NKB Report 1996 04E ImplementationISO717RatingMethodsEurope

Aalborg Universitet
Implementation of the new ISO 717 building acoustic rating methods in Europe
Rasmussen, Birgit
Publication date:
1996
Document Version
Publisher's PDF, also known as Version of record
Link to publication from Aalborg University
Citation for published version (APA):

Rasmussen, B. (1996). Implementation of the new ISO 717 building acoustic rating methods in Europe. Nordic
Committee on Building Regulations. NKB Committee and Work reports No. 1996:04 E
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NKB Committee and Work Reports
1996:04 E
Implementation of the new ISO 717

building acoustic rating methods in Europe
Nordic Committee on Building Regulations, NKB

Acoustics Group
NKB Committee and Work reports
1996:04 E
Implementation of the new ISO 717

building acoustic rating methods in Europe
Birgit Rasmussen
Nordic Commitee on Building Regulations, NKB

Acoustics Group
3
Contents
Preface .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
1. Introduction ........................................... 7
1.1 Purpose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
1.2 Background . ......................... ..... 7
1.3 Method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
2. Building acoustic regulations in Europe .......................... 9

2.1 Overview building acoustic requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
2.2 The need for revised regulations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
2.3 Overview main changes in the upcoming rating methods ISO 717 . . . . . . . . 15
2.4 Examples on calculations according to the new ISO 717 rating methods 17
2.5 Obstacles to implementation of the low-frequency spectrum adaptation terms . 20
3. Acoustic classification of dwellings ............................. 21

3.1 European systems for acoustic classification of dwellings . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
3.2 Possible uses of the new ISO 717 rating concepts in classification systems 24
4. Questionnaire ....................................... 25
4.1 Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
4.2 Responses and overview results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
5. Summary and conclusion ................................... 29
6. References 31
APPENDICES 35
A Questionnaire and list of respondents ........................... 3 7
B Spectrum adaptation terms according to ISO/DIS 717-1 (1993) ...... 43
C Spectrum adaptation terms according to ISO/DIS 717-2 (1994) ...... 49
The Nordic Committee on Building Regulations, NKB is a
coordinating agency for the central building authorities of the five Nordic
countnes.
These authorities are:
Denmark: Ministry of Housing and Building

National Building and Housing Agency
Finland: Ministry of the Environment
Iceland: Directorate of Town and Country Planning
Norway: Ministry of Municipal and Labour Affairs
National Office of Building Technology and
Administration
Sweden: National Board of Housing, Building and Planning
NKB is an Institution within the Nordic Council of Ministers.
Nordic Council of Ministers

was established in 1971. It submits proposals on co-operation between the
governments of the five Nordic countries to the Nordic Council,
implements the Council's recommendations and reports on results, while
directing the work carried out in the targeted areas. The Prime Ministers of
the five Nordic countries assume overall responsibilty for the co-operation
measures, which are co-ordinated by the ministers for co-operation and the
Nordic Co-operation Committee. The composition of the Council of
Ministers varies, depending on the nature of the issue to be treated.
Implementation of the new ISO 717 building acoustic

rating methods in Europe
NKB Committee and Work Reports

1996:04 E
ISBN 951-53-0921-2
ISSN 1236-7672
Monila Oy, Helsinki 1996
Copies: 400
The publication is free of charge.
5
Preface
Within the five Nordic countries (Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland and Denmark) there
has been a long tradition to harmonize building regulations including building acoustic re
quirements. Since 1956 the cooperation on building acoustics between the Nordic building
authorities has been formalized through the Nordic Committee on Building Regulations,
NKB. For several years the sound insulation requirements in the Nordic countries have
been based on the measurement methods in ISO 140 (frequency range 100-3150 Hz, 1/3
octave bandwidth) and the rating methods in ISO 717.
The new ISO 717 standards for rating of airborne and impact sound insulation open up the
possibility to apply spectrum adaptation terms for the above-mentioned frequency range
100-3150 Hz or for an extended frequency range by adding the relevant C-corrections
defined in the new ISO 717, when specifying sound insulation results and requirements.
As a basis for discussions and decisions about the future sound insulation requirements in
the Nordic countries, the NKB Acoustics Group wanted to get information about which
changes are decided or expected in other European countries. The members of the
Acoustics Group are:
Assoc. Prof. Jens Holger Rindel, Denmark

MSc Sigurd Hveem, Norway
MSc Klas Hagberg, Sweden
Tekn. dr. Laila Hosia, Finland
Tekn. dr. Steindor Gudmundsson, Iceland
The survey has been carried out by MSc Birgit Rasmussen, the Acoustics Laboratory,
Technical U niversity of Denmark.
The report should be viewed in relation to the other NKB activities within the frames of
the NKB Acoustics Group. Among other things, the new spectrum adaptation terms have
been calculated for several constructions, which are typical in the Nordic countries, and a
proposal for acoustic classification of dwellings has been prepared.
It is the hope of the NKB Acoustics Group that the Nordic countries will continue to
harmonize the acoustic regulations, especially the measurement and rating methods.
The publishing of the report does not imply that NKB has taken a stand on the results and
conclusions presented in the report.
May 1996
Nordic Committee on Building Regulations

Acoustics Group
7
1. Introduction
1.1 Purpose
The purpose of the survey is to get information about the intentions in other European
countries as regards the use of the spectrum adaptation terms (the so-called "C
corrections") defined in the revised ISO 717 building acoustic rating methods for airborne
and impact sound insulation.
1.2 Background
Until now the international building acoustic rating methods ISO 717 have been based on
measurement results covering the frequency range 100-3150 Hz corresponding to the
measurement methods in ISO 140. The acoustic requirements in most European countries
refer to the methods in ISO 717 or similar national methods, even if concepts and details
vary considerably between countries. In the Nordic countries the present airborne and
impact sound insulation requirements for buildings are expressed as minimum R' w and
maximum L' n w values. The same concepts are used in the German regulations. UK and
Austria use DnT,w and L' nT,w, while eg France and The Netherlands use national rating
methods not defined in present ISO 717. As may be understood the European sound
insulation requirements represent diversified traditions and opinions about concepts.
The revised standards for rating of airborne and impact sound insulation, among other
things, open up the possibility to apply spectrum adaptation terms for the above-mentioned
frequency range 100-3150 Hz or for an extended frequency range by adding the relevant
C-corrections defined in the new ISO 717, when specifying sound insulation results and
requirements. Especially, an extension of the frequency range towards lower frequencies
does imply significant consequences. The use of C-corrections for an extended frequency
range is of course dependent on the ISO 140 series, which is also under revision.
As a consequence of the new ISO 717 methods, the building authorities have to decide
whether or not the new C-corrections should be implemented in the building regulations at
all and if an extended frequency range should be specified. The differences between coun
tries may become even more pronounced with the increased number of possibilities in the
revised ISO 717.
In 1994 the NKB Acoustics Group prepared the report NKB (1994), "Lydbestemmelser i
de nordiske lande" (Acoustic requirements in the Nordic countries), which recommended
the acoustic requirements to be specified without using the new C-corrections. The reason
for this viewpoint was that NKB did not want to load the building industry with even
more complicated acoustic concepts than now. In addition, it should be noticed that only a
limited number of test results includes the extended frequency range, and very often the
acoustic prediction models and design tools are not developed for calculations at low
frequencies, i.e. below 100 Hz.
On the other hand, an increasing need to include the low frequencies in the legal require
ments has been recognized. Low frequency problems may be increasing due to eg increa-
Implementation af the new ISO 717 building acoustic rating methods in Europe
8
sed low frequency power of music systems and a building construction trend towards more
light-weight constructions allowing a stronger low frequency transmission for airborne
noise, eg music, as well as some types of structureborne noise, eg footfalls. Unless the
low frequencies get included in the legal requirements, the optimization may continue to
focus on the traditional frequency range, implying a big risk for future buildings with
acoustic quality of the past. As regards sound insulation of facades against traffic noise it
has been known for decades that the sound insulation at low frequencies may be of critical
importance.
On this background, NKB wanted to collect information about the intentions in other
European countries before reconsidering the recommendations in NKB (1994) for use in
building codes or deciding other uses of the C-corrections. Simultaneously, other related
tasks are carried out by the NKB Acoustics Group, eg investigation of the C-corrections
for different types of building components/constructions and the possible positive impli
cations to the correlation between the objective and subjective evaluation of sound insu
lation, cf Hagberg (1996). In addition, the NKB Acoustics Group has prepared a draft
proposal for a joint Nordic system for acoustic classification of dwellings, which might
include use of C-corrections, where appropriate. This work has now been transferred to
an INSTA B Committee (INSTA B is a cooperation between the organizations for building
standardization in the five Nordic countries).
The revision of the mesurement methods in ISO 140 and the rating methods in ISO 717
take place simultaneously in ISO and CEN, and the final ISO methods will be approved
and published as EN methods, EN 20140 and EN 20717, respectively. For simplicity,
only the ISO numbers are used in the present report (with a few exceptions).
1.3 Method
To obtain information about the possible implementation of the new C-corrections in other
European countries, a letter and a response sheet, cf. Appendix A, was mailed to several
countries in Europe.
The persons contacted were mainly building acousticians actively involved in standardiza
tion work, as they were expected to know on beforehand the background and the main
principles of the new ISO 717 methods (otherwise a qualified response would not be pos
sible). The formally correct addressees might have been the building authorities/ministries,
where the formal decisions have to pass through.
To view the European trends in a broader perspective, a similar mailing was made to a
few countries outside Europe. Due to very different legal systems and/or acoustic test
methods the responses were not expected to fit with the other results, but it was consi
dered useful to inform about the considerations in Europe and to learn about viewpoints
and problems in these countries.
The results of the survey are described in Section 4. As a description of the present
situation is considered useful as background information, a brief overview over existing
European building acoustic requirements is given in Section 2, and references describing
current classification schemes are found in Section 3.
NKB committee and work Reports 1996:04 E

9
2. Building acoustic regulations in Europe
In this section the existing building acoustic requirements for airborne and impact sound
insulation are summarized, and brief information about the main changes in the upcoming
rating methods ISO 717-1 (airborne sound insulation) and ISO 717-2 (impact sound
insulation) is given. Finally, some obstacles to implementation of the new methods are
mentioned.
2.1 Overview building acoustic requirements
The main requirements for airborne and impact sound insulation in 12 European countries
are shown in Table 2.1 and 2.2, respectively. The tables illustrate with abundant clarity
the lack of uniformity in the formulation of requirements, also inside the EU countries.
Thus, in the 12 countries five different concepts are used or in faet seven, because
Sweden, Norway and Iceland have included additional rules in the national building codes.
In most cases, accurate conversions can not be made. However, rules of thumb exist, and
the equivalent values of R' w and L' n,w are indicated in the tables.
The single-number quantities used for formulation of the legal requirements are calculated
based on measurement results for a number of frequency bands. France and the Nether
lands use 1/1 octave bandwidth for field measurements, the frequency range being 125-
4000 Hz in France and 125-2000 Hz in the Netherlands. In the remaining countries listed
in Tables 2.1 and 2.2 1/3 octave bandwidth and the frequency range 100-3150 Hz are
used.
For several reasons the tables do not include building acoustic requirements for countries
outside Europe. The general impression from previous communication with several of
these countries is that requirements are less general (or non-existing) and/or relatively
weak. As regards countries in the Far East, some of the test and rating methods differ
considerably from the European ones. More information is found in eg Rasmussen &
RindeI (1994) and in the Sections 2.2 and 4 in the present report.
10
Airborne sound insulation between dwellings

Main requirements in 1 2 European countries January 1996
Country Requirements subdivided according to building type
with indication of concept for
Multi-storey housing T erraced housing
formulation of requirements
Requirement Equivalent(ll Requirement Equivalent11l
R' w R' w
[dB] [dB] [dB] [dB]
52(4)
- 52
Denmark R'w 2 52 2 55 55
5i4) -
- 52 -
Sweden R'w(2) 2 2 55 55
Norway R'w(3) 2 52 2 55 55
52(4)
- 52
Finland R'w 2 52 2 55 55
lceland R'w12) 2 52 2 55 - 55
UK 5215) - 51-54 - 51-54

- 54-57 - 54-57
O
nTw 2 2 52
16l
France O
nAT 2 54 2 54
53(4)
- 5354-57
Germany R'w 2 2 57 57
Austria O 2 55 2 60 - 59-62
-
nT,w
Netherlands llu;k 2 0 55 2 0 - 55
- 5252
Russia Ib 2 50
Estonia R'w12) 2 52 2 52 - 52
Notes:
(1) The equivalent minimum values of R'w are estimated according to the guidelines in Metzen
(1992), except the conversions of 1 1u·k and I b , which are based on information from Gerretsen
(1994) and Madalik (1994), respectively.
(2) The maximum unfavourable deviation from the reference curve shall be limited to 8 dB.
(4) Horizontal, requirement for vertical is 1 dB higher.
(5) Horizontal, requirement for vertical is 1 dB lower.
(6) The indicated requirements mandatory from January 1996.
More detailed information about the acoustic requirements in the individual countries may be found
in Rasmussen & Rindel (1994).
Table 2.1. Overview airborne sound insulation requirements in 12 European countries.

