From the choice of land to construction solutions, decisions made during the design phase define the acoustic performance of the building. Understand how the AQUA-HQE™ certification places acoustic comfort at the center of sustainable architecture.
Submitted at Feb 6, 2026, 6:17 PM
Duda Porto projetou para a CASACOR Rio 2016 as Cabanas. A principal abrigava um loft de 40 m². Na área externa, cabanas menores formam uma casa na árvore e uma pet house. A construção foi feita em estrutura metálica com revestimento termoacústico, madeira tipo OSB estrutural, manta hidrofugante e, por fim, placa cimentícia. (Divulgação/CASACOR)
The acoustic efficiency of a building results from a cohesive set of architectural decisions. It involves thinking about the insulation and control of sound from the project's conception, integrating constructive solutions, materials, and implementation strategies.
The AQUA-HQE™ certification from the Vanzolini Foundation establishes itself as a reference by guiding architects and developers in search of the best performance indices in sustainable constructions. Its technical reference sets clear guidelines for the insulation of airborne noises between internal environments and between housing units, as well as the treatment of facades, control of impact noises between floors, and mitigation of sounds from building installations and common areas.
Apê ganha sala acústica e banheiro onde não tinha instalação hidráulica (Gabriel Lima/CASACOR)
According to Nelson Solano, an acoustics specialist and auditor at the Vanzolini Foundation, decisions such as the type of structure, the composition of slabs and walls, the definition of facades, and the design of installations directly impact the sound performance of the building. "This fact makes it much more difficult to correct problems after the property is built. Hence the need to have a specialist from the very beginning, even in choosing the land," he warns.
According to the Vanzolini Foundation, residential acoustic comfort should be at the core of the quality of projects of a building. Solano emphasizes that the certification requires control of internal and external noises and the reduction of impacts generated by building systems, with performance verification from the project to the construction site, including in loco measurements. By promoting acoustic studies, appropriate constructive solutions, and technical verification of results, the process fosters best practices and raises awareness about the effects of noise on health and well-being.
Andrea RuizCaro Caipo - Salón de Música + Private Room. Projeto da CASACOR Peru 2024. (Josefina Ferrand/CASACOR)
The technical reference of AQUA-HQE™ is based on ABNT NBR 15.575 to determine the minimum acoustic performance, establishing parameters for external airborne noises and those between housing units, impact noises between floors, and sounds from building installations. However, certification goes beyond basic compliance with the norm.
"The technical reference adopts a logic of continuous improvement and gradual performance levels. Instead of just verifying compliance, it encourages superior levels of acoustic insulation, better control of airborne and impact noises, and more integrated design solutions," Solano details.
Among the aspects evaluated are the separation between bedrooms and social areas, the insulation of facades according to the surroundings, the acoustic performance of floors between overlapping units, and between collective leisure areas and housing units, as well as the control of noise from building installations.
[/caption>Marcos Holtz, president of the Brazilian Association for Acoustic Quality (ProAcústica), notes significant advancements in the Brazilian market for materials and construction systems. "New alternatives are always being researched, and in Brazil, we have observed an increase in the number of materials available,” he states, citing PET wools, floating floor systems, anti-vibration materials, seals, and high-performance facades.
Changes in habits, such as the consolidation of home office work, have also raised the standard of demand. "With many people working from home, it has been realized that it is also necessary to take into account daytime noise to design the insulation of these residences," explains Holtz.
In community spaces, the demands of certification are equally extensive. The technical analysis of the project and constructive solutions examines how airborne noises and vibrations from common areas can interfere with the privacy of housing units, ensuring that collective use does not compromise individual comfort.
