British Standard 8233

The scope of British Standard 8223:1999: ‘Sound insulation and noise reduction for buildings – Code of practice’ is the provision of recommendations for the control of noise in and around buildings. It suggests appropriate criteria and limits for different situations, which are intended to guide the design of new buildings or refurbished buildings undergoing a change of use.

The standard suggests suitable internal noise levels within different types of buildings, including residential dwellings, as shown in the table below.

Indoor Ambient Noise Levels in Spaces When They Are Unoccupied

Indoor Ambient Noise Levels in Spaces When They Are Unoccupied

Note(1): for a reasonable standard in bedrooms at night, individual noise events (measured with fast time weighting) should not normally exceed 45dB LAmax.


BS 8233 also contains guidelines for the control of noise within different types of buildings, such as hotels, offices, schools and cinemas, including recommended levels for the sound insulation afforded by internal partitions.

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