11
lmpact sound insulation between dwellings

Main requirements in 1 2 European countries January 1996
Country Requirements subdivided according to building type
with indication of concept for Terraced housing
Multi-storey housing
formulation of requirements
Requirement Equivalent(1l Requirement Equivalent(1l
L' n,w L\,w
[dB] [dB] [dB] [dB]
s s
Denmark L' nw
s
58
- 5858 s
53
- 5358
58
- 58
58
- 53
(2)
Sweden L' nw
Norway L' nw
(3)
s 58 s 53
Finland L' n,w s 58 58 s 58 58
lceland L' n,w
(2)
s 58 - 58 s 53 - 53
UK s -
- 63-60
L' nT,w 62 64-57
France (4l
LnAT s 65 s 65 - 63-60
Germany L' n,w s 53 53 s 48 48
s - s
-
Austria L' nT w 48 50-43 46 - 48-41
Netherlands l co 2 0 61-54 2 0 - 61-54
Russia ly s 67 60
Estonia L' n,w
(2)
s 60 - 60 s 60 - 60
Notes:
(1) The equivalent maximum values of L' n w are estimated according to the guidelines in Metzen
(1992), except the conversions of l co and ly , which are based on information from Gerretsen
(1994) and Madalik (1994), respectively.
(3) Special rules apply as regards maximum L' n·
(4) The indicated requirements mandatory from January 1996. From 1999 LnAT s 61 dB(A) will be
required.
More detailed information about the acoustic requirements in the individual countries may be found
in Rasmussen & Rindel (1994).
Table 2.2. Overview impact sound insulation requirements in 12 European countries.
12
2.2 The need for revised regulations
A review of a number of investigations of acoustic conditions in housing - covering su

bjective evaluation (residents' assessment) and/or objective evaluation (measurements of
sound insulation) - is given in Rasmussen & Rindel (1994) and in Rindel & Rasmussen
(1995). The findings indicate that the requirements in most countries are insufficient to
ensure satisfactory acoustic conditions in dwellings. The exception may be Austria, where
the requirements actually have been based on the results of extensive investigations inclu
ding measurements as well as social surveys, cf Bruckmeyer & Lang (1974).
However, there exist no general limits between what provides satisfactory acoustic condi
tions and what does not. The main reason is that such limits are very individual and situa
tional and futhermore they are dependant on the building practice. As regards acoustic
requirements in building codes, this is managed by specifying limits, which - hopefully
- in general will ensure satisfactory acoustic conditions for the majority.
Of critical importance for being able to specify sensible limits is that objective acoustical
criteria exist, which reflect the average subjective rating of acoustic quality. A revision of
a specific type of requirement could have bearings on the level of the requirement and/or
on the rating method (eg main principles, shape of reference spectrum, frequency range).
Especially during the last decades, it has become increasingly clear that the present ISO
rating methods in same cases are unappropriate to describe the subjectively experienced
acoustic quality.
In the Nordic countries, special attention has been paid to the impact sound insulation ra
ting method, cf Bodlund (1985), due to the faet that complaints concerning too much foot
fall noise was not unusual in Nordic multifamily housing having wood-joist floors. It was
stated by Bodlund that the present ISO method for rating of impact sound suffer from
significant shortcomings and that a much better alternative would be to apply a different
evaluation curve starting at 50 Hz. Comparison of results calculated according to
Bodlund's method and the new ISO 717 method is found in Hagberg (1996).
It is outside the scope of the present report to describe the shortcomings of the existing
ISO rating methods. However, it might be useful to illustrate the importance of the rating
method by referring to a recent case in the US. The case concerns impact sound insula
tion. The rating method in the US is similar to the ISO method, except that the frequency
range is shifted 1/3 octave to 125-4000 Hz. Furthermore, the final result (IIC) is
expressed in a different way: IIC - 110 - L'n,w, ie high numbers are better than low
numbers (as is the case for airborne sound insulation).
Blazier (1995) explains:
"In North America complaints about footfall noise in new, lightweight

multifamily construction has reached almost epidemic proportions. It has
become quite clear that the current procedure for rating impact noise in terms
of the Impact Insulation Class (IIC) are wholly inadequate for dealing with
situations where the mid- to high-frequency content of the transmitted signal
has been filtered by swface treatments, and the residual sound energy is
predominantly concentrated at frequencies below 100 Hz. Thus, I expect that
you will discover little correlation between the IIC rating of a given floor

13
system and the subjective response of the listener, when the perceived signal is
low-frequency in character and the source is an actual walker. 11
The case is described in Blazier & DuPree (1994), from which the following is quoted:
Recently, the homeowners in a large luxury condominium complex in the

11 11
II
San Francisco Bay Area brought an $80 million class-action suit against the
developers, in which a major claim was annoyance created by excessive trans
mission of footstep noise and vibration from the upper-floor to the lower-floor
dwelling units. The basic floor/ceiling construction between units was wood
frame, and the upscale nature of the project dictated a need to incorporate
special design features intended to provide significantly better impact noise
insulation than that required by the present minimum standard for new multi-
family housing in California (FIIC 45). However, in spite of the additional
precautions taken in fabrication, upon completion the occupants of lower floor
units were painfully aware of footstep noise created by their upstairs neigh
bours and bitterly complained. The average selling price of a typical condomi
nium unit was $750.000 and these had been marketed as having luxury acousti
cal privacy. 11
"The principal factor controlling the perception of low-frequency footfall noise

is the point-stiffness of the structural floor system. In normal light-weight resi
dential construction, the stiffness is usually much less than that required to
avoid an audible disturbance. However, such problems are relatively rare in
concrete structural floor systems, due to their substantially increased stiffness."
"Most acousticians are aware of the poor correlation that exists between the
rank ordering of floor systems by the ASTM E-492 /IC rating method, and
subjective judgments of people listening to real-life impacts on the same floors.
However, because present codes and standards pertaining to multifamily resi
dential design and construction do not recognize this inconsistency, the /IC
rating system continues to be the only method of specifying or evaluating
impact noise insulation in these buildings. "
"The /IC rating of a floor/ceiling system is basically a measure of the mid- to

high-frequency content of transmitted impact sound. In wood frame or in other
light-weight construction, a high /IC rating can be very misleading, because
the structural response of the floor system to the imposed impact forces produ
ces considerable energy in the low-frequency range, which is not accounted for
by the /IC rating procedure. Indeed, /IC ratings as high as 80 were measured
in carpeted areas of this condominium project, but occupant complaints were
just as strong as in other locations where the floor rating achieved the speci-
fied /IC 55! This paradox exists because the low-frequency impact noise levels
typically were found to be the same order of magnitude in either situation. "
The conclusion of the American case story is that the The IIC rating of a floor system is
not suitable with respect to the perception of low-frequency components of footfall noise,
because the methodology ignores the frequency spectrum below 100 Hz.
Thus, it may be emphasized that revision of regulations should include a review of the
level of the requirements as well as the details of the measurement and rating methods.
14
Regarding impact sound insulation, the shortcomings of the present as well as the propo
sed ISO methods (ISO/CD 140-6 and 140-7) have led to that international attention has
been drawn to the Japanese test method ns A 1418 (1978), describing measurement of
floor impact sound level. In Japan two impact sound generators are used, a light type and
a heavy type, cf ns A 1418 (1978). The light type is a tapping machine in accordance
with ISO 140. The heavy type is in practice a car tire, mass 7.3 kg, hitting the floor with
a speed equivalent to a free fall of 0.9 m. Rating of test results is described in JIS A 1419
(1992). The Japanese standard ns A 1418 is being revised, and it is being considered to
specify a rubber ball as the heavy impact source. For more information, see eg Tachibana
et al. (1992) and Tachibana et al. (1993). The Japanese "rubber ball method" is being
considered by the ad-hoc group ISO/TC43/SC2 (1995). However, as additional test me
thods necessarily make the tests of acoustic performance of buildings more expensive, it is
simultaneously considered to reevaluate the sufficiency of the existing, traditional tapping
machine, but extending the frequency range of measurements down to 50 Hz.
In practice, the optimization of sound insulation will be made using the rating method spe
cified in the relevant national building code. The related guidelines may advice consultants
to optimize the design of the constructions by "pushing" the weaknesses of the sound insu
lation curve - caused by resonance and coincidence phenomena - to frequencies outside
the evaluation range, ie - in most European countries - to frequencies below 100 Hz or
above 3150 Hz. The consequence might be that the subjectively evaluated sound insulation
remains unsatisfactory, even if the requirements are fulfilled.
The potential low frequency problems depend strongly on the building practice, implying
extensive problems in some countries and virtually none in other countries.
The need for considering the rating method carefully - including the frequency range -
may increase in the future, especially if lightweight housing gets more widespread, eg for
economic or ecological reasons.

15
2.3 Overview main changes in the upcoming rating methods ISO 717
The new ISO 717-1 for rating of airborne sound insulation, cf ISO/DIS 717-1 (1993), re
places the first edition of ISO 717-1 (sound insulation in buildings and of interior building
elements) and of ISO 717-3 (facades and facade elements). The new ISO 717-2 for rating
of impact sound insulation, cf ISO/DIS 717-2 (1994), replaces the first edition of ISO
717-2. German versions of ISO/DIS 717-1 and 717-2 are found in DIN Taschenbuch 35
(1995).
In ISO/R 717-1968 - a forerunner of the ISO 717 series from 1982 - 8 dB was the
maximum allowable unfavourable deviation from the reference curve. In ISO 717-1 and
ISO 717-2 the 8 dB survived partly, in the sense that the maximum deviation shall be
indicated in the test report, in case it is more than 8 dB.
The ISO 717 rating methods are being revised thoroughly. The most significant change is
the introduction of the spectrum adaptation terms C and C1r (corresponding to pink noise
and traffic noise, respectively) for airborne sound insulation and Ci corresponding to
impact sound. The spectrum adaptation terms - colloquially named C-corrections - may
be calculated for the usual frequency range or for an enlarged frequency range including
the 1/3 octave frequency bands 50 + 63 + 80 Hz and/or 4000 + 5000 Hz. Another piece
of news is that 1/1 octave measurement results may be used for rating of field
measurements. The C-corrections are equipped with indices specifying the type of
spectrum and the frequency range, if enlarged (see eg Table 2.3). Calculations of
spectrum adaptation terms are described in Appendix B and C for airborne and impact
sound insulation, respectively. The maximum unfavourable deviation shall no longer be
indicated, even if it exceeds 8 dB.
The different C-corrections will enable to take into account different types of noise
spectra, see above, without leaving the well-known reference curve system. Furthermore,
it is indicated in ISO/DIS 717-1 and ISO/DIS 717-2 that the C-corrections are more
restrictive to dips and peaks in the airborne and impact sound insulation curves,
respectively, thereby to some extent substituting the former 8-dB rules.
For the statement of test results on result sheets, the main result is to be stated as the
single-number quantity in the usual way, and one or more C-corrections may be stated in
brackets behind the main result. Requirements may be specified using solely a single
number quantity or be based on the sum of a single-number quantity and a spectrum
adaptation term. Examples on statement of performance and requirements according to
ISO/DIS 717-1 and 717-2 are shown below.
Examples on statement of performance in buildings:

R' w (C; Cso-sooo) = 58 (O; -4) dB
L' n,w (Ci ; C i ,so-2soo) = 48 (1; 3) dB
Examples on statement of requirements:

R\ 2 55 dB; R\ + C 2 55 dB; R\ + C50_5000 2 55 dB
L' n,w S 50 dB; L'n,w + Ci s 50 dB; L' n,w + Ci,so-2soo s 50 dB
16
In Table 2.3 are indicated a variety of possibilities for specifications of requirements

recognized by the new ISO 717 methods. The concepts shown are those expected to be
most common in the future. Other choices exist, especially for facade insulation, cf the
relevant standards. Out of the new possibilities in the revised ISO 717 rating methods, the
inclusion of low frequencies is considered the one of most fundamental implications.
As may appear by considering the multitude of choices, there is no reason to think that the
new ISO/EN methods will promote uniformity of sound insulation concepts in Europe.
Measurement bandwidth 1/3 octave:
Airborne sound insula- Airborne sound lmpact sound insulation

tion between rooms insulation of facades
D R'w D R'w D L'u,w
D R'w + e D R'w + etr D L'u,w + ej
D R'w + eS0-3150 D R'w + etr,50-3150 D L'u,w + ej,so-2soo
D R'w + e100-sooo D R'w + etr,100-sooo
D R'w + eso-sooo D R'w + etr,so-sooo
D DnT,w D DnT,w D L \T,w
D DnT,w + e D DnT,w + etr D L'nT,w + ej
D DnT,w + eS0-3150 D DnT,w + etr,50-3150 0 L' nT,w + ej,50-2500
D DnT,w + el00-5000 D DnT,w + etr,100-5000
D DnT,w + eS0-5000 D DnT,w + etr,50-5000
D ...... .....
D ........... D
Measurement bandwidth 1/1 octave:
Airborne sound insula- Airborne sound Impact sound insulation

D R'w D R'w D L'n,w
D R'w + e D R'w + etr D L \,w + ei
D R'w + e63-2000 D R'w + etr,63-2000 D L'n,w + ej,63-2000
D R'w + e12s-4000 D R'w + etr,12s-4000
D R'w + e63-4ooo D R'w + etr,63-4000
D DnT,w D DnT,w D L'nT,w

D DnT,w + e D DnT,w + etr D L'nT,w + ei
D DnT,w + e63-2000 D DnT,w + etr,63-2000 0 L'nT,w + ej,63-2000
D DnT,w + e12s-4000 D DnT,w + etr,125-4000
D DnT,w + e63-4ooo D DnT,w + etr,63-4000
D ........... D ........... D
Table 2.3. Overview over same of the concepts available for specifying sound insulation
requirements. For full information, ej ISO/DIS 717-1 (1993) and 717-2 (1994).

