Sound Insulation Testing
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
What is involved in sound insulation testing?
There are two types of test which can be carried out, tests to measure airborne sound insulation & tests to measure impact sound insulation (floors only):
Airborne sound insulation testing:
* The sound source i.e. a loudspeaker is placed in the source room. The loudspeaker is set up such that it generates sound with equal energy over a range of frequencies, known as pink noise.
* Using our UKAS calibrated Type 1 integrating sound level meters the sound field in both the source and receiving room is measured, usually in third octave bands over the frequency range 100 Hz to 3.15 KHz (although measurements over a wider range of frequencies can be made).
* After the application of the appropriate corrections a level difference between the two rooms is calculated. The level differences calculated within each third octave band are then used to calculate a weighted single number value. If appropriate, a spectrum adaptation term may also be included within the final result.
Impact sound insulation tests:
* A standardised tapping machine is placed directly onto the floor structure of the source (upper) room and is set to produce a continuous series of rapid impacts.
* The sound pressure level within the receiving (lower) room is then measured, usually in third octave bands over the frequency range 100 Hz to 3.15 KHz.
* After the appropriate corrections have been applied the levels measured within each third octave band are used to calculate a weighted single number value, which gives a measure of the impact sound insulation over the entire frequency range.
There are two types of test which can be carried out, tests to measure airborne sound insulation & tests to measure impact sound insulation (floors only):
Airborne sound insulation testing:
* The sound source i.e. a loudspeaker is placed in the source room. The loudspeaker is set up such that it generates sound with equal energy over a range of frequencies, known as pink noise.
* Using our UKAS calibrated Type 1 integrating sound level meters the sound field in both the source and receiving room is measured, usually in third octave bands over the frequency range 100 Hz to 3.15 KHz (although measurements over a wider range of frequencies can be made).
* After the application of the appropriate corrections a level difference between the two rooms is calculated. The level differences calculated within each third octave band are then used to calculate a weighted single number value. If appropriate, a spectrum adaptation term may also be included within the final result.
Impact sound insulation tests:
* A standardised tapping machine is placed directly onto the floor structure of the source (upper) room and is set to produce a continuous series of rapid impacts.
* The sound pressure level within the receiving (lower) room is then measured, usually in third octave bands over the frequency range 100 Hz to 3.15 KHz.
* After the appropriate corrections have been applied the levels measured within each third octave band are used to calculate a weighted single number value, which gives a measure of the impact sound insulation over the entire frequency range.
Labels: Sound Insulation Testing
