buildings, and why building assemblies directly affect performance.
This is one of the most important responsibilities of anyone involved in condominium governance.
The goal is not to win arguments.
The goal is quieter communities.
The goal is also to make reasonable, informed, and defensible decisions before a complaint becomes a legal dispute.
Final Observation
RHINO Sound Control and Acousti Armour acoustic underlayments have been supported through laboratory testing, field testing, and professional acoustic review.
That distinction matters.
When a product has been independently tested, reviewed, and documented, condominium corporations, boards, property managers, and owners are in a much stronger position to demonstrate that reasonable steps were taken.
That becomes extremely important when a noise complaint evolves into expert review, mediation, a tribunal hearing, or court proceeding.
Good science.
Good documentation.
Good decisions.
Those things matter long before the lawyers arrive.
info@thefloorstudio.ca