17
2.4 Examples on calculations according to the new ISO 717 rating methods
Single-number quanties
The main principles for determination and statement of single-number quantities (eg R' w
or D\T,w for airborne sound insulation and L\,w or L' nT ,w for impact sound insulation) are
the same as described in the present ISO 717 series, and single-number quantities calcula
ted from 1/3 octave measurement results are equal. According to the new ISO 717, single
number quantities for field measurements may also - as mentioned in Section 2.3 - be
based on 1/1 octave measurements. In general, there may be differences of about ± 1 dB
between single-number quantities calculated from 1/1 and 1/3 octave measurements.
Spectrum adaptation terms
Several examples on calculations according to the new ISO 717 rating methods are found
in Metzen (1994) and Hagberg (1996), the first reference having detailed calculation
examples, and the last reference including measurement results down to 50 Hz and stati
stical analysis of the spectrum adaptation terms for different construction types.
The size of the spectrum adaptation terms depends on the type of measurement, the con
struction type and the frequency range. The main findings of Hagberg (1996) are shown in
Table 2.4.
Spectrum adaptation terms according to ISO/DIS 717-1 and 717-2

Average values of C 50_5000 and C i.50_2 500 for several constructions
(Related intervals are shown in brackets atter the average values)
Type of construction Airborne sound insulation lmpact sound insulation
C50.5000 [dB] Ci,50-2500 [dB]
Heavy constructions -2 (Interval -1 to + 1) -3 (Interval -11 to 0)

(concrete)
Light-weight constructions - 5 (Interval - 2 to -14) + 3 (Interval - 2 to 13)
(gypsum, wood)
Notes
The table only includes average values for heavy and light-weight constructions.
For more information about details and other construction types, see Hagberg (1996).
Table 2.4. Average values of C50_5000 and Ci, 50_2500 for several heavy and light-weight
constructions. As regards airborne sound insulation, see also Pigs. 2.1-2.4.
An example of values of spectrum adaptation terms for an airborne sound insulation

measurement is shown in Fig. 2.1. Fig. 2.2 illustrates for a number of constructions the
correlation between R' w and rating values including spectrum adaptation terms. It is
clearly seen that the inclusion of low frequency spectrum adaptation terms implies the
biggest changes and the biggest scattering, especially at high values of sound insulation,
thus reducing the correlation significantly. Consequently, this new rating method differs
from the existing one, implying a potential for a better evaluation of sound insulation,
including the low-frequency performance.
Implementation af the new ISO 717 building acoustic rating methods in Europe
18
R' [dB]
100
R'w = 64 dB
C= -2 dB
-- �-
90
CS0-5000= -8
dB
---
80
- -vt'r·-
.........
�/
-.. .--
70 ,.... R'w(s)= 64 dB
60
...... /
�"
.,,, R' + C= 62 dB
R'w+ CS0-5000 = 56 dB
�J
50 ..--
� /
t
40
I
1- -
30 R' Note: R' w!Bl is a symbol for R' w with
�
/ -IS0717 the 8 dB rule, ie identical with the old
20
l a according to ISO/R 717 (1968).
10
0
50 100 200 400 800 1600 3150
Frequency [Hz]
Fig. 2.1. Airborne sound insulation R' and spectrum adaptation terms for a light-weight
wall (gypsum on studs). Ref.: Hagberg (1996).
[dB]
70.--��i��--,.��
i
i Legend Paired values
ii---
t
l
65
i (1) x R' w and R' w (Bl
I! !
j
601--��-'-��--''--��-'-��r---.-- i (2) + R' w and R' w +C

( 3) R' w and R' w +C 50.5ooo
55
The upper, medium and low regression
line correspond to (1), (2) and (3),
respectively, and the corresponding
correlation coefficients r are 0.98, 0.99
and 0.90.
Note: R' w(Bl is a symbol for R' w with

CJ the 8 dB rule, ie identical with the old
l a according to ISO/R 717 (1968).
40 45 50 55 60 65 70
R'w [dB]
Fig. 2.2. Paired values of R'w and other rating values including spectrum adaptation
terms, see legends. Ref.: Hagberg (1996).

19
The size and variation of the C- and C50_5000-corrections for different construction types are
shown in Fig. 2.3. For light-weight constructions, C and C50_5000 as a function of R' w are
found in Fig. 2.4.
C [dB] C5a.5000 [dB]

I
·-·-·---------- -···-------····
I I
-1
Concrete Lightweight Wood Gypsum Concrete Lightweight Wood Gypsum
concrete concrete
Construction type Construction type
Fig. 2.3. Average values and range of C and C50_5000 for different construction materials.
The number of constructions considered are 9, 23, 15, 19 for concrete, light
weight concrete, wood and gypsum constructions, respectively. Ref.: Hagberg
(1996).
C [dB] C5a.5000 [dB]

0 0
< *X
-\ X: (-X:- - X: )( - X* X: XX
-X <
X X -� - >< >< >( X
-5 -s X X
><<
x
-10 -10
,j
X
50 60 70 50 60 70
R' w [dB] R'w [dB]
Fig. 2.4. The size of C and C50_5000 as a function of R'w for light-weight walls (gypsum
constructions). Ref.: Hagberg (1996).
Spectrum adaptation terms for impact sound insulation measurements are described in
Hagberg (1996), which also includes appendices with 1/3 octave airborne and impact
sound insulation data (down to 50 Hz) for several constructions.
20
2.5 Obstacles to implementation of the low-frequency spectrum adaptation terms
Low frequencies will be included - for voluntary use - in the new measurement and
rating methods in ISO 140 and ISO 717. For the present, the ISO 140 test methods -
including the newly revised ISO 140-3 (1995) - remain insufficient regarding precision at
low frequencies. An ongoing BCR-project (1993) has the goal to specify a laboratory
method with a reproducibility at 50 Hz of the same order as the reproducibility at 100 Hz
according to the present ISO 140-3. Low-frequency considerations are also included in NT
ACOU 084 (1992), which forms the basis for a new ISO work item proposal, including
intensity measurements in the field.
However, even in case that someone decided to try out the full possibilities of the upco-
ming ISO 717, ie to include the low frequency performance in the design of housing,
several obstacles would delay the process and make it difficult and strenuous to complete.
The problems to overcome may be:

• How to specify the acoustic quality
• Lack of test results for building components and constructions
• Lack of prediction models and design tools valid for low-frequency design
• Development of building components/systems with improved low frequency
sound insulation
• Very little experience with test methods including low-frequency measurements
• High inaccuracy in design
• High inaccuracy of measurements
• Insufficient knowledge about correlation between objective and subjective
sound insulation - especially related to the low frequencies
• Who should pay the increased costs for the first experiments?
• How much are the occupants willing to pay extra for better low-frequency
sound insulation?
Unless "supported" by legal requirements or encouraged by acoustic classification systems

it requires a substantial dedication to accomplish the task. Research as well as experiments
are needed. Due to lack of experience, a classification system might be the most appropri-
ate place to introduce the low-frequency C-corrections the first time, instead of a general
implementation in the legal requirements. Lack of "support" implies lack of experience,
which implies lack of progress, which might imply lack of acoustical comfort. The effects
of noise on people at home are described in eg Grimwood (1993).
The future European standards for estimation of acoustic performance of buildings from
the performance of products do not support low-frequency predictions of sound insulation,
cf CEN prEN12389-l (1996), CEN prEN12354-2 (1996) and CEN prENxyz-3 N159
(1996).
Sweden seems to be the country with most research activities related to low-frequency
sound insulation, cf references in Section 6. In addition, a Swedish survey investigating
the willingness to pay for increased sound insulation (in general, not specifically related to
low frequencies) is being carried out during 1995, cf Wibe (1995b).

21
3. Acoustic classification of dwellings

As the C-corrections defined in the new ISO 717 rating methods definitely are of potential
interest for use in classification systems, some aspects related to acoustic classification of
dwellings are described in this section.
Quality labelling has in general become more widespread - compulsarily or voluntarily.

Several products are labelled, eg for reasons of safety or comfort. The basic purpose of
labelling and classification is the same. "Classification" - being the more general of the
two terms - will be preferred in the present report.
In spite of the facts that a dwelling is probably the biggest investment during most
people's lifetime, that much time is spent in the dwelling, and that acoustic comfort is
very important to the well-being, objective information about the acoustic conditions is
rarely available. This is very unsatisfactory to prospective occupants of a dwelling as
acoustic quality is a 'hidden' quality, which is not easily evaluted by other means.
An acoustic classification system for dwellings may have several uses:

• Information to consumers about the acoustic quality of a dwelling.
• A tool to be used by consumers, building contractors and authorities to
specify acoustic quality for new dwellings and for older dwellings to be
renovated/restored.
• Emphasis on the fact that the legislative acoustic requirements are minimum
requirements.
• An incentive to voluntarily specify and design for better acoustic quality
than required in the building regulations.
• As part of a combined system (including several other aspects) for quality
labelling of dwellings.
3.1 European systems for acoustic classification of dwellings
A system for objective description of the 'hidden' Quality - including acoustic comfort -
exists in France, cf Association Qualitel (1993). Acoustic classification systems for dwel
lings exist in Germany, cf VDI 4100 (1994), and in Sweden, cf SS 02 52 67 (1996).
Other European countries are preparing such systems, eg the Netherlands, cf NEN 1070
Ontwerp (1994), and Norway, cf NBR F 32/96 (1996). In 1995, the NKB Acoustics
Group has prepared a proposal for a common Nordic system for acoustic classification of
dwellings. This work has now been transferred to an INSTA B Committee, cf Section 1.2.
A list of the known European systems/proposals for acoustic classification of dwellings is

found in Table 3.1. The main criteria for airborne and impact sound insulation in the
German, Swedish and Norwegian systems/proposals are found in Table 3.2. The French
and German systems and a previous version of the Swedish system are described in more
detail in Rasmussen & Rindel (1994). One significant discrepancy between the German
and the Swedish systems is that the requirements for impact sound insulation are stricter in
the German system, cf Table 3.2.
22
Overview European systems for acoustic classification of dwellings

May 1996
Country Class Concepts used for sound insulation criteria Comments

with indication denotations ISOID IS 717 spectrum adaptation terms Other
of reference concepts
None 2 100 Hz 2 50 Hz used
France [1] 1/3/5 +(1) See note (1)

Germany [2] I I II I Ill + See note (2)
Netherlands [3] 1/2/3/4/5 + + See note (3)
Sweden [4] 0/C/B/A + + See note (4)
Norway [5] 0/C/B/A + +(5) See note (5)
Nordic countries [6] 0/C/B/A + + See note (6)
References
[1] Guide Oualitel (1993).
[2] VDI 4100 (1994).
[3] NEN 1070 Ontwerp (1994).
[4] SS 02 52 67 (1996).
[5] NBR F 32/96 Proposal (1996). Final standard expected in the beginning of 1997.
[6] INSTA B (1996). INSTA B Committee work item based on an NKB proposal on acoustic classification of
dwellings. Final standard scheduled to 1998.
Notes
(1) The concepts used for sound insulation criteria are defined only in French standards, but the corresponding
ISO/DIS 717 concepts are similar. The acoustic classification is a part of a more extensive quality labelling
system for dwellings - including other 'hidden' qualities.
(2) Separate criteria for multi-storey housing and terraced housing are specified.
(3) The proposal also includes acoustic classification of schools, offices, hospitals etc.
(4) The first country to include low frequencies ( < 100 Hz) in a standard with sound insulation criteria. The
low-frequency spectrum adaptation terms are compulsary for the higher classes.
(5) The proposal recommends - but does not require - the low frequency performance to be taken into
account in the higher classes by including the relevant spectrum adaptation terms in the criteria. - The
proposal also includes acoustic classification of schools, offices, hospitals etc. - The intention is to put
into force the final standard simultaneously with the next building regulations, which will probably include
functional requirements without specific numeric criteria. Thus, another tool is needed for evaluation of
compliance with the degree of functionality required by the building regulations.
(6) An INSTA B Committee consisting of members from the five Nordic countries is preparing a joint Nordic
standard for acoustic classification of housing and other buildings.
Table 3.1. European systems/proposals for acoustic classification of dwelllings.

23
German, Swedish and Norwegian systems for acoustic classification of dwellings

Main criteria for airborne and impact sound insulation Mav 1996
Type of criterium Required performance for classes, see also note ( 1) Comments
H = Horizontal V = Vertical
Country with indication
of class denotation and Airborne sound insulation Impact sound insulation
reference L\ w or L'n w + Ci 50-2500
R' w or R' w + C5o-5ooo
Sound insulation
between dwellings
Germany I I II I Ill [1] See note (2)

Multi-storey housing H: 2 53 I 56 I 59 s 53 I 46 I 39
V: 2 54 I 57 I 60
Terraced housing 2 57 I 63 I 68 s 48 I 41 I 34
Sweden C I B I A [2] 2 5i*l I 56* I 6D* See note (3)
Norway C I BI A [3 ] 2 55 I 60(*) I 64(*) See note (3)
Sound insulation
internally in dwellings
Germany I I II I Ill [1] H: 2 40 I 48 I 48 s 56 I 46 I 46 See notes (2), (4)

V: 2 50 I 55 I 55
Sweden C I B I A [2] 2 - I 4D* I 44* s - I 68* I 64* See note (5)
Norway C I BI A [3] 2 - I 44(*) I 48(*) See note (5)
References
[1] VDI 4100 (1994).
[2] SS 02 52 67 (1996).
[3] NBR F 32/96 Proposal (1996). Final standard expected in 1997.
Notes
(1) The full sets of criteria are found in the references.
XX: Legal minimum requirements are indicated with bold. More information about the legal requirements is
found in the Tables 2.1 and 2.2.
XX*: Numbers in Italic and marked with a "*" include the spectrum adaptation terms C 50_5000 or Ci 50.2500 as
defined in ISO/DIS 717-1 and 717-2, respectively. For numbers marked with a "(*l" the standard only
recommends that C 50.5000 and Ci,50.250 0 are included in the criteria applied.
(2) In outline, the criteria of class I correspond to the legal requirements. However, criteria for sound insulation
internally in dwellings have been added.
(3) Besides the classes A, B and C, a weaker class D intended for renovation/restauration of older housing is
defined. The Swedish class C corresponds to the present legal minimum requirements for dwellings in multi
storey housing, except that the legal requirement is 1 dB higher for the vertical airborne sound insulation.
Class C in the Norwegian proposal corresponds to the present Norwegian requirements for terraced housing.
(4) The criteria must be fulfilled in all habitable rooms.
(5) At least one habitable room in the dwelling must fulfill the criteria.
Table 3.2. Comparison be-tween main criteria in the German, Swedish and N01wegian
systems/proposals for acoustic classification of dwelllings.
24
Considering the classification systems in Europe there are several significant

discrepancies:
• Concepts used for description of sound insulation and noise criteria
• Relation to legal requirements
• Number of quality classes and intervals between classes
• Common or separate quality levels for multi-storey and terraced housing
• Relation between criterion levels for airborne and impact sound insulation
• Administration
The differences between the systems impede international exchange of experience.
3 .2 Possible uses of the new ISO 717 rating concepts in classification systems
Rather than implementing the C-corrections in the building regulations, the consequences
being that new product data and guidelines are required - especially for the low
frequency C-corrections - some countries might prefer to introduce the C-corrections in
classification systems.
An adequate system for acoustic classification of dwellings must primarily reflect different
levels of acoustic quality correlating well with the occupants' subjective experience in
everyday life. An inadequate system implies inconvenience to the occupants. To the extent
that the correlation between the objective and the subjective evaluation is improving
significantly by applying the new C-corrections, they should be used in classification
systems.
The perspective is that such classification systems will provide suitable information and
specification tools for prospective occupants of dwellings, the building industry and the
authorities.
In contrast to the German and French systems, the low-frequency C-corrections are
applied in the higher classes in the Swedish standard, cf SS 02 52 67 (1996), and probably
in the Nordic proposal being prepared. It should be added that low-frequency C
corrections may be less needed in Germany and France than in the Nordic countries due
to different building traditions.
The Norwegian proposal, NBR F 32/96 (1996), is very interesting for several reasons.
Besides dwellings, the proposal also includes acoustic classification of schools, offices,
hospitals etc. The intention is to put into force the final standard simultaneously with the
next, revised building code, which will probably include functional requirements rather
than specific numeric criteria. Thus, another tool is needed for evaluation of compliance
with the degree of functionality required by the building code. The proposal recommends
- but does not require - the low frequency performance to be taken into account by
including the relevant spectrum adaptation terms in the criteria.

