If those walls could talk...

They say: ‘good fences make good neighbours’ and the same can be said for intertenancy walls in multi-unit developments. The more robust the system—particularly acoustically—the less likely you are to feel like a character in your neighbours’ lives.

“Both comfort and safety are of paramount concern for residents living in apartments and units and our INTEGRA Central Barrier Intertenancy Wall system fits the bill for both,” says Mike Olds, Resene Construction Systems General Manager.

“INTEGRA has been designed for use in medium- and high-density housing and has undergone rigorous, full-scale independent acoustic and fire testing with results that exceeded the Building Code requirements significantly.

“When it comes to the STC (sound transmission class) rating, the Building Code requirement is for a rating of 55, which means sounds of 55 decibels or lower on one side of the intertenancy wall will not be heard on the other side. INTEGRA systems have an STC rating that starts at a massive 64 and goes to 67, depending on the system chosen. In turn, if your neighbours are noisy you have less chance of hearing them.

“Similarly, INTEGRA has been shown to perform exceptionally well in what is considered the toughest testing to pass—full scale fire test results achieve 120/120/120 fire rating.”

The INTEGRA Central Barrier Intertenancy Wall system is supplied as individual panels measuring 2200mm x 600mm x 50mm, which can be easily cut with a standard circular saw fitted with a masonry blade.

“INTEGRA can be installed with either timber or steel framing and there are specifications for 10mm, 13mm and 2x 10mm plasterboard lining depending on the acoustic rating required,” says Mike.

“One of the biggest advantages of INTEGRA is its lightweight composition. The INTEGRA panels are 32kgs each and only take 3–4 minutes per panel to install. Additionally, INTEGRA is weather resistant and can be exposed to the elements without affecting the system performance before the building is closed in, giving builders additional peace of mind.

“Perhaps of most importance to contractors is the cost efficiencies that can be had by using the INTEGRA Central Barrier Intertenancy Wall system due to the speed of install and having only four main components—the INTEGRA lightweight concrete panel, acoustic brackets, screws and mortar. The system is supplied as a complete package with all components required to achieve the finished wall, based on the wall area.”

The INTEGRA Central Barrier Intertenancy Wall system has been designed for use specifically within 2–3 storey, medium-density, multi-unit dwellings, such as terraced housing developments, says Mike.

“Installed correctly and subjected to normal conditions for internal use, the INTEGRA system will achieve a service life in excess of 50 years.”

Learn more about the INTEGRA Central Barrier Intertenancy Wall system.