--- title: Choosing the Right Acoustic Window description: Choosing the Right Acoustic Window image: https://stcloudwindow.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Sound-Liner-4.jpg --- # Choosing the Right Acoustic Window **Written by: St. Cloud Window** **Date: February 5, 2026** Noise can be one of the greatest challenges in designing buildings in the urban landscape. Unfortunately, it is often overlooked and later deeply regretted. Window attenuation considerations are essential for buildings situated near rail tracks, major highways, or commercial airport operations. Other noise-sensitive applications include hospitals and schools where external noise can be disruptive and distracting and downright unhealthy. The entire product not just the glass and should consider these four constants in noise attenuation: 1. **Mass** - both window frame material and glass should create barriers of sufficient mass to attenuate noise 2. **Air space** **between multiple glass barriers** - an increase in airspace will decrease sound transmission 3. **Acoustic decoupling** **of frame barriers** - on multiple levels, mechanically separating the two sides of the frame prevents sound from passing through 4. **Window assembly air infiltration** – sound follows air, block the air, and the sound is also blocked ![](https://stcloudwindow.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Sound-Liner-3.jpg) [Two primary measurements](https://stcloudwindow.com/news/using-sound-transmission-class-stc-ratings-to-create-quiet-spaces/) are used to compare sound transmission. **Sound Transmission Class** (STC) provides a single-number rating for interior building partitions. It is calculated over the frequency range of 125 to 4,000 hertz per ASTM E413. The STC rating can be assigned only to specimens tested in a laboratory. Specimens tested in the field will be indicated by an Apparent Sound Transmission Class (ASTC) rating. The higher the number, the better the noise attenuation. **Outdoor-Indoor Transmission Class** (OITC) provides a single-number rating for blocking sound outside the building and is a single-number rating for exterior walls, windows, and doors that are subjected to transportation noises and other low-to-mid frequency noise sources. The OITC is calculated over the frequency range of 80 to 4,000 hertz and per ASTM E1332. An OITC rating can be assigned only to specimens tested in the laboratory. The higher the number, the better the noise attenuation. ![](https://stcloudwindow.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/OITC-STC-2.jpg) Effective use of acoustic windows has become essential to keeping urban noise out and creating quiet interior spaces. Look for [STC and OITC ratings](https://stcloudwindow.com/news/how-to-measure-sound-dampening/) to find the optimal levels of noise mitigation. Our acoustic window experts at St. Cloud Window can help you find the best window for your acoustic needs – [request a quote today](https://stcloudwindow.com/quote-budget-request/) for more information. [su_button url="https://stcloudwindow.com/our-products/" style="flat" background="#87B2D8" color="#ffffff" size="7" center="yes"]VIEW OUR PRODUCTS[/su_button] ## The Latest Window Industry News Blogs, insights, and more. [![Ever wonder why STC ratings for doors are important? ](https://stcloudwindow.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Hope-Church-11c-1.jpg) ### Ever wonder why STC ratings for doors are important?  Simply stated noise impacts our health. Street noise, people, electronics - everywhere we go there is noise and it can... ](https://stcloudwindow.com/blog/ever-wonder-why-stc-ratings-for-doors-are-important) [![Join St. Cloud Window at the AIA Minnesota 2018 Conference](https://stcloudwindow.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/AIA-mn-show-thumbnail-1.jpg) ### Join St. Cloud Window at the AIA Minnesota 2018 Conference St. Cloud Window is exhibiting in booth #530 at the A’18 MN – The Minnesota Conference on Architecture, Nov 13-16, at... ](https://stcloudwindow.com/blog/join-st-cloud-window-at-the-aia-minnesota-2018-conference) [![Paul Primavera joins the St. Cloud Window Sales Team](https://stcloudwindow.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Paul-Primevera-thumbnail-scaled-1.jpg) ### Paul Primavera joins the St. Cloud Window Sales Team ](https://stcloudwindow.com/blog/paul-primavera-joins-the-st-cloud-window-sales-team) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "https://stcloudwindow.com/#localbusiness", "@type" : "LocalBusiness", "address" : { "@type" : "PostalAddress", "addressCountry" : "US", "addressLocality" : "Sauk Rapids", "addressRegion" : "MN", "postalCode" : "56379", "streetAddress" : "390 Industrial Blvd." }, "geo" : { "@type" : "GeoCoordinates", "latitude" : "45.5895708", "longitude" : "-94.1402804" }, "image" : "https://45966872.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na2.net/hubfs/45966872/250703_SCW_EmailHeader.png", "logo" : { "@id" : "https://stcloudwindow.com/#logo", "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://45966872.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/45966872/StCloud_Window_June2025/Images/SCLogo.png" }, "name" : "St. Cloud Window, LLC", "sameAs" : [ "https://www.linkedin.com/company/st.-cloud-window", "https://www.instagram.com/stcloudwindow", "https://www.pinterest.com/scwindow", "https://www.facebook.com/stcloudwindow" ], "telephone" : "800-383-9311", "url" : "https://stcloudwindow.com" } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "https://stcloudwindow.com/#website", "@type" : "WebSite", "name" : "St. Cloud Window, LLC", "publisher" : { "@id" : "https://stcloudwindow.com/#localbusiness" }, "url" : "https://stcloudwindow.com" } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "https://stcloudwindow.com/blog/choosing-the-right-acoustic-window/#webpage", "@type" : "WebPage", "about" : { "@id" : "https://stcloudwindow.com/#localbusiness" }, "description" : "Choosing the Right Acoustic Window", "image" : "https://45966872.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na2.net/hubfs/45966872/Imported_Blog_Media/Sound-Liner-4.jpg", "isPartOf" : { "@id" : "https://stcloudwindow.com/#website" }, "name" : "Choosing the Right Acoustic Window", "url" : "https://stcloudwindow.com/blog/choosing-the-right-acoustic-window" } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "St. Cloud Window", "url" : "https://stcloudwindow.com/blog/author/stcloudwindow" }, "dateModified" : "2026-02-05T16:23:48.079Z", "datePublished" : "2026-02-05T16:03:50.000Z", "headline" : "Choosing the Right Acoustic Window", "image" : [ "https://stcloudwindow.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Sound-Liner-4.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://stcloudwindow.com/blog/choosing-the-right-acoustic-window", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://stcloudwindow.com/hubfs/StCloud_Window_June2025/Images/SCLogo.png" } } } ```