25
4. Questionnaire
4.1 Questions
To obtain information about the intentions in other European countries regarding imple
mentation of the new C-corrections enquiries - consisting of a letter and a response sheet
- were sent out to several countries. The enquiry was mailed to 28 persons in 18 Euro
pean countries outside the North. In the five Nordic countries the members of the NKB
Acoustics Group and a few other persons received the same letter and response sheet. The
letter, the response sheet and the list of countries are reproduced in Appendix A.
To view the European trends in a broader perspective, a similar mailing was made to
seven persons in five countries outside Europe. Due to very different legal systems and/or
acoustic test methods the responses were not expected to fit with other results, but it was
considered useful to inform about the considerations in Europe and to learn about view
points and problems in these countries.
As it may be very difficult to get a sufficiently high persontage of respondents, it was

considered a necessity to concentrate the questions on a one-page response sheet and to
make it easy to fill in and return the sheet. The relevant questions to ask were numerous,
cf Section 2 and 3. However, to concentrate on one page and to make it easy to respond,
only the most relevant concepts, cf the tables in Section 2.1, were presented, and empty
lines were added for indication of rarely used concepts. In addition, the number of tick
boxes was halved by asking in the beginning, whether 1/3 octave or 1/1 octave was
preferred and afterwards presenting only one set of rating concepts.
In total, 35 persons in 23 European countries and 7 persons in 5 other countries received

the enquiry.
4.2 Responses and overview results
From 18 countries in Europe were received 22 response sheets. Five countries did not
respond. The main results are presented in Table 4.1. From other countries (USA and
Japan) were received three responses, but these are not included in the table for reasons
stated in Section 4.1. The names of all respondents are found in Appendix A.
The results presented in Table 4.1 follow the answers on the response sheets as close as
possible (consistency was lacking in some cases). Thus in case that eg no bandwidth is
specied on the response sheet, it is neither indicated in the table. The most relevant
additional comments are found subsequently. The table and the comments were sent to all
respondents soon after the processing af the reponses.
As regards decision about which concepts to implement in building regulations, only 12

responded "Not yet decided". Out of the remaining 10 responses it appears from the
comments that a decision is not made in a few more countries. In the remaining countries,
the respondents may feel convinced what the decision will be, even if it is not very likely
that formal decisions have been made.
26
New building acoustic rating methods ISO 717 I EN 20717

Expected implementation in the European building codes
Overview main results from enquiry August 1995
Note: The standards are still on the draft stage (publishing expected in 1996) January 96
Country Responses on questionnaires sent out in August 1995

List of respondents: See Appendix A
Next revision of Preferred Airborne sound Airborne sound Impact sound Not Com
building code bandwidth insulation between insulation of insulation deci- ments
expected year (1) [octave] rooms facades ded (2)
Nordic countries
Denmark 1/3 R' w LAeq,24h (indoor) L' n.w X
do 1/3 R'w + Cso-sooo R' w + Ctr.so-sooo L'n. w + C i.so-2soo X X
Sweden > "IS0717" 1/3 R' w + Cso-sooo R' w + Ctr.so-sooo L'n. w + C i.so-2soo X E
Norway 1996/1997 1/3 R' w LAeq,24h (indoor) L' n. w
Finland 1997 1/3 R' w L'n.w X
Iceland 1998? 1/3 R' w R'w L'n. w X X
Western Europe
UK DnT, w L' nT. w X
France 2014? 1 /1 DnT. w + C125-4000 DnT. w c tr,125-4000

+
L'nT in dB(A) (3) E
Germany 1997?? 1/3 R' w R' w L'n. w X
do In progress 1/3 R' w R' w + Ctr L' n.w X X E

do 1997/1998 1/3 R' w (4a) R' w (4b) L'n.w (4c) X X
Austria 1/3 DnT. w R' w L'nT. w E

Netherlands � 2000 1/1 DnT,w + C DnT, w + Ctr L' nT, w + c i X X
Belgium ? 1/3 X X
do 1/3 X X
Italy 1996/1997 X
Eastern Europe
Russia Not decided 1/3 See note (5a) See note (5b) L'n. w X
Estonia 1996/1997? 1/3 R' w Cso-sooo

+
R' w + Ctr.so-sooo L' n. w + Ci.so-2soo X
Poland "IS0717" + 1 1/3 R' w + C1oo-sooo R' w + Ctr.1oo-sooo L' n. w + C i

Slovakia 1995 R' w DnT, w R' w DnT, w L' n, w L' nT, w X
Hungary 1996/1997 1/3 ' ' '

R' w R' w L'n, w
Bulgaria � 1998 1/3 R' w R' w L'n, w X X
Notes
(1) > = after; � = not before; "IS0717" = year of approval of IS0717
(2) x = Comments on response sheet; E = Additional comments and/or information in enclosure(s)
(3) Frequency range 100-5000 Hz
(4) The respondent prefers: (a) DnT, w + C ; (b) DnT, w + ctr ; (c) L'n, w + c i
(5) Several concepts expected: (a) R' w, R' w + Cs0-5000, DnT, w, DnT. w + C,oo-5000; (b) R' w, R' w + Ctr, R' w + Ctr,100-5000
Table 4.1. Overview main results from enquiry August 1995.

27
The most relevant additional comments from European countries as well as comments
from other countries are quoted below.
Comments from European countries (list of respondents: see Appendix A)
Denmark
One respondent comments that R' w +C50_31 50 and L' n,w +Ci , 50_2500 may be considered for
future use in case of increased requirements. The other respondent indicates that the
response expresses the most desirable situation.
Sweden
In Sweden the majority is of the opinion that the C-corrections are necessary in order to
obtain satisfactory sound insulation in future buildings. It has not yet been decided when
the sound insulation requirements will be revised in the Swedish building code and it is
not definitely decided, if the corrections will be included since it is necessary to accom
plish an analysis of the consequences before making any definite decision.
Airborne sound insulation of facades is not quantified in the Swedish building code today,
however, it may be demanded in other documents.
Finland
Airborne sound insulation of facades are not included in the building regulations, but a
demand may be specified by the authorities during the planning process.
Iceland
The basic requirements will probably be without C-corrections. Possible increased
requirements in a classification system may on the other hand include C50_5000•
France
There will be no problem for airborne noise since DnT ,w +C100_5000 is the same quantity as
the present one. Questions arise with impact noise where no C dB(A) is available. Probab
ly, L' nT ,w is going to be adopted. Due to conservatism among building industry, the Ci
weighting had a very moderate success.
Austria
We are quite satisfied with the reference curve as it has been used for decades and are not
eager to introduce an additional C-value for requirements. Of course the laboratories will
give the additional C-value for the sound insulation of products, so that the measuring
results may be used throughout Europe.
All the official testing laboratories are also not in favour of measuring the enlarged fre
quency range, because equipment (loudspeakers especially for low frequencies!) and soft
ware for evaluation of results would have to be installed newly. Of course if the ISO 140
series will be introduced, laboratories will have to carry out measurements for the new
frequency range prescribed.
Belgium
No requirements, only recommendations for the time being. The Belgian system is very
different from systems in other countries. Belgium intends to promote EN 20717 com
pletely but for the moment we have a stand still, waiting for the ISO document to be
finished.
28
Russia
We think that C-corrections are necessary only for rating of airborne sound insulation of
facades (urban traffic noise).
Estonia
We suppose C-corrections should be implemented in the building regulations, and an
extended frequency range should be specified.
Comments from countries outside Europe (list of respondents: see Appendix A)
USA
Building codes are written by non-government organizations and building officials
employed by jurisdictions for purposes of inspecting building construction and assessing
code conformance. Jurisdictions adopt these codes, either in-part or in-full. Jurisdictions
may be cities or towns, counties or states. There is no national building code, except for
the US General Services Administration (GSA) code used for construction of federally
owned properties.
Large cities, such as New York and Chicago, often have their own building codes. All
codes generally lead to the same result with respect to building construction, but are
organized quite differently. There are some jurisdictions in the US that still do not have
building codes, but these are rare.
There is a tremendous resistance in all code organizations against building code changes
for a number of reasons. Consequently, I doubt that changes to acoustical requirements in
building codes will occur in the near future.
Low frequency sound in buildings is issue to building owners, designers, and acoustical
consultants. There, however, is little likelihood that any changes to codes will occur that
focus on low frequency sound problems in buildings. There has been some attempt in this
area by ASTM to address this issue by introducing a new single-value descriptor for sound
transmission loss. It tends to weight the low frequency sound isolation performance of
building materials and systems more heavily than does the STC rating.
Japan
The assessment methods of airborne insulation and floor impact sound insulation specified
in Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS A 1419) are very different from ISO 717.
The Japanese think that the "C-correction" should be included in a different (original)
form in ISO 717/1. That is, the sound pressure level difference between two rooms or
between outside and inside evaluated by assuming the standard spectrum characteristics of
incident noises should be directly used as the evaluator, not in the form of "correction". If
this is adopted in the ISO standard, there would be a possibility that this assessment
method would be adopted in Japanese standards in the future.
Regarding the problem of 1/3 octave band or octave band: Japanese members have
proposed for a long time in ISO/TC43/SC2/WG18 that field measurements should be
performed in octave bands rather than in 1/3 octave bands and finally the proposal has
been adopted in the new drafts of ISO 140 and 717. The reason is that rooms under field
test in general are relatively small in size and 1/1 octave band measurements are more
stable and reliable than 1/3 octave band measurements.

29
5. Summary and conclusion

A survey has been carried out to obtain information about the implementation of the new
ISO 717 building acoustic rating methods in Europe. An enquiry was sent out to 23 Euro
pean countries and 5 other countries. Responses were received from 18 countries in Eu
rope and from USA and Japan.
The results of the enquiry indicate that implementation of the spectrum adaptation terms in
the building codes is not expected in the majority of the European countries. Implementa
tion of C-corrections for the present frequency range ( 2 100 Hz) is expected in France,
where closely related methods are applied on beforehand, and in a few other countries.
However, most countries do not seem to consider the potential benefit to be consistent
with the efforts.
The most significant change in the upcoming ISO 717 methods is that measurement results
at low frequencies (50-80 Hz) can - voluntarily - be included in the rating by applying
the low frequency C-corrections defined in Annexes of the standards. The need to include
low frequencies in the rating of sound insulation - not necessarily in the way it is imple
mented in ISO/DIS 717 - is mainly recognized in the Nordic countries and in addition in
USA, where changes, however, seem very unlikely to happen due to the legislative condi
tions. It should be noticed that in none of the big countries UK, France and Germany the
use of low-frequency C-corrections is expected.
There seem to be several obstacles to overcome, before the low-frequency C-corrections

can be implemented in the building regulations, and more research and analyses of conse
quences are needed. The problems are:
• Lack of low-frequency test results for building components and constructions
• Lack of prediction models and design tools valid for low-frequency design
• Development of building components/systems with improved low frequency
sound insulation
• Very little experience with test methods including low-frequency measurements
• High inaccuracy in design
• High inaccuracy of measurements
• Insufficient knowledge about correlation between objective and subjective
sound insulation - especially related to the low frequencies
Thus, there are several reasons for reluctance to full implementation of the new concepts,
which - in addition - are not "simple" to understand. Rather than implementing the C
corrections in the building regulations, the consequences being that new product data and
guidelines are required - especially for the low-frequency C-corrections - some
countries might prefer to introduce the C-corrections in classification systems.
The responses from Germany and France did not reveal any intentions to change the
classification systems in these countries. The Swedish system (approved April 1996)
includes the use of low-frequency C-corrections in the upper quality classes, and this will
probably also be proposed in the future joint Nordic method. The Norwegian proposal
recommends - but does not require - use of these terms in the upper classes. It should
30
be noticed that the Swedish system and the Norwegian proposal include a class weaker
than the present legal requirements. This weaker class is intended for description or
specification of acoustic quality for older housing, where the legal requirements for new
build is not applicable for technical, economical or architectural reasons. No C-corrections
are specified for this "renovation-class", even if it might be of strong relevance for the
construction types used in older housing.
While the French labelling system has become popular - probably due to the finansial
incentives - the German system is not used very much in practice, although the pure
existence of the system might have encouraged design of higher acoustic quality than
specified in the legal requirements. The Swedish system has just been approved (April
1996), and practical experience with the low-frequency spectrum adaptation terms is still
lacking.
The way to proceed may be to link the building codes more closely with a classification
system as has been proposed in Norway, cf NBR F 32/96 (1996). The intention is to put
into force the final standard simultaneously with a revised building code, which will pro
bably include functional requirements rather than specific numeric criteria. Thus, another
tool, eg a classification system, is needed for practical evaluation of compliance with the
degree of functionality required by the building code. A system for acoustic classification
of dwellings provides several advantages: (1) A tool to be used by consumers, building
contractors and authorities to specify acoustic quality of new dwellings and of older dwel
lings to be renovated or restored; (2) Emphasis on the fact that the legislative acoustic
requirements are minimum requirements; (3) An incentive to voluntarily specify and
design for better acoustic quality than required in the building regulations.
In the long run, implementation of the low-frequency C-corrections in classification sy

stems imply gain of experience, thus preparing the way for future implementation in the
legal minimum requirements.
Looking retrospectively at the concepts to be introduced in the new ISO 717 methods, it
seems as if several countries find the C-corrections too complex. The terms for the fre
quency range presently used are not considered worth the efforts necessary for implemen
tation. The need for taking the low frequencies into account is not yet recognized by the
majority of countries. However, the interest may increase in the future as low-frequency
problems are often related to light-weight constructions, which seem to gain interest for
economic and ecological reasons.

