Acoustic Cradles are adjustable acoustic floor supports designed to support timber battens as part of a cradle and batten acoustic flooring system. They help create a level raised floor while reducing impact noise transfer through the structure below.
The system uses patented recycled rubber crumb cradles and packers to provide resilient support beneath timber battens. Acoustic Cradles are commonly used in conversion, refurbishment and new-build projects where impact noise reduction, uneven floor levelling and dry floor construction are required.
Acoustic Cradles are used to support timber battens in raised acoustic floor systems. They are especially useful where the structural floor is uneven and needs to be levelled without using a wet screed.
The cradle and batten system creates a resilient floating floor build-up, helping reduce impact noise from footfall and movement. It can also create space for services and, depending on the system design, may be used with acoustic insulation, chipboard, floorboards and underfloor heating.
Acoustic Cradles work by supporting timber battens above the structural floor. The recycled rubber cradle base helps isolate the batten from the structure below, reducing direct vibration transfer.
Packers can be used with the cradles to adjust the finished floor height and correct uneven structural floor levels. This makes the system useful where a level floor finish is needed over an irregular concrete or timber base.
Acoustic Cradles are mainly used to help reduce impact noise. This includes footfall noise, dropped items, furniture movement and vibration passing through the floor structure.
They can also support the overall acoustic performance of a floor system when used with suitable acoustic insulation, deck boards, perimeter isolation and sealing. Airborne noise performance will depend on the full floor and ceiling construction.
Acoustic Cradles are suitable for a range of floor construction and refurbishment applications, including:
Acoustic Cradles provide a dry, adjustable alternative to traditional screed floor construction. Because the system does not require drying time, it can help speed up installation and simplify the construction sequence.
They are also useful where floor levels need to be corrected on site. By using different cradle sizes and packers, the installer can adjust the batten height to create a level finished floor.
Traditional screed is a wet floor levelling method that requires drying time before the next stage of work can continue. Acoustic Cradles provide a dry floor levelling system using resilient rubber cradles, timber battens and deck layers.
This can reduce waiting times, lower structural loading and make it easier to accommodate services beneath the floor. The cradle and batten system can also support acoustic performance by reducing direct impact vibration transfer into the structure below.
Acoustic Cradles should be used as part of a complete acoustic floor system. The final performance will depend on the structural floor, cradle spacing, batten size, deck layer, insulation, perimeter isolation and installation quality.
Before ordering, check the required finished floor height, batten size, loading requirement and cradle spacing. The correct cradle and packer combination will depend on the existing floor level and the required finished floor build-up.
If you are unsure which Acoustic Cradle option is right for your project, please contact our team before ordering. We can help advise on the most suitable cradle, batten and packer arrangement based on your floor structure, level requirements and acoustic target.
Acoustic Cradles are recycled rubber crumb supports used within adjustable cradle and batten acoustic flooring systems. They are designed to support timber battens, level uneven floors and help reduce impact noise transfer through the floor structure.
| Product Name | Acoustic Cradles |
| Product Type | Acoustic cradle and batten floor support system |
| Material | Patented recycled rubber crumb cradle system |
| Application | Acoustic floating floors, cradle and batten systems, refurbishment floors and new-build floor systems |
| Suitable For | Concrete floors, structural floors, conversion projects, refurbishment projects, new-build projects and floors requiring impact noise reduction |
| System Standard | Designed to meet Robust Detail FFT2 standards when used as part of the correct system |
| Main Noise Type | Impact noise and vibration transfer |
| Primary Function | Supports timber battens, helps level uneven floors and provides resilient acoustic separation |
| Installation Method | Set out beneath timber battens at specified centres, adjusted with packers where required, then finished with suitable deck boards or flooring layers |
| Common Batten Sizes | 25mm/30mm battens and 45mm/50mm battens, depending on system design |
| Cradle Calculation – 25mm/30mm Battens | Approx. 11 cradles per m², based on 300mm batten-to-batten centres and 300mm cradle-to-cradle centres |
| Cradle Calculation – 45mm/50mm Battens | Approx. 6 cradles per m², based on 400mm batten-to-batten centres and 600mm cradle-to-cradle centres |
| Available Cradle Options | 25/20 – 20mm base with 25mm leg; 25/10 – 10mm base with 25mm leg; 20/40 – 20mm base with 40mm leg |
| Available Packer Options | 2mm packers, 5mm packers, 10mm base packers and 30mm base packers |
| Use with Underfloor Heating | Can be incorporated into suitable underfloor heating floor systems, subject to full system design and manufacturer guidance |
| Dry Construction | Yes — dry alternative to traditional screed systems |
| Standalone Product? | No — should be used as part of a complete acoustic cradle and batten floor system |
Acoustic Cradles are available in a range of cradle and packer options to suit different floor heights and levelling requirements.
