Why Homeowners Should Choose OITC Glass for a Quieter Home

If you’ve ever asked yourself, “How can I reduce outside noise in my home?” the answer often starts with your windows. Glass plays a major role in soundproofing, and two common ratings used to measure performance are OITC glass and STC glass. While both help reduce noise, OITC glass is the best choice for homeowners who want a quieter, more peaceful living space.

What Is OITC Glass?

OITC (Outside Inside Transmission Class) glass is a way to measure how much sound from the outdoors enters a home. while STC glass (Sound Transmission Class) measures how effectively a window or door blocks sound escaping the home. The higher the OITC or STC rating, the less noise is either infiltrating the home (OITC) or escaping it (STC). Realistically, in the home you’d notice a difference from an OITC rating over 20. This glass provides sound absorption, so less noise reaches you and your guests’ ears, allowing for a quieter and more relaxing environment. OITC glass can especially come in handy to those with young children, sensitive ears, or loud neighbors. While OITC glass can’t eliminate all sounds from the outdoors, it can significantly reduce the noise you hear from lawn mowers, parties, airplanes, traffic, thunder, and other common everyday low frequency commotion.

Which Matters More for Homeowners?

While STC (Sound Transmission Class) ratings are commonly used to measure sound reduction, they’re designed to evaluate how well a material prevents indoor sounds (like voices or TV noise) from escaping to the outside. That makes STC particularly useful in office buildings, hotels, or shared living spaces where privacy is the priority.

On the other hand, OITC (Outdoor-Indoor Transmission Class) ratings were specifically created to measure how well windows and doors block external environmental noise—things like traffic, airplanes, trains, or lawnmowers—from entering your home. Because OITC testing focuses on lower-frequency sounds (the deep rumbles you feel from trucks or airplanes), it gives a much more accurate picture of how peaceful your home will feel once the windows are installed.

For homeowners, this distinction is crucial:

• STC = keeping your sound in.

• OITC = keeping unwanted outside noise out.

That’s why OITC ratings are actually more relevant when choosing residential windows and doors—especially if your home is near busy streets, airports, or noisy neighbors. A higher OITC rating means you’ll enjoy a quieter, more comfortable living environment where outside noise is significantly reduced.

Benefits of STC Glass for Homes

Upgrading to noise-reducing OITC-rated windows offers several lifestyle benefits:

1. A Quieter Home Environment

OITC-rated glass is engineered to block out real-world outdoor noise—traffic, airplanes, trains, barking dogs, or even loud neighbors. By reducing the low-frequency rumbles that standard windows let through, homeowners enjoy a calmer, more relaxing indoor space.

2. Better Sleep & Health

Noise pollution has been linked to stress, fatigue, and poor sleep. With OITC glass, homeowners can sleep more soundly, focus better during the day, and experience less overall stress from constant outside interruptions.

3. Increased Privacy

Although OITC primarily measures sound coming in, many windows with higher OITC ratings also reduce how much sound escapes. This gives homeowners more privacy when hosting gatherings, listening to music, or watching movies.

4. Higher Home Value

Soundproofing is a premium feature—especially in busy urban neighborhoods, near highways, or close to airports. Installing windows with strong OITC ratings can make a home more attractive to future buyers who value peace and quiet.

5. Energy Efficiency & Comfort

Many OITC-rated windows are built with thicker glass, laminated layers, and tight seals—which not only block sound but also help improve insulation. That means better temperature control, reduced drafts, and lower energy bills.

6. Long-Term Investment in Quality of Life

Unlike temporary fixes (like heavy curtains or noise machines), OITC-rated glass is a permanent solution built into the home. Once installed, homeowners reap the benefits every day—whether it’s working from home without distraction or enjoying family time without the intrusion of city noise.

How to Choose the Best STC Windows

When shopping for windows or glass doors, ask about the OITC and STC rating. For most residential settings, 20+ decibels (dB) OITC makes a significant difference, while 35 decibels (dB) STC is ideal. Pairing STC glass with proper installation and sealing ensures maximum noise reduction.

Where to Find STC Glass

Since it’s a relatively new rating, OITC glass can be pretty scarce on the market. Joyce Manufacturing Company offers OITC glass as an upgrade to a wide selection of our windows. Find a dealer in your area to learn more here.

When it comes to reducing sound in a home, windows can really help no matter where you live. Although the distance from the source of sound and other environmental factors may play a role in the outcome, the sound entering or exiting the home will be softened nonetheless.