31
6. References
Association Qualitel (1993): "Guide Qualitel." Paris, France.
BCR-project (1993): "Measurement of sound insulation of building components in the low

frequency range 50-400 Hz". Project No MATl-CT-930027 (to be finished primo
1997).
Blazier, W.E., DuPree, R.B. (1994): "Investigation of low-frequency footfall noise in

wood-frame, multifamily building construction." J. Acoustic. Soc. Am. 96 (3), pp.
1521-1532.
Blazier, W.E. (1995): Personal communication. Warren Blazier Associates, Inc., San
Francisco, CA, USA.
Bodlund, K. (1985): "Alternative reference curves for evaluation of the impact sound
insulation between dwellings." Journal of Sound and Vibration 102(3), pp. 381-402.
Bruckmayer, F., Lang, J. (1974): "Richtlinien fiir die Anwendung wirtschaftlicher

Schallschutzmassnahmen im Wohnungsbau als Vorbereitung fiir legislative Mass
nahmen." Heft 55, Forschungsgesellschaft fiir Wohnen, Bauen und Planen, Vienna,
Austria.
Byggforskningsradet (1991): "Det tysta huset." (The Quiet House). Stockholm, Sweden.
CEN prEN12354-1 (1996): "Building Acoustics - Estimation of acoustic performance of

buildings from the performance of products - Part 1: Airborne sound insulation
between rooms." CEN/TC126/WG2, WI 126029.
CEN prEN12354-2 (1996): "Buildings Acoustics - Estimation of acoustic performance of

buildings from the performance of products - Part 2: Impact sound insulation between
rooms." CEN/TC126/WG2, WI 126030.
CEN prxyz-3 N159 (1996): "Buildings Acoustics - Estimation of acoustic performance of

buildings from the performance of products - Part 3: Airborne sound insulation against
outdoor noise." CEN/TC126/WG2, WI 126031.
DIN 4109 (1989): "Schallschutz im Hochbau. Anforderungen und Nachweise." Germany.
DIN-Taschenbuch 35 (1995): "Schallschutz: Anforderungen, Nachweise, Berechnungs

verfahren und Bauakustische Priifungen." Beuth Verlag GmbH. Germany.
Gerretsen, E. (1994): Personal communication. TNO Institute of Applied Physics, Delft,

The Netherlands.
Grimwood, C.J. (1993): "Effects of environmental noise on people at home." BRE

Information Paper, IP 22/93. Building Research Establishment. Great Britain.
32
Gudmundsson, S. (1994): "Increasing sound insulation demands in the Nordic countries."

NAM '94, Arhus, Denmark. (English summary of NKB (1994)).
Goransson, C. (1993): "Measurements of sound insulation at low frequencies." D9:1993.

Swedish Council for Building Research, Stockholm, Sweden.
Hagberg, K. (1996): "Ljudkrav med stod av ISO/DIS 717." (Acoustic requirements

supported by ISO/DIS 717). NKB Committee and Work Reports 1996:02. Nordic
Committee on Building Regulations, Helsinki, Finland.
INSTA B (1996): INSTA B Committee on sound classification of dwellings. Work based

on an NKB proposal for joint Nordic sound classification of dwellings, January 1996.
Final standard expected in 1998.
ISO/DIS 140-1 (1994): "Acoustics - Measurement of sound insulation in buildings and of

building elements - Part 1: Requirements for laboratory test facilities with suppressed
flanking transmission." (Revision of ISO 140-1 (1990)).
ISO 140-2 (1991): "Acoustics - Measurement of sound insulation in buildings and of

building elements - Part 3: Determination, verification and application of precision
data."

building elements - Part 3: Laboratory measurements of airborne sound insulation of
building elements."

building elements - Part 4: Field measurements of airborne sound insulation between
rooms." (Revision of ISO 140-4 (1978)).

building elements - Part 5: Field measurements of airborne sound insulation of facade
elements and facades." (Revision of ISO 140-5 (1978)).

building elements - Part 6: Laboratory measurements of impact sound insulation of
floors." (Revision of ISO 140-6 (1978)).

building elements - Part 7: Field measurements of impact sound insulation of floors."
(Revision of ISO 140-7 (1978)).

building elements - Part 10: Laboratory measurements of airborne sound insulation of
small building elements."
ISO 717-1 (1982): "Acoustics - Rating of sound insulation in buildings and of building
elements - Part 1: Airborne sound insulation in buildings and of interior building
elements."

33
elements - Part 2: Impact sound insulation."
elements - Part 3: Airborne sound insulation of facade elements and facades."
ISO/DIS 717-1 (1993): "Acoustics - Rating of sound insulation in buildings and of

building elements - Part 1: Airborne sound insulation." (Revision of ISO 717-1 and
717-3 (1982)).
ISO/DIS 717-2 (1994): "Acoustics - Rating of sound insulation in buildings and of

building elements - Part 2: Impact sound insulation." (Revision of ISO 717-2 (1982)).
ISO/R 717-1 (1968): "Rating of sound insulation for dwellings."
ISO/TC43/SC2 (1994): "Study of measurement and rating of impact sound insulation

with attention to low frequencies and to light-weight floor constructions." Ad-hoe
group within ISO/TC43/SC2 "Building Acoustics".
ISO/TC43/SC2 N 567 (1995): "Measurement of airborne sound insulation using sound

intensity." New Work Item Proposal. (See also NT ACOU 084 (1992)).
JIS A 1418 (1978): "Method for field measurement of floor impact sound level."
Japanese Srandards Association. Tokyo, Japan.
JIS A 1419 (1992): "Classification of airborne and impact sound insulation for
buildings." Japanese Srandards Association. Tokyo, Japan.
Kihlman, T. (1991): "Fifty years of 'Development' in sound insulation of dwellings."

Inter-Noise 91, Sydney, Australia. Proceedings 1 pp. 3-15.
Kihlman, T., Kropp, W. and Pietrzyk, A. (1994): "Sound insulation at low frequencies."
Byggforskningsradet, DlO, 1994, Baras, Sweden.
Ljunggren, S. (1995): "A New Quiet House in Stockholm." Acta Acoustica 3 pp. 283-
286.
Madalik, L. (1994): Personal communication. AS Eesti Projekt, Tallinn, Estonia.
Metzen, H.A. (1992): "Methoden zur Beurteilung des Luft- und Trittschallschutzes in
den Europaischen Landern." WKSB 31, pp. 1-16, Germany.
Metzen, H.A. (1994): "Die Kennzeichnung der Schalldammung von Bauteilen und in
Bauten sowie der Schallabsorption nach den Europaischen Bewertungsnormen." WKSB
34, pp. 23-36. Germany.
NEN 1070, ontwerp (1994): "Geluidwering in gebouwen, Specificatie en beoordeling van

de kwaliteit". (Noise control in buildings. Specification and rating of quality).
Nederlandse Norm, September 1994. The Netherlands.
34
NKB (1994): "Lydbestemmelser i de nordiske lande." (Acoustic regulations in the Nordic

countries). Nordisk Komite for Bygningsbestemmelser, NKB 1994: 1. Helsinki,
Finland. (English summary: See Gudmundsson (1994)).
NT ACOU 084 (1992): "Building elements: Intensity scanning under laboratory

conditions." Nordtest. Helsinki, Finland. (Forms the basis of New Work Item
Proposal ISO/TC43/SC2 N567 (1995)).
Rasmussen, B. & Rindel, J.H. (1994): "Lydforhold i boliger - 'State-of-the-art'."

(Acoustic conditions in dwellings - 'State-of-the-art'). Bygge- og Boligstyrelsen, K0-
benhavn (National Building Agency, Ministry of Housing, Copenhagen, Denmark).
(To be published in English medio 1996 by the Department of Acoustic Technology,
Technical University of Denmark).
SS 02 52 67 (1996): "Ljudklassning av utrymmen i byggnader - Bostader." (Building

acoustics - Sound classification of rooms - Dwellings). SIS, Sweden.
Statens offentliga utredningar (1993): "Handlingsplan mot buller." (Actions against

noise). Miljo- och naturresursdepartementet, Goteborg, Sweden.
Tachibana, H., Tanaka, H., Koyasu, M. (1992): "Heavy impact source for the measure
ment of impact sound insulation of floors." Inter-Noise 92, Toronto, Canada.
Proceedings pp. 643-646.
Tachibana, H., Yano, H., Iwamoto, K., Hattori, M. (1993): "Laboratory experiments on
loudness of floor impact sounds." Inter-Noise 93, Leuven, Belgium. Proceedings pp.
941-944.
VDI 4100 (1994): "Schallschutz von Wohnungen. Kriterien flir Planung und Beurtei
lung." Germany.
Wibe, S. (1995a): "Ljudmiljon i bostader. En samhallsekonomisk vardering. Forunder

sokning." (Acoustic environment in housing estates. An economic evaluation. A pilot
study). Byggforskningsradet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Wibe, S. (1995b): Personal communication. Umea, Sweden.

35
APPENDICES
APPENDICES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
A Questionnaire and list of respondents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
B Spectrum adaptation terms according to ISO/DIS 717-1 (1993) . . . . . . . . . . 43
C Spectrum adaptation terms according to ISO/DIS 717-2 (1994) . . . . . . . . . . 49
37
APPENDIX A
A Questionnaire and list of respondents
38
THE ACOUSTICS LABORATORY
TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY
OF DENMARK
BUILDING 3 52
DK-2800 LYNGBY
DENMARK
TELEPHONE:
+ 45 4588 1 622
TELEPHONE DIRECT:
+ 45 4525 3963
EMAIL:
birgit@la.dtu.dk
FAX:
+ 45 4588 0577
Dear 1 ....
Implementation of the new ISO 717 I EN 20717 building acoustic rating

II AUGUST 1995
BRJ!w
methods in the European building codes LA n5/95
As a consequence of the upcoming revisions of the rating methods in ISO 717,

the Nordic Committee on Building Regulations (NKB) would like to collect
information about the expected changes of sound insulation requirements in other
European countries. The Acoustics Laboratory has been asked to gather this
information, and we have worked out the enclosed response sheet, which we
kindly ask you to fill in and return.
Within the five Nordic countries (Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland and Den
mark) there has been a long tradition to harmonize building regulations including
building acoustic requirements. Since 1956 the cooperation on building acoustics
between the Nordic building authorities has been formalized through NKB. For
several years the sound insulation requirements in the Nordic countries have been
based on the measurement methods in ISO 140 (frequency range 100-31 SO Hz, DTU
1/3 octave bandwidth) and the rating methods in ISO 717.
ISO 140 and ISO 717 are under revision which, among other things, opens up
the possibility to apply an extended frequency range for measurements and ratings
by adding the C-corrections defined in the new ISO 717 when specifying sound
insulation results and requirements. The purpose of the C-corrections is to obtain
a better correlation between the objective and subjective evaluation, which is
especially important for lightweight constructions.
As a consequence, the building authorities have to decide whether or not the new
C-corrections should be implemented in the building regulations at all and if an
extended frequency range should be specified. The main possibilities appear from
the response sheet. Only field concepts are indicated.
In the Nordic countries the present airborne and impact sound insulation
requirements in buildings are expressed as minimum R' w and maximum L'n ,w

39
values. The same concepts are used in the German regulations. UK and Austria
use DnT,w and L' nT,w, while eg The Netherlands use national rating methods not
defined in ISO 717.
As may be understood the European sound insulation requirements represent

diversified traditions and opinions about concepts. The differences may become
even more pronounced with the increased number of possibilities in the revised
ISO 717 I EN 20717.
As a basis for discussions and decisions about the future sound insulation require
ments in the Nordic countries, NKB would like to be informed about which 1A
changes are decided/expected in other European countries, including your
country. Discussions will take place in the autumn of 1995.
II AUGUST 1995
BR/lw
In order to hdp us with this work you are kindly requested to fill in the LA n5/95
enclosed response sheet and return it by fax before 1 September 1995. All
countries returning the response sheet before this date will receive a brief overview
of responses shortly after 1 October (the deadline of the project).
In addition to the response sheet, further comments will be appreciated, eg about

present or revised sound insulation requirements in your country, reasons for or
against the use of C-corrections, viewpoints related to data availability, prediction
methods, acoustic classification of dwellings.
If you have any questions or comments, you are welcome to contact me, prefer
ably by fax or E-mail since I am only working part-time at The Acoustics Labor
atory.
OTU I
• •
Yours sincerely � !
Birgit Rasmussen
References
ISO/DIS 717 I prEN 20717: Acoustics - Rating of sound insulation in buildings and of building
elements. - Part 1 (1993): Airborne sound insulation. - Part 2 (1994): Impact sound insulation.
PAGE 2
40
THE ACOUSTICS LABORATORY 11 August 1995

TECHNICAL UNIVERSI1Y OF DENMARK
- Response sheet -
Please return to Birgii Rasmussen before 1 September 1995, Fax +45 4588 0577
New rating methods ISO 717 I EN 20717

Implementation of C-corrections in the future European building regulations
Country: ..................................................
Existing sound insulation requirements valid from date/year: ............ . .. .. . .
Next revision of sound insulation requirements expected year: ..................
Please fill in corresponding to your expectations regarding use of C-corrections (spectrum
correction terms) in the next revision of the building acoustic requirements in your country.
For simplicity only 1/3 octave frequency ranges are shown. If 1/1 octave bandwidth is
preferred in your country, please indicate this below and fill in the sheet choosing the
corresponding 1/3 octave range(s).
In case you do not know what to answer, please return the sheet anyway. Ifpossible, please
indicate reference to other relevant persons in your country.
Preferred measurement bandwidth: D 1/3 octave D 1/1 octave

Airborne sound insula- Airborne sound Impact sound insulation
D R' w D R' w D L' n, w
D R' w + C D R' w + Ctr D L' n,w + C i
D R' w + Cs0-31so D R' w + C1r,s0-31so D L' n,w + C i,sa-2500
D R' w + C100-sooo D R' w + Ctr,100-sooo
D R' w + Csa-sooo D R' w + Ctr,s0-sooo
D D nT,w D DnT,w D L' nT,w
D D nT, w + C D DnT,w + ctr D L' nT, w + ci
D D nT, w + Cs0-3150 D D nT, w + ctr,50-3150 0 L' nT, w + c i ,50-2500
D D nT, w + C100-sooo D DnT,w + ctr,100-5000
D D nT, w + CS0-5000 D DnT,w + ctr,50-5000
D ...... .. .. D ........... D .......... .
D Not yet decided D Not yet decided D Not yet decided
D Comments: . . .
D Additional comments enclosed, eg about present or revised sound insulation requirements

in your country, reasons for or against the use of C-corrections, viewpoints related to data
availability, prediction methods, acoustic classification of dwellings.
Your name: .... ....... . .................... Date: .