Acoustic Cradles can be used in a range of floor applications, including:
Acoustic Cradles are used to reduce impact noise by separating the timber batten and deck layer from the structural floor below. The resilient rubber support reduces direct vibration transfer and helps create a floating floor build-up.
For best results, the cradle system should be combined with the correct batten spacing, suitable deck boards, acoustic insulation where required, and good perimeter isolation.
Acoustic Cradles are acoustic support components, not a complete soundproofing system on their own. The final acoustic result depends on the full floor build-up.
Cradle spacing, batten size, floor deck, ceiling construction, acoustic insulation, perimeter isolation, loading, workmanship and flanking paths can all affect performance. For Building Regulations or Robust Detail projects, use the correct tested system data and seek project-specific acoustic advice where required.
Store cradles and packers clean, dry and protected before installation. Check that the structural floor is suitable, stable and ready for the system before fitting.
Do not install cradles onto loose, unstable, contaminated or unsuitable surfaces. Confirm the loading, finished floor height and acoustic specification before installation.
Acoustic Cradles are installed beneath timber battens to create a raised acoustic floor system. They help level the floor, support the deck layer and reduce impact noise transfer into the structure below.
For best results, the cradles should be installed as part of a complete cradle and batten acoustic floor system, using the correct cradle spacing, batten size, packer arrangement and perimeter isolation.
Check the structural floor before installing the Acoustic Cradles. The base should be clean, stable, load-bearing and suitable for the full acoustic floor build-up.
Confirm the required finished floor height, batten size, cradle spacing and packer requirement before starting. The cradle and packer arrangement should be selected to suit the existing floor level and the finished floor height.
Where the system is being used for Building Regulations or Robust Detail compliance, follow the specified floor build-up and seek project-specific guidance where required.
Make sure the existing floor is ready for installation. The base should be:
Remove loose material and make sure any obvious structural problems are corrected before installing the cradles.
If the system is being installed over a concrete slab, a damp-proof membrane may be required before the cradles are set out.
Lay the damp-proof membrane according to the project specification and manufacturer guidance. Make sure it is continuous and does not compromise the acoustic floor build-up.
Set out the timber batten positions before placing the cradles.
The supplier calculation guidance is:
Always confirm the correct spacing for the specific floor build-up, loading and deck board specification.
Place the Acoustic Cradles along the marked batten lines at the required centres.
Make sure each cradle sits flat and stable on the base. Add cradles at batten ends, joints, door thresholds, perimeters and areas requiring additional support.
Do not leave unsupported batten joints or sections that could flex under load.
Use cradle packers where additional height adjustment is required.
Available packer options include:
Packers should be used to correct uneven structural floor levels and achieve a level batten system. Check levels regularly as you work across the floor.
Place the timber battens into the cradle supports.
Make sure the battens sit securely in the cradles and follow the planned layout. Where battens are joined, make sure the joint is fully supported.
Use a laser level, string line or spirit level to check the batten height and adjust the cradle/packer arrangement as required.
Before installing the deck layer, check the full batten layout for level, stability and support.
Check for:
Make any corrections before the floor deck is installed.
If the cradle system is being used to accommodate services, install or route them before fitting the deck layer.
Do not notch, cut or weaken battens unless the system designer or structural guidance allows it. Make sure services do not create rigid acoustic bridges through the floor system.
Where underfloor heating is used, follow the heating system manufacturer’s guidance and make sure it is compatible with the cradle and batten floor build-up.
Where the acoustic floor design requires insulation between the battens, install the specified acoustic mineral wool or floor insulation before fitting the deck layer.
The insulation should fit neatly between battens without being overly compressed. Do not force insulation under the battens or around cradles in a way that creates instability.
For acoustic floors, avoid hard contact between the floating floor and surrounding walls or structural elements.
Install perimeter isolation strip where required. Leave the correct expansion or isolation gap around the edge of the floor and seal with acoustic sealant where specified.
Good perimeter detailing is important because rigid contact at the edges can reduce acoustic performance.
Once the cradle, batten and insulation system is level and stable, install the specified deck layer.
This may include:
Follow the board manufacturer’s fixing instructions. Make sure all board joints are properly supported and staggered where required.
After the deck layer is installed, inspect the finished floor.
Check that:
Acoustic Cradles can help reduce impact noise transfer by supporting the floor on resilient rubber cradles, but the final result depends on the complete acoustic floor system.
Cradle spacing, batten size, deck layer, acoustic insulation, ceiling construction, perimeter isolation and flanking paths can all affect performance. If you are unsure how to use Acoustic Cradles in your project, please contact our team before installation.
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