Samsung, POSCO and Lotte E&C Join Forces to Tackle Inter-Floor Noise
Results Also to Be Used for Establishing Standards and Developing Policy on Inter-Floor Noise
Samsung C&T's Engineering & Construction Group (hereinafter Samsung C&T), POSCO E&C and Lotte E&C announced that the three companies have signed a "Memorandum of Understanding for the Joint Development of Inter-Floor Noise Reduction Technology" and will pool their efforts to address inter-floor noise, a pressing social issue.
The management of each company shared the recognition that collaboration across the industry is essential to resolving inter-floor noise, a serious social problem, and agreed to jointly develop noise reduction technology and swiftly apply it in the field.
The three companies plan to share with one another the core capabilities they have each accumulated individually to date, including their inter-floor noise reduction technologies and data. Together with this, they plan to form an inter-floor noise technology council, bringing together each company's strengths and focusing on developing technology that can dramatically reduce inter-floor noise.
In particular, the three companies have set a goal of developing, by the end of next year, an optimal inter-floor noise reduction solution that both significantly reduces noise and secures economic feasibility. To verify the technologies and construction methods developed, they plan to actively utilize the resources each company holds, such as research facilities and equipment, and to jointly use residential sites to enhance on-site applicability.
The three companies intend to continue expanding cooperation with a wide range of external partners not only in the construction industry but also in industry and academia. Above all, they plan to disclose their inter-floor noise reduction technologies and solutions and to make them available for use in establishing standards and developing policy related to inter-floor noise.
Samsung C&T was the first in Korea to establish an inter-floor noise research institute, and in May it opened "Raemian Goyoan(安) LAB," the largest dedicated inter-floor noise research facility in the country. The company is concentrating its investment and efforts on resolving inter-floor noise, including obtaining a Grade 1 certification for inter-floor noise insulation performance.
Oh Se-chul, President of Samsung C&T's Engineering & Construction Group, said, "To solve the social problem of inter-floor noise, collaboration rather than competition is essential," adding, "We will continue to work to resolve inter-floor noise by finding more diverse, innovative and comprehensive solutions."
POSCO E&C organized an inter-floor noise task force team (TFT) and developed a hybrid rigidity-reinforced floor system (Anwoolim), completing performance verification at Grade 2 for heavy-impact noise and Grade 1 for light-impact noise on the same 210 mm slab used previously. The company plans to apply it in design through the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's floor structure certification in the second half of this year.
Han Sung-hee, President of POSCO E&C, explained, "Through this agreement, we will do our utmost so that each company can create synergy, solve the social problem of inter-floor noise, and build a better residential environment."
Lotte E&C established a dedicated inter-floor noise TFT and is concentrating its capabilities on new approaches to resolving inter-floor noise, such as developing new-material cushioning and a noise-reducing ceiling system. It is also pushing to build a residential performance verification center that applies various structural formats and slab thicknesses.
Ha Suk-ju, President of Lotte E&C, emphasized, "The technology developed through this agreement will be shared so that it can be used by all construction companies, including the three companies," and, "We plan to work to make this a new model of ESG management that takes the lead in solving the social problem of inter-floor noise."