Institute: .... .. ... . ..... ........................
Address: .............
Phone: .............. Fax: .............. E-mail: ..... . .......

41
Letter and response sheet were sent to the following countries:

(Names of respondents are found on next page)
Countries Sent to Response

from
Nordic countries
Denmark 3 2
Sweden 1 1
Norway 1 1
Finland 1 1
Iceland 1 1
Western Europe
UK 2 1
France 1 1
Germany 6 3
Austria 1 1
Netherlands 2 1
Belgium 3 2
Italy 1 1
Switzerland 1 0
Spain 1 0
Portugal 1 0
Eastern Europe
Russia 1 1
Estonia 1 1
Poland 1 1
Slovakia 1 1
Hungary 1 1
Bulgaria 2 1
Chech Republic 1 0
Romania 1 0
Countries outside Europe
USA 2 1
Canada 1 0
Korea 1 0
Japan 2 2
Australia 1 0
42
Response have been received from the following persons:
Nordic countries
Denmark Jens Holger Rindel, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby

Dan Brnsted Pedersen, DELTA Acoustics & Vibration, Aarhus
Sweden Klas Hagberg, National Board of Housing, Building and Planning,
Karlskrona
Norway Iiris Turunen-Rise, Norwegian Council for Building Standardization, Oslo
Finland Laila Hoosia, Ministry of the Environment, Helsinki
Iceland Steindor Gudmundsson, The Building Research Institute, Reykjavik
Western Europe
UK Les Fothergill, Department of the Environment, London

France Jacques Roland, CSTB, Grenoble
Germany Dieter Kutzer, Staatliches Materialpriifungsamt NRW, Dortmund
Heinrich Metzen, Griinzweig + Hartmann AG, Ladenburg/Neckar
Michael Vorlander, PTB, Braunschweig
Austria Judith Lang, Vienna
Netherlands Eddy Gerretsen, TNO Institute of Applied Physics, Delft
Belgium Gerrit Vermeir, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven
Daniel Soubrier, Belgian Building Research Institute, Limelette
Italy Roberto Pompoli, Instituto di Ingegneria, Ferrara
Eastern Europe
Russia L.A. Borisov and A.A. Klimuchin,

Research Institute of Building Physics, NIISF, Moscow
Estonia Linda Madalik, AS Eesti Projekt, Tallinn
Poland Jerzy Sadowski, Building Research Institute, Warszawa
Slovakia Peter Tomasovic, Slovak Technical University, Bratislava
Hungary Frigyes Reis, TU Budapest, Laboratory of Building Acoustics, Budapest
Bulgaria Assenka Tchalyova, Building Research Institute, NISI, Sofia
Countries outside Europe
USA Greg Tocci, Cavanough Tocci Associates, Sudbury, MA

Japan Masaru Koyasu, Acoustical Engineering Laboratory, Tokyo
Hideki Tachibana, University of Tokyo, Tokyo

43
APPENDIX B
B Spectrum adaptation terms according to ISO/DIS 717-1 (1993)
44
Description of spectrum adaptation terms as defined in ISO/DIS 717-1

Source: ISO/DIS 717-1 (1993)
Purpose of standard
The purpose of ISO 717-1 is to standardize a method whereby the frequency dependent values
of airborne sound insulation can be converted into a single number characterizing the
acoustical performance. The standard gives rules for determining single-number quantities
from the results of measurements carried out in 1/3 octave or 1/1 octave bands according to
ISO 140-3, 140-4, 140-5, 140-9 or 140-10.
The single-number quantities calculated according to this part of ISO 717 are intended for
rating the airborne sound insulation and for simplifying the formulation of acoustical
requirements in building codes.
Generally, the single number is based on results of measurements in 1/3 octave bands. Single
numbers based on 1/1 octave band data may only be calculated from results of field
measurements according to ISO 140-4 and 140-5.
Spectrum adaptation terms C and C1r

The spectrum adaptation terms C and C tr have been introduced to take into account different
spectra of noise sources such as pink noise and road traffic noise, cf Table Bl. The rating of
the results of measurements in the frequency range 100-3150 Hz is described in the main part
of ISO/DIS 717-1, while the rating of results in an enlarged frequency range is dealt with in
Annex B of the standard, cf Table B2.
C and Ctr have not been included directly in the single-number quantities, but have been
introduced as separate corrections.
Type of noise source Relevant spectrum adaptation term
Living activities (talking, music, radio, tv)

Children playing
Railway traffic at medium and high speed (ll C
Highway road traffic > 80 km/h (ll (Spectrum 1: A-weighted pink noise)
Jet aircraft short distance
Factories emitting mainly medium and high frequency noise
Urban road traffic

Railway traffic at low speeds (ll
Aircraft propeller driven ctr
Jet aircraft large distance (Spectrum 2: A-weighted urban traffic noise)
Disco music
Factories emitting mainly low and medium frequency noise
Notes:
(1) In several European countries calculation models for highway road noise and railway noise exist, which
define octave band levels; these could be used for comparison with spectra 1 and 2.
Table BJ. Relevant spectrum adaptation term for different types of noise sources.
Ref.: ISO/DIS 717-1 (1993), Annex A. The spectra 1 and 2 are found in
Table B2 in the present report and shown graphically in Figures B3-B4.

45
Calculation of single-number quantities

To evaluate the results of a measurement according to ISO 140-3, ISO 140-4, ISO 140-5, ISO
140-9 and ISO 140-10 in 1/3 octave bands (or 1/1 octave bands) given to 0.1 dB, the relevant
reference curve, cf Table B2 or Figures Bl-B2, shall be shifted in steps of 1 dB towards the
measured curve, until the sum of unfavourable deviations is as large as possible, but not more
than 32.0 dB (measurement in 16 1/3 octave bands) or 10.0 dB (measurement in 5 1/1 octave
bands). An unfavourable deviation at a particular frequency band occurs when the result is
less than the reference value. Only the unfavourable deviations are taken into account.
The value, in dB, of the reference curve at 500 Hz - after shifting it according to this
procedure - is the single-number quantity, eg Rw, R' w , Dn ,w or D nT,w (see the ISO 717 and
ISO 140 standards for full information).
Calculation of spectrum adaptation terms C and Ctr

cj = xAj - xw [dB]
where
Cj Spectrum adaptation term.
J Index for sound spectra 1 and 2.
Xw The single-number quantity calculated by comparing the measured values of eg R'
with the shifted reference curve. The procedure is the same as in ISO 717-1 (1982).
XAj Calculation made from: XAj = -10 * log L 10 <L

ij-xi)/10 [dB]
i==l
Index for the 1/3 or 1/1 octave bands in the relevant frequency range.
Li j Level in the frequency band i of spectrum j, cf Table Bl or Figures B3-B4.
X i Measured sound insulation at the frequency band i, eg R' or DnT, given to 0.1 dB.
The spectrum adaptation term is C or Ctr dependant on the spectrum used for the calculation.
Spectrum No 1, A-weighted pink noise: C = XA ,I - X w
Spectrum No 2, A-weighted urban traffic noise:
The minimum frequency ranges to be applied are 100-3150 Hz and 125-2000 Hz for 1/3 and
1/1 octave measurements, respectively. In case that an enlarged frequency range is used, the
frequency range has to be stated in the index of C or Ctr · The possibilities are shown in Table
B2.
The spectrum adaptation term is calculated according to 0.1 dB and rounded to an integer
(+xy.5 is rounded to xy+1 and -xy.5 is rounded to -xy; see also ISO 31-0).
As an example, the spectrum adaptation term C50 _5000 (ie spectrum 1 to be used) for a 1/3
octave measurement of R' is calculated according to:
21
c50-5000 = � 10<Li-R' j)110

- 10 * 1og � - R'
[dB]
w
i=l
Examples on statement of performance and of requirements

Example on statement of performance in buildings:
R' w (C; Cso-sooo) = 58 (O; -4) dB
R' w � 55 dB; R' w + C � 55 dB; R' w + Cso-sooo � 55 dB
46
ISOIDIS 717-1 (1993): Reference values and sound level spectra for rating of airborne
sound insulation measured according to ISO 140-3, 140-4, 140-5, 140-9 or 140-10
Measurement bandwidth: 1/3 or 1/1 11 , octave
Note: Numbers in Italic are 1/1 octave values May 1996
Sound level spectra13l for calculation of

Frequency Reference spectrum adaptation terms C and C tr
2
values1 ,
Spectrum 1 (4l [dB] for calculation of: Spectrum 2 (4l [dB]
[Hz] [dB] for calculation of:
C C100-sooo C12s-4000
ctr,(any freq. range)
Csa.31 so Ca3.2000 Cso-sooo Ca3-4000
50 -40 -41 -25
63 63 -36 -31 -37 -32 -23 -18
80 -33 -34 -21
100 33 -29 -30 -20

125 125 36 36 -26 -21 -27 -22 -20 - 14
160 39 -23 -24 -18
200 42 -21 -22 -16

250 250 45 45 -19 -1 4 -20 -15 -15 -10
315 48 -17 -18 -14
400 51 -15 -16 -13

500 500 52 52 -13 -8 -14 -9 -12 -7
630 53 -12 -13 -11
800 54 -11 -12 -9

1000 1000 55 55 -10 -5 -11 -6 -8 -4
1250 56 -9 -10 -9
1600 56 -9 -10 -10

2000 2000 56 56 -9 -4 -10 -5 -11 -6
2500 56 -9 -10 -13
3150 56 -9 -10 -15

4000 4000 -10 -5 -16 -11
5000 -10 -18
Notes
(1) 1 /1 octave measurements are only allowed for field measurements, ie according to ISO 140-4 and 140-5.
(2) The rating procedure is described in ISO/DIS 717-1.
(3) Spectrum No 1: A-weighted pink noise.
Spectrum No 2: A-weighted urban traffic noise.
(4) All levels are A-weighted and normalized to O dB. The actual part of the spectrum to be applied is the fre
quency range specified in the index of the C-term. The frequency range for C and C r without any frequency
t
range indication is 100-3150 Hz or 125-2000 Hz for 1 /3 and 1/1 octave bandwidth, respectively.
Table B2. Reference values and sound level spectra for rating of airborne sound insula
tion. Ref.: ISO/DIS 717-1 (1993), Tables 3-4 in the main part of the standard
and BJ in the Annex B of the standard. The reference values and the sound
level spectra are shown graphically in Figures Bl-B4 in the present report.

47
dB
60
56 56
56
v-
�
5/
so
'40
J J/
I I I I I I I I I
30
125 250 500 1000 2000 HZ 125 250 500 1000 ;,ouo Hz
r, cquency
Fig. BJ. Curve of reference values for air Fig. B2. Curve of reference values for air
borne sound insulation measure borne sound insulation measure
ments in 1/3 octave bands. ments in 1I1 octave bands.
Ref.: ISO/DIS 717-1 (1993). Ref.: ISO/DIS 717-1 (1993).
Sound level spectre to colculote the Sound level spectre to colculote the
spectrvm odoptolion terms for spectrum odoptotion terms for
third octove bond meosurements octove bond mcosurements
,peel rum no. 1 to colculot• C spectrum no.1 lo colculole C
-·-··- 50 - 5000 Hz ond 1 OD - SOOD Hz 63 - 4000 Hz ond 125 - 4000 Hz
- - 50 - 3150 Hz - - 6J - 2000 Hz
- spectrum no.2 to colculote C 1r -- spectrum no.2 to colculote C ,

1
0
0.------r---r----,---..-----,----,
dB dB
��·-·····-·····
:- · ·
.
-10
��.:.::. . ·· · �
-10 ....,
/ , :.··
.
,./···
/2/
, ,.·..
·"
v
, .."�.
··
-20
,.-
�:
-40 -40f----+---+----+---+----II----I
I I I I I I I I I I I I
63 125 250 500 1000 2000 4000 Hz €:3 125 250 500 1000 2000 ,oooHz
frequency frequency
Fig. BJ. Sound level spectra for calcula Fig. B4. Sound level spectra for calcula
tion of spectrum adaptation terms tion of spectrum adaptation terms
for 1/3 octave measurements. for 1/1 octave measurements.
49
APPENDIX C
C Spectrum adaptation terms according to ISO/DIS 717-2 (1994)
50
Description of spectrum adaptation term as defined in ISO/DIS 717-2

Source: ISO/DIS 717-2 (1994)
Purpose of standard
The purpose of ISO 717-2 is to standardize a method whereby the frequency dependent values
of impact sound pressure level can be converted into a single number characterizing the
acoustical performance. The standard gives rules for determining single-number quantities
from the results of measurements carried out in 1/3 octave or 1/1 octave bands according to
ISO 140-6 and 140-7.
The single-number quantities calculated according to this part of ISO 717 are intended for
rating the impact sound insulation and for simplifying the formulation of acoustical
requirements in building codes.
Generally, the single number is based on results of measurements in 1/3 octave bands. Single
numbers based on 1/1 octave band data may only be calculated from results of field
measurements according to ISO 140-7.
Spectrum adaptation term Ci

The spectrum adaptation term Ci has been introduced to take into account the unweighted
impact sound pressure level, thereby representing the characteristics of typical walking
spectra. The spectrum adaptation term Ci, which may be calculated for the frequency range
100-2500 Hz or for an enlarged frequency range down to 50 Hz, is defined and described in
Annex A of ISO/DIS 717-2.
Ci has not been included directly in the single-number quantity but has been introduced as a
separate correction.
Calculation of single-number quantities

To evaluate the results of a measurement according to ISO 140-6 and ISO 140-7 in 1/3 octave
bands (or 1/1 octave bands) given to 0.1 dB, the relevant reference curve, cf the reference
values below or Figures C1-C2, shall be shifted in steps of 1 dB towards the measured curve,
until the sum of unfavourable deviations is as large as possible, but not more than 32.0 dB
(measurement in 16 1/3 octave bands) or 10.0 dB (measurement in 5 1/1 octave bands). An
unfavourable deviation at a particular frequency band occurs when the result is higher than the
reference value. Only the unfavourable deviations are taken into account.
The value, in dB, of the reference curve at 500 Hz - after shifting it according to this
procedure - is Ln,w, L' n ,w or L' nT,w·
The reference values for determination of the single-number quantities Ln,w, L' u,w or L' nT,w for
1/3 octave band measurements are 62, 62, 62, 62, 62, 62, 61, 60, 59, 58, 57, 54, 51, 48, 45,
42 dB for the frequency range 100-3150 Hz. The values for 1/1 octave band measurements
are 67, 67, 66, 62, 49 dB for the frequency range 125-2000 Hz. The reference values are
shown graphically in Figures Cl-C2.

