Architects have succeeded in designing windows which let in natural light, but help is needed in preventing the unwanted sound from entering the buildings. Laminated glass is highly effective in reducing sound transmission. The acoustical performance of laminated glass is the result of the shear damping characteristics of the plastic interlayer.

Since sounds are actually a combination of acoustical energy at different frequencies, effective sound control requires that the sound level be reduced across a wide range of frequencies. Truck traffic is typical of a low frequency noise source; speech and typewriters of a middle frequency; and jet aircraft and industrial equipment of a higher frequency. Different laminated glass combinations are more effective in reducing noise when tailored to the noise source.

Determining sound transmission class - The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) has developed a sound transmission class, or STC rating, in which a single number rating is used for describing the sound isolation performance of a glass material. This number rating is derived from individual transmission losses at specified test frequencies (ASTM E-90; ASTM E-413). The higher the STC values, the greater the noise reduction.