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Short answer: yes, TOLI AK35 and AK27 have published lightweight floor-impact sound classes. AK35 is rated ΔLL(I)-4 and AK27 is rated ΔLL(I)-3 under TOLI's stated test conditions. These values support a claim about reducing sound transmitted below from lightweight impacts on the covered floor. They do not prove that the tiles block conversation, television, music, plumbing, heavy structural impacts, or noise coming from the apartment above.
First identify which noise you are trying to change
| Noise problem | Example | What carpet tiles can reasonably address |
|---|---|---|
| Lightweight impact on your floor | Slippers, ordinary steps, a spoon, a small toy | This is the closest match to TOLI's published ΔLL(I) floor-impact class. |
| Surface noise in your room | A hard object contacting a hard floor | A soft covered surface can change the contact sound where the impact occurs, but no separate room-noise value is published for AK35 or AK27. |
| Airborne sound | Voices, television, music | The ΔLL(I) rating does not establish airborne sound isolation through walls, doors, ceilings, or floors. |
| Noise from upstairs | The neighbor above walking or dropping objects | Tiles on your floor do not treat the impact at its source on the floor above. |
| Heavy structural impact | Jumping, exercise equipment, furniture dropped | Do not infer a heavy-impact result from a lightweight-impact class. Building assemblies and specialist advice may be needed. |
| Rolling or dragging load | Office chair, furniture movement | Acoustic class does not prove caster durability. Check the separate use limitation. |
What ΔLL(I)-4 and ΔLL(I)-3 mean here
TOLI describes the ΔL class as a measure of floor-impact sound reduction, with a higher class number indicating stronger reduction performance. In the company's residential Q&A, AK35 sits in the ΔLL(I)-4 group and AK27 in the ΔLL(I)-3 group. TOLI's everyday examples associate the higher group with a small dropped object being faintly heard below, while the ΔLL(I)-3 explanation still allows chair-dragging sound to be heard.
Those examples help compare products; they are not a promise for your neighbor's ceiling. TOLI's Fabric Floor catalog states that the reported values were measured under company-defined conditions on a 160 mm concrete slab and are test values, not guaranteed field results. The floor slab, ceiling, room geometry, installation, uncovered area, impact source, and building construction can all change the outcome.
Do not convert the class into an invented decibel saving or a percentage. TOLI does not publish a single “this rug makes your apartment X dB quieter” value for AK35 or AK27, and a partial rug is not the same test assembly as a full laboratory sample.
AK35 vs AK27 for a quieter household zone
| Feature | AK35 | AK27 |
|---|---|---|
| Official lightweight impact class | ΔLL(I)-4 | ΔLL(I)-3 |
| Total thickness | 9.3 mm | 9 mm |
| Pile | 3-5 mm multi-level loop | 5 mm cut pile |
| Backing | Soft Back Q, suction-treated | Soft Back Q, suction-treated |
| Choose it when | The higher published impact class and a quiet 16-color palette lead the decision | Cut pile plus stain-resistant and deodorizing treatments better suit pets or spills |
| Important limit | Neither sound class is a continuous rolling-chair or commercial-use rating. | |
If impact-sound class is the only difference that matters, AK35 has the higher published class. A real room usually has more than one requirement. TOLI recommends cut pile for cats and some small dogs whose claws may catch in loops, and AK27 carries stain-resistant and deodorizing treatments. Use the full AK35 vs AK27 comparison before choosing acoustic class at the expense of the room's everyday care needs.
Cover the source zone, not a decorative guess
A tile only changes the contact surface where it is installed. For a child playing beside the sofa, cover the complete kneeling, crawling, and toy-drop area. For a bedside route, include the places where feet land and objects are normally set down. For a pet route, follow the repeated launch and landing points rather than centering a rug only for symmetry.
1. Compact quiet zone
3 x 4 / 12 tiles / 120 x 160 cm. Useful beside a bed, under a reading chair, or in one small play area.
Open the 12-tile layout2. Sofa-side activity zone
4 x 5 / 20 tiles / 160 x 200 cm. A practical starting footprint for floor sitting, pets, and ordinary play.
Open the 20-tile layout3. Larger living zone
5 x 6 / 30 tiles / 200 x 240 cm. Covers a broader sofa or family activity area without cutting the 40 cm modules.
Open the 30-tile layoutThese are exact product quantities, not acoustic guarantees. Tape the proposed rectangle on the floor and use the room normally for a day. If footsteps, toys, or pet movement repeatedly land outside it, enlarge or reposition the grid before ordering.
Do not improvise an underlay beneath suction-backed tiles
TOLI publishes a dedicated FF underlay sheet for its Fabric Floor system. In the company's stated test setup, the catalog shows AK35 moving from ΔLL(I)-4 to -5 and AK27 from -3 to -4 when used with that specified underlay. The same catalog says these are test values rather than guarantees and that installing the FF underlay requires adhesive.
That matters for apartment planning. A generic foam, rug pad, or rubber mat may change stability, edge height, suction performance, floor compatibility, and discoloration risk. Do not stack an unapproved layer beneath AK35 or AK27. If an underlay is essential, obtain the current TOLI installation specification and permission from the landlord, strata, condominium association, or building manager before work begins.
Check the apartment and the base floor
- Read the lease or building rules.Some buildings set floor-covering, impact-sound, adhesive, or approval requirements that a loose rug cannot certify.
- Identify the finished floor.TOLI lists many wood, vinyl, cushion-floor, marble, and ceramic finishes as compatible examples. Existing carpet, tatami, mortar, and concrete are listed as unsuitable for suction placement.
- Test an unfamiliar wood finish.TOLI recommends a sample test because some flooring surfaces may not grip reliably.
- Map the impact source.Mark footsteps, toy drops, pet landings, dining-chair movement, and exercise activity separately.
- Keep acoustic and durability claims separate.A ΔLL(I) class does not make AK35 or AK27 caster-rated. Read the office-chair planning guide for a rolling desk zone.
- Verify the result after placement.Ask the downstairs neighbor or building manager for practical feedback if appropriate. Do not promise a measured field result without field testing.
What carpet tiles will not fix
AK35 or AK27 cannot repair a weak floor-ceiling assembly, seal gaps around services, add mass to a wall, or isolate mechanical equipment. Their published lightweight floor-impact class also does not rate speech privacy or noise entering from the unit above. If the main complaint is voices, bass, plumbing, elevators, or heavy thumps, identify the transmission path with the building manager or an acoustic professional before buying floor covering.
Even for lightweight impacts, a partial rug only covers part of the source floor. Doorways, kitchens, dining-chair routes, hallways, and uncovered wood remain separate contact surfaces. Modular coverage is useful because it can be targeted and expanded, but it should be described honestly as targeted surface treatment.
Buying decision: choose AK35 when its higher published lightweight impact class fits the household brief. Choose AK27 when cut pile and pet-focused stain and odor treatments matter more. Neither product soundproofs an apartment, and neither rating replaces building approval, compatible-floor checks, or a specialist assessment for airborne or heavy-impact noise.