51
I
aB dB
I I
----
7Q 70
67 67
65
6� 62 62
nO I
57
50 50 49
42
I I I I I I I I I 40
40
.... c:
1 <..; 250 SOO 1000 ZOOO 1-lz 125 250 500 :800 2:JOO Hz
Frequency Fr�qu'!ncy
Fig. Cl. Curve of reference values for Fig. C2. Curve of reference values for
impact sound insulation measure impact sound insulation measure
ments in 1/3 octave bands. ments in 1/1 octave bands.
Calculation of spectrum adaptation term Ci

ci = xA - xw rdB]
where
Ci Spectrum adaptation term.
Xw The single-number quantity, eg L' n,w , calculated by comparing the measured values with
the shifted reference curve. The procedure is the same as in ISO 717-2 (1982).
X A Calculation made from: XA = 10 * log L lO ;flOL
- 15 [dB]
i=l
Index for the 1/3 or 1/1 octave bands in the relevant frequency range.
Li Measured impact sound level at the frequency band i, eg L' u or L\T, given to 0.1 dB.
The number 15 in the calculation of XA has been so determined that the value of Ci is approx. 0
for solid floors with effective coverings.
The minimum frequency ranges to be applied for calculation of Ci-corrections are 100-2500 Hz
and 125-2000 Hz for 1/3 and 1/1 octave measurements, respectively. In case that an enlarged
frequency range is used, the frequency range has to be stated in the index of Ci.
The spectrum adaptation term is calculated according to 0.1 dB and rounded to an integer (+xy.5
is rounded to xy+1 and -xy.5 is rounded to -xy; see also ISO 31-0).
As an example, the spectrum adaptation term Ci ,50_2500 for a 1/3 octave measurement of L' u is
calculated according to:
*
18
10 log� lO ;flO - 15 - L' n,w
L
ci,so-2soo = L...J
[dB]
i=l
Examples on statement of performance and of requirements

Example on statement of performance in buildings:
L' n,w (Ci ; Ci ,so-2soo) = 48 (1; 3) dB
L' u,w s 50 dB; L' n w + Ci s 50 dB; L' u,w + Ci ,50_2500 s 50 dB
Implementation of th e new ISO 717 building acoustic rating methods in Europe

52
NKB Publikationer I NKB Publications (ISSN 0359-9981)
Nr I No )r)
16 Mattenheter enligt SI. Riktlinjer for tillampning av SI-enheter inom
byggfacket. NKB-skrift nr 16, November 1970. AB Engellska
Boktryckeriet, Stockholm 1971.
17 St0j og byplan, Praktiske anvisninger. NKB-skrift nr. 17, Maj 1971.
25 Retningslinier for bygningsbrandtekniske bestemmelser for enfamiliehuse
(Guidelines for Structural Fire Protection Regulations for Single-family
Houses). NKB-rapport nr. 25, Juli 1975. Statens trykningskontor,
Stockholm 1975. ISBN 87-503-2078-5
37 Byggtekniskt brandskydd. NKB-rapport nr 37, November 1980. Civiltryck
AB, Stockholm 1983. ISBN 91-38-07639-X
38 Structural Fire Protection in Buildings. NKB-report No 38, November
1980. Civiltryck AB, Stockholm 1984.
40 Inomhusklimat. NKB-rapport nr 40, Maj 1981. Civiltryck AB, Stockholm
1982. (Kapitel 1 Riktlinjer rorande luftkvalitet har ersatts av skrift nr 61)
41 Indoor Climate. NKB Report No 41, May 1981. Civiltryck AB, Stockholm
1984. (Part 1. Guidelines concerning air quality is superseded by NKB
Publication No 61 E)
42 Nordiska riktlinjer for tunnplatskonstruktioner. NKB-Rapport Nr 42, Maj
1981. Statens tryckericentral, Helsingfors 1982. ISBN 951-46-6502-3
43 Nordic Guidelines for Light Gauge Metal Structures. NKB-Report No 43,
May 1981.Government Printing Centre, Helsinki 1982. ISBN 951-46-6503-1
44 Nordiska riktlinjer for stalkonstruktioner. NKB-Rapport Nr 44, Maj 1982.
Statens tryckericentral, Helsingfors 1982. ISBN 951-46-6504-X
45 Nordic Guidelines for Steel Structures. NKB-Report No 45, May 1982.
Government Printing Centre, Helsinki 1982. ISBN 951-46-6505-8
46 Bestandighet och underhall. NKB-rapport nr 46, Augusti 1982. Civiltryck
AB, Stockholm 1983. ISBN 91-38-0824-9
46 E Durability and Maintenance. NKB Report No 46 E, August 1982.
Civiltryck AB, Stockholm 1984.
48 VA-norm Retningslinier for bestemmelser vedrnrende vand-og
af10bsinstallationer, NKB-skrift nr. 48, August 1983. Visoprint as,
K0benhavn. ISBN 87-503-5124-9
48 E Water Supply and Drainage Systems, Guidelines for Building
Regulations for Water Supply and Drainage Systems, NKB-publication No
48 E, August 1983. Visoprint as, K0benhavn. ISBN 87-503-6034-5
49 Nordiska riktlinjer for trakonstruktioner 5, NKB-rapport nr 49, December
1983. Painorengas Oy, Helsinki 1984. ISBN 46-7606-8
·�) De nummer som fattas i forteckningen har ersatts av senare skrifter.
Numbers missing in the list above have been superseded by newer rep orts.
NKB Publications
53
51 Nordiska riktlinjer for omsesidigt accepterande av centralt godkanda

byggprodukter och officiell kontrollordning, NKB-rapport nr 51, Januari
1984. Civiltryck AB Stockholm 1984.
51E Nordic Guidelines for Mutual Acceptance of Centrally Approved Building
Products and Official Control Systems, NKB Publication No 5 lE, January
51 F Directives Nordiques pour l'acceptation mutuelle des produits de
construction approuves centralement et des procedures officielles de
controle, NKB Publication no 51E, Janvier 1984. Civiltryck AB
Stockholm 1984.
51 P PyKOB.I1Jlllll1e np11Hlll1Ilbl ceBepHbIX CTpaH llJlfl I33al1MHro
npl13HaHl1}1 crpo11TeJibHOl1 npOilYKU1111 yrnep)l(llaeMOl1 B
ue1npaJ1113oBaHHOM noprinKe 11 oqHm11aJ1bH011 npouenypb1
KOHTopmi. Oy6JI11Kaumi HKb Ho. 51 P, iiHBapb 1984 r.
Civiltryck AB Stockholm 1984.
52 Mekaniske ventilationsanlreg, Retningslinier, NKB-skrift nr 52, April 1984.
Visoprint as, K0benhavn. ISBN 87-503-5150-8
52E Mechanical Ventilation Installations, Guidelines, NKB Publication No 52
E, April 1984 (Translated 1990). ISBN 951-47-3586-2
53 Byggnads tillganglighet for handikappade, NKB-rapport nr 53, April 1985,
Access for Handicapped Persons to Buildings, NKB Report No 53, April
54 Trette huse og fyringsanlreg, Rapport, NKB-skrift nr. 54, November 1986.
Visoprint as, K0benhavn. ISBN 87-503-6475-8.
55 Retningslinier for last- og sikkerhedsbestemmelser for brerende
konstruktioner, NKB-skrift nr 55, Juni 1987. Visoprint as, K0benhavn.
ISBN 87-503-6991-1
55E Guidelines for Loading and Safety Regulations for Structural Design, NKB
Report No 55E, June 1987. Civiltryck AB, Stockholm 1987.
55 SF Suositukset kantavien rakenteiden kuormitus- ja varmuusmaarayksiksi,
NKB-julkaisu nro 55 SF, Kesakuu 1987. VAPK Kampin VALTIMO,
Helsinki 1987, ISBN 951-47-1106-8
56 Overbyggda gardar eller gator - Brandskydd, Rapport, NKB-skrift nr 56,
Maj 1988. Visoprint as, K0benhavn 1988. ISBN 87-503-7517-2
56E Atrium Buildings and Arcades, Fire Protection, Report, NKB-skrift no. 56
E, May 1988. Visoprint as, K0benhavn 1988. ISBN 87-503-7517-2
57 Arbetsprogram for NKB for 1989-93, NKB-skrift nr 57, Februari 1989.
/57E Programme ofWork for NKB for 1989-93, Februari 1989. VAPK 1989,
Helsinki 1989. ISBN 951-47-2786-X
58 Godkendelse og kontrol af byggevarer og konstruktioner pa byggeomradet
i Norden, NKB-skrift nr. 58, desember 1989.
NKB Publikationer
54
58 E Approval and control of building materials, components and struktures

within the Nordic countries, NKB-report no. 58 E, Desember 1989. Trykk
a. s. Myhre papirindustri 1989. ISBN 82-7202-300-8
59 Byggbestammelser i Norden, NKB-skrift nr 59, Juni 1990. VAPK 1990,
Helsingfors. ISBN 951-47-3952-3
59 E Building Regulations in the Nordic Countries, NKB publication No 59 E,
June 1990. Kampin VALTIMO 1991, Helsingfors. ISBN 951-47-5444-1
60 Varmeisoleringsmaterialers Varmeisoleringsevne, Rapport, NKB-skrift nr.
60, November 1989. visoprint as, K0benhavn 1989. ISBN 87-503-8490-2
60 E Thermal Conductivity of Thermal Insulation Materials, Report, NKB
publication No 60E, November 1989. VAPK, Helsingfors 1991. ISBN 951-
47-4302-4
61 Inomhusklimat - Luftkvalitet, NKB-skrift nr 61, Juni 1991. Kirjapaino
Verbi Oy, Esbo 1991, ISBN 951-47-5321-6
61 E Indoor Climate - Air Quality, NKB Publication No 61 E, June 1991.
Kirjapaino Verbi Oy, Esbo 1991, ISBN 951-47-5322-4
61 SF Sisailmasto - Ilman laatu, NKB-julkaisu no 61 SF, Kesakuu 1991. Kirjapaino
Verbi Oy, Espoo 1991. ISBN 951-47-5323-2
62 Statusrapport over nordiske og felles europeiske systemer for akkreditering,
pr0ving, sertifisering og teknisk godkjenning innen byggesektoren, NKB
skrift nr 62, Juni 1992. Painatuskeskus Oy 1993, ISBN 951-47-7417-5
63 Nordiske retningslinjer for utforming av NAD til Eurocodes (Nordic
Guidelines for the Formulation of NAD for Eurocodes), NKB-skrift nr 63,
November 1993. Tryckericentralen Ah, Helsingfors 1993. ISBN 951-47-
8559-2
64 Arbetsprogram for NKB 1994 - 1996, NKB-skrift nr 64, November 1993.
Tryckericentralen Ah, Helsingfors 1993. ISBN 951-47-8560-6
64 E Programme of Work for NKB, 1994 - 1996, NKB Publication No 64 E,
November 1993. Painatuskeskus Oy, Helsinki 1994.
NKB Utskotts- och arbetsrapporter I

NKB Committee and Work Reports (ISSN 1236-7672)
1993:01 Allergi, overkanslighet och kemiska amnen, Sammanfattning och

konklusioner. NKB Utskotts- och arbetsrapporter 1993:01,
Tryckericentralen Ah, Helsingfors 1993, ISBN 951-47-8196-1.
1993:01 E Allergy, Hypersensitivity and Chemical Substances, Summary and
Conclusions. NKB Utskotts- och arbetsrapporter 1993:01 E,
Painatuskeskus, Helsinki 1993, ISBN 951-47-8197-X.
NKB Publications
55
1993:02 Varmebehov i nybyggeri, Beregning av varmebehovet, NKB

Utskotts- och arbetsrapporter 1993:02, Bygge- og Boligstyrelsen,
K0benhavn 1993. ISBN 47-601-3918-8.
1993:02 E Heat Requirement in New Buildings, Calculation of Heat
Requirement, NKB Committee and Work Reports 1993:02 E.
Painatuskeskus Oy, Helsinki 1994. ISBN 951-47-8865-6.
1993:03 Larssen, Annelise, Optimalt valg af malematerialer til invendige
bygningsoverflader. NKB Utskotts- och arbetsrapporter 1993:03.
Tryckericentralen AB, Helsingfors 1993. ISBN 951-47-8208-9.
1994:01 Lydbestammelser i de nordiske land. NKB Utskotts- och
arbetsrapporter 1994:01. Tryckericentralen AB, Helsingfors 1994.
ISBN 951-47-9488-5.
1994:02 Pejtersen, Jan, Effekten af reng0ring og renovering af
ventilationsanlreg pa luftkvaliteten i bygninger. NKB Utskotts- och
arbetsrapporter 1994:02. Tryckericentralen AB, Helsingfors 1994.
ISBN 951-47-9782-5.
1994:03 Flyvholm, Mari-Ann och Bakke, Jan Vilhelm, Afprnvning og
diskussion af forslag til kriterier for kemiske stoffers evne til at
fremkalde allergi og overfolsomhed i hud og nedre luftveje. Sammen
fattende rapport. NKB Utskotts- och arbetsrapporter 1994:03.
Tryckericentralen AB, Helsingfors 1994. ISBN 951-47-9781-7
1994:03 E Flyvholm, Mari-Ann och Bakke, Jan Vilhelm, Testing and discussion
of the proposed criteria for the ability of chemical substances to
cause allergy and hypersensitivy in the skin and the lower airways.
Summary Report. NKB Committee and Work Report 1994:03 E.
Monila Oy, Helsinki. ISBN 951-53-0020-7.
1994:04 E Saarela Kristina et al, Preliminary Data Base for Material Emissions.
NKB Committee and Work Reports 1994:04 E. Painatuskeskus Oy,
Helsinki 1994. ISBN 951-47-9858-9.
1994:05 Blom Peter, Evaluering og utvikling av ventilasjonssystemer for
boliger. NKB Utskotts- och arbetsrapporter 1994:05. Monila Oy,
Helsingfors 1994. ISBN 951-53-0021-5.
1994:06 Dahl Jensen Ove F et al, Oliebehandlede trregulve och indeklimaet.
NKB Utskotts- och arbetsrapporter 1994:06. Manila Oy, Helsingfors
1994. ISBN 951-53-0022-3.
1994:07 Funktionbestemte Brandkrav og Teknisk Vejledning for
beregningsmressig eftervisning. NKB Utskotts- och arbetsrapporter
1994:07. Monila Oy, Helsingfors 1994. ISBN 951-53-0024-X.
1994:07 E Performance Requirements for Fire Safety and Technical Guide for
Verification by Calculation. NKB Committee and Work Reports
1994:07 E. Monila Oy, Helsinki 1995. ISBN 951-53-0421-0.
NKB Publikationer
56
1995:01 Fors0ksbygging og inneklima - Seminarierapport. NKB Utskotts

och arbetsrapporter 1995:01. Monila Oy, Helsingfors 1995. ISBN
951-53-0250-1
1995:02 E BASIS OF DESIGN OF STRUCTURES - Calibration of partial
safety factors. NKB Committee and Work Reports 1995:02 E.
Monila Oy, Helsinki 1996.
1995:03 E BASIS OF DESIGN OF STRUCTURES - Classification and
reliability differentiation of structures. NKB Committee and Work
Reports 1995:03 E. Monila Oy, Helsinki 1996. ISBN 951-53-0619-1.
1995:04 E BASIS OF DESIGN OF STRUCTURES - Acceptance criteria of the
mechanical properties of construction materials. NKB Committee
and Work Reports 1995:04 E. Monila Oy, Helsinki 1995. ISBN 951-
53-0494-6.
1995:05 Kuldebroers betydning for bygninger varmetab. Forprojekt. NKB
Utskotts- och arbetsrapporter 1995:05. Monila Oy, Helsingfors 1995.
ISBN 951-53-0317-6.
1995:06 E Tirkkonen Tiina et al. Tenax as a Collection Medium for Volatile
Organic Compounds. NKB Utskotts- och arbetsrapporter 1995:06E.
Monila Oy, Helsingfors 1995. ISBN 951-53-0420-2.
1995:07 Bj0rn Berge. Bygningsmaterialer for en b�rekraftig utvikling. NKB
Utskotts- och arbetsrapporter 1995:07. Monila Oy, Helsingfors.
ISBN 951-53-0495-4.
1995:08 Dick Karlsson. Battre myndighetskunskap om bruk av tra med
hansyn till brandsakerhet. NKB Utskotts- och arbetsrapporter
1995:08. Monila Oy, Helsingfors. ISBN 951-53-0620-5.
1996:01 Jorma Sateri et al. Naturlig ventilation. NKB Utskotts- och arbets
rapporter 1996:01. Monila Oy, Helsingfors. ISBN 951-53-0618-3.
1996:02 Klas Hagberg. Ljudkrav med stod av ISO/DIS 717. NKB Utskotts
och arbetsrapporter 1996:02. ISBN 951-53-0781-3.
1996:03 Boligernes vandforbruk og vandbesparande foranstalninger. NKB
Utskotts- och arbetsrapporter 1996:03. ISBN 951-53-0920-4.
1996:04 E Birgit Rasmussen. Implementation of the new ISO 717 building
acoustic rating methods in Europe. NKB Committee and Work
Reports 1996:04 E. ISBN 951-53-0921-2.
1996:05 Brandteknisk dimensionering utifran funktionsbaserade regler. NKB
Utskotts- och arbetsrapporter 1996:05. ISBN 951-53-0922-0.
NKB Publications
57
NKB lnformationsbrev I NKB Information Letters
1/1993 Konsensusuttalande fran Nordiskt inneklimaforum i Kopenhamn 27-

28 april 1993.
1/1995 Nordisk seminarium om inneklimamerkningsordninger
2/1995 Utbildning och kunskap till att anvanda funktionsbaserade
brandregler
Ovriga publikationer fran NKB I

Other Publications from NKB
Verksamhetsberattele for NKB 1993

Namn- och adressforteckning over deltagarna i NKBs kommitte- och
utskottsverksamhet, 15.02.1996
Ovriga publikationer som NKB medverkat i I

Other publications to which NKB has contributed
En vurdering av nogle allergifremkaldende stoffer i byggematerialer, Rapport.

Statens informationstjeneste,K0benhavn. November 1989, 22 s. ISBN 87-503-8069-9
En vurdering av nogle allergifremkaldende stoffer i byggematerialer, Handbog.

Statens informationstjeneste, K0benhavn. November 1989, 354 s. ISBN 87-503-
8071-0 (avgiftsbelagd)
Kontakteksem och kemiske Stoffer. Nordiske Seminar- og Arbejdsrapporter

1992:541. Nordiska Ministerradet, K0benhavn 1992. ISBN 92 9120 053 0
Overfolsomhet i luftveiene og kjemiske stoffer. Nordiske Seminar- og

Arbejdsrapporter 1993:547. Nordiska Ministerradet, K0benhavn 1993. ISBN 92
9120 224 X
Byggematerialer og Luftkvalitet, Rapport fra 1. nordisek seminar 25-26 november

1992, K0benhavn. Nordisk Emissionsgruppe, NEG.
Luftvarmesystem - Fordelar och Nackdelar. Byggforskningsradet T23:1993.

Stockholm 1993. ISBN 91-540-5577-6 (bestalls fran Svensk Byggtjanst)
NKB Publikationer
58
NKB Produktregler
NKBProduktregler hanfor sig till NKB-skrift Nr 51 Nordiska riktlinjer for

omsesidigt accepterande av centralt godkanda byggprodukter och officiell
kontrollordning, januari 1984.
Foljande produktregler har godkants av NKBoch publicerats bade pa ett

skandinaviskt sprak och pa engelska. Produktreglerna tradde i kraft vid den
tidpunkt som namns.
Nr1 Produktregler for brandsektionerande dorrar, 1.1.1985

Nr2 Produktregler for monteringsfrerdige stalskorstene, 1.1.1986
Nr3 Produktregler for varmvattenbestandiga plastror, 1.7.1986
Nr4 Produktregler for aftapningsarmaturer til brugsvandsanlreg, 1.7.1986
Nr5 Produktregler for spanplader, 1.1.1987 (I SF 1.5.1988)
Nr6 Produktregler for brandmressigt egnede gulvbelregninger, 1.7.1988
Nr7 Produktregler for brandmressigt egnede tagdrekninger, 1.1.1989
Nr8 Produktregler for avloppsror av plast (PVCOCH PE), 1.1.1989
Nr9 Produktregler for kontraventiler til brugsvandsinstallationer, 1.7.1989
Nr 10 Produktregler for fingerskarvat konstruktionsvirke, 1.7.1989
Nr11 Produktregler for kopparror for tappvatteninstallationer, 1.10.1989
Nr 12 Produktregler for mekaniska kopplingar av metall for kopparror for
tappvatteninstallationer, 1.10.1989
Nr13 Produktregler for avstengningsventiler, 1.10.1989
Nr 14 Produktregler for brandmressigt egnede overfladelag (ytskikt), 1.1.1990
Nr 15 Produktregler for brandmressigt egnede beklredninger, 1.1.990
Nr 16 Produktregler for brandbegransande, icke barande vaggar, 1.1.1990
Nr 17 Produktregler for golvbrunnar, 1.2.1990
Nr 18 Produktregler for mekaniska kopplingar for plastror for
tappvatteninstallationer, 1.2.1990
Nr 19 Produktregler for avloppsror av plast (ABS, PVC-Coch PP), 1.2.1990
NKB Publications
59
NKB Publikationer, NKB Utskotts- och arbetsrapporter och annan

information om NKB kan fas vid hanvandelse till:
Nordiska kommitten for byggbestammelser, NKB

Administrativa sekretariatet
Att Helena Vuorelma
PB 399 tel + 358 0 626 375
FIN-00121 HELSINGFORS fax + 358 0 1991 9680
eller
DANMARK Bygge- og Boligstyrelsen

Att Mette Vielwerth
Stormgade 10 tel + 45 33 92 61 00
DK-1470 K0BENHAVN K fax + 45 33 92 61 64
FINLAND Milj oministeriet

Bostads- och byggnadsavdelningen
Att Laila Koski
PB 399 tel + 358 0 1991 9670
FIN-00121 HELSINGFORS fax +358 0 1991 9680
ISLAND Skipulag R1kisins

Att Sigurour Thoroddsen
Laugavegi 166 tel + 354 5 624 100
IS-150 REYKJVIK fax + 354 5 624 165
NORGE Norges byggstandardiseringsrad

Att Odd Zapffe
F orskningsveien 3 B
PB 129 Blindern tel + 47 22 96 59 50
N-0314 OSLO fax + 47 22 60 85 70
SVERIGE Boverket
Att Lars Goransson
Box 534 tel + 46 455 53 OOO
S-37 123 KARLSKRONA fax + 46 455 53 221
NKB Publikationer
60
NKB Publications, NKB Committee and Work Reports and other information
on NKB are available at:
Nordic Committee on Building Regulations, NKB

Administrative secretariat
Att Helena Vuorelma
P.0. Box 399 tel + 358 0 626 375
FIN-00121 HELSINKI fax + 358 0 1991 9680
or
DENMARK Ministry of Housing

Att Mette Vielwerth
Stormgade 10 tel + 45 33 92 61 00
DK-1470 COPENHAGEN fax + 45 33 92 61 64
FINLAND Ministry of the Environment

Att Laila Koski
P.O. Box 399 tel + 358 0 1991 9670
FIN-00121 HELSINKI fax + 358 0 1991 9680
ICELAND Directorate of Town and Country Planning

Att Sigurour Thoroddsen
Laugavegi 166 tel + 354 5 624 100
IS-150 REYKJVIK fax + 354 5 624 165
NORWAY National Office of Building

Technology and Administration
Att Odd Zapffe
Forskningsveien 3 B
P.O. Box 129 Blindern tel + 47 22 96 59 50
N-0314 OSLO fax + 47 22 60 85 70
SWEDEN National Board of Housing,

Building and Planning
Att Lars Goransson
P.O. Box 534 tel + 46 455 53 OOO
S-37 123 KARLSKRONA fax + 46 455 53 221
NKB Publications
Nordic Committee on
Building Regulations
ISBN 951-53-0921-2
ISSN 1236-7672
Manila Oy, Helsingfors 1996

NKB Report 1996 04E ImplementationISO717RatingMethodsEurope

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Downloaded from vbn.aau.dk on: Março 12, 2021

Implementation of the new ISO 717

Nordic Committee on Building Regulations, NKB

Implementation of the new ISO 717

Nordic Commitee on Building Regulations, NKB

2. Building acoustic regulations in Europe .......................... 9

3. Acoustic classification of dwellings ............................. 21

5. Summary and conclusion ................................... 29

A Questionnaire and list of respondents ........................... 3 7

B Spectrum adaptation terms according to ISO/DIS 717-1 (1993) ...... 43

C Spectrum adaptation terms according to ISO/DIS 717-2 (1994) ...... 49

These authorities are:

Denmark: Ministry of Housing and Building

NKB is an Institution within the Nordic Council of Ministers.

Nordic Council of Ministers

Implementation of the new ISO 717 building acoustic

NKB Committee and Work Reports

Assoc. Prof. Jens Holger Rindel, Denmark

Nordic Committee on Building Regulations

NKB committee and work Reports 1996:04 E

2. Building acoustic regulations in Europe

2.1 Overview building acoustic requirements

Airborne sound insulation between dwellings

UK 5215) - 51-54 - 51-54

Table 2.1. Overview airborne sound insulation requirements in 12 European countries.

NKB committee and work Reports 1996:04 E

lmpact sound insulation between dwellings

Table 2.2. Overview impact sound insulation requirements in 12 European countries.

2.2 The need for revised regulations

A review of a number of investigations of acoustic conditions in housing - covering su­

Blazier (1995) explains:

"In North America complaints about footfall noise in new, lightweight

NKB committee and work Reports 1996:04 E

Recently, the homeowners in a large luxury condominium complex in the

"The principal factor controlling the perception of low-frequency footfall noise

"The /IC rating of a floor/ceiling system is basically a measure of the mid- to

NKB committee and work Reports 1996:04 E

Examples on statement of performance in buildings:

Examples on statement of requirements:

In Table 2.3 are indicated a variety of possibilities for specifications of requirements

Measurement bandwidth 1/3 octave:

Airborne sound insula- Airborne sound lmpact sound insulation

Measurement bandwidth 1/1 octave:

Airborne sound insula- Airborne sound Impact sound insulation

D DnT,w D DnT,w D L'nT,w

NKB committee and work Reports 1996:04 E

Spectrum adaptation terms

Spectrum adaptation terms according to ISO/DIS 717-1 and 717-2

Heavy constructions -2 (Interval -1 to + 1) -3 (Interval -11 to 0)

An example of values of spectrum adaptation terms for an airborne sound insulation

601--��-'-��--''--��-'-����r---.-- i (2) + R' w and R' w +C

Note: R' w(Bl is a symbol for R' w with

NKB committee and work Reports 1996:04 E

C [dB] C5a.5000 [dB]

Construction type Construction type

C [dB] C5a.5000 [dB]

R' w [dB] R'w [dB]

2.5 Obstacles to implementation of the low-frequency spectrum adaptation terms

The problems to overcome may be:

Unless "supported" by legal requirements or encouraged by acoustic classification systems

NKB committee and work Reports 1996:04 E

A review of a number of investigations of acoustic conditions in housing - covering su

601--��-'-��--''--��-'-��r---.-- i (2) + R' w and R' w +C

Norway C I BI A [3 ] 2 55 I 60() I 64() See note (3)

Norway C I BI A [3] 2 - I 44() I 48() See note (5)

In the long run, implementation of the low-frequency C-corrections in classification sy

DIN-Taschenbuch 35 (1995): "Schallschutz: Anforderungen, Nachweise, Berechnungs