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FLOOR COVERINGS, CONCRETE OR TIMBER JOIST FLOORS: UDC 534.83

RATING OF IMPACTSOUND IMPROVEMENT

Key words: Test method, floor, sound

1 SCOPE This document applies to all floor coverings whether single or

multi-layered. They may be factory assembled or assembled
This NORDTEST method specifies a method of evaluating a
single number index which describes the improvement in at the test site. The method applies to laboratory
impact sound insulation due to a floor covering laid on a measurements only.
concrete floor. The evaluation is based on measurements
taken with and without the floor covering laid on a solid Some examples of floorings covered by the document are:
concrete floor. This part of the method conforms to annex A Textile floorings
in IS0 717/2-1982. The basic quantity is the weighted PVC floorings
normalized impact sound pressure level and the improvement
Linoleum floorings
index is called the weighted impact sound improvement
index. Cork tile floorings
Parquet floorings
This NORDTEST method also specifies a method of
evaluating an improvement index when the flooring is laid on Note The method can also be applied provisionally to
a timber joist floor. This type of slab is common and suspended ceilings. See annex B for further
representative of old multi-family houses with plaster ceilings. details.
To determine this improvement index the flooring has to be
tested on a standardized timber floor. The improvement index
determined by this method also applies with minor deviations 3 REFERENCES
to other types of timber joist floors. NT ACOU 029
Buildings and building elements: Sound insulation
of floors - Impact sound - Laboratory test (original
2 FIELD OF APPLICATION method: IS0 140/6-1978).
The single number indices describing the improvement in
impact sound insulation are primarily intended for rating of NT ACOU 031
floor coverings and secondly for prediction of the resulting Buildings and building elements: Reduction of
impact sound insulation when a floor covering is laid on a transmitted impact noise by floor coverings on a
concrete floor or on an old timber joist floor with plaster standard floor - Laboratory test (original method:
ceiling. It should be noted that if the floor covering is laid on a IS0 140/8-1978).
modern wood joist floor, the improvement index which can be
determined by means of the reference values of the standard NT ACOU 050
plastered timber joist floor normally underestimates theactual Floor coverings: Reduction of transmitted impact
improvement. noise - Laboratory method.

Published by NORDTEST Tekniikantie 12 FIN-02150 ESPOO FINLAND www.nordtest.org

ISSN 0283-7145 Proj. 784-88
NORDTEST METHOD NTACOU 034 2

NT ACOU 064 4.6 Weighted impact sound improvement index ∆Lw

Buildings and building elements: Rating of sound This is the single number quantity in terms of which the impact
insulation - Impact sound insulation (original sound improvement due to a floor covering is evaluated
method: IS0 717/2-1982). according to this method. The procedure is further outlined in
clause 5.3.2.

5 METHOD
4 DEFINITIONS AND NOMENCLATURE 5.1 Defined impact levels of the reference floors
4.1 Normalized impact sound pressure level Two different reference floors are included in this method; a
solid concrete floor and a timber joist floor with plaster ceiling.
The normalized impact sound pressure level to be measured
This type of timber floor is common in old houses with brick
is walls.

Ln= L+ 10lg(A/A0)dB (1) The reference floors are defined by the values for the
normalized impact sound pressure level L,,,, in table 1.
where the sound pressure level in the receiving room
measured in 1/3 octave bands is normalized with respect to a
The weighted normalized impact sound pressure levels of the
reference absorption area A0 = 10 m2.
reference floors are

4.2 Normalized impact sound pressure level of the Concrete floor: L,,,,,,, = 78 dB
reference floor Timber floor: L,,,,,,,,, = 75 dB.
The defined normalized impact sound pressure lever of the
reference floor is denoted L,,,,. In clause 5.1, Table 1 and 2,
Table 1 Normalized impact sound pressure levels L,,,, of
L n,r,o is given as a function of frequency.
the reference floors.

4.3 Impact sound improvement Frequency Concrete floor Timber joist floor
with plaster ceiling
The difference between the normalized impact sound
pressure levels measured with and without a floor covering (Hz) (dB) (dB)
laid on a standard floor is 100 67,0 80,O
125 67,5 84,0
∆L = L,,, - L, (2) 160 68,0 84,0
200 68,5 82,0
where L,,, is the normalized impact sound pressure level 250 69,0 80,O
of the bare floor and 315 69,5 78,0
L, is the normalized impact sound pressure level 400 70,o 76,0
of the floor with the floor covering laid. 500 70,5 74,0
630 71 ,o 72,0
∆L is the reduction of impact sound pressure level measured
800 71,5 69,0
according to NT ACOU 031.
1 000 72,0 66,O
1 250 72,0 63,0
4.4 Normalized impact sound pressure level of the
1 600 72,0 60,O
reference floor with the floor covering laid
2 000 72,0 57,0
2 500 72,0 54,0
The difference between the normalized impact sound
3 150 72,0 51 ,0
pressure level of the reference floor and the impact sound
improvement is

Ln,r = Ln,r,o - ∆L (3)

5.2 Determination of ∆L
where L n,r,o is defined in 4.2 and ∆L is defined in 4.3. The impact sound improvement ∆L of the floor covering shall
be determined according to NTACOU 029, NTACOU 031 and
4.5 Weighted normalized impact sound pressure level NT ACOU 050. ∆L shall be calculated to one decimal place.
This is the single number quantity in terms of which the
normalized impact sound pressure level is evaluated The measurements shall be made in a laboratory which
according to IS0 717/2-1982. The symbol of this index is L,,,. satisfies the demands in NT ACOU 031.
NORDTEST METHOD NTACOU 034 3

-5
-6
-7

\ 8

1. 22 mm chipboard, nailed or screwed to the floor boards 5. 20 - 25 mm sound floor boards of wood
2. 20 - 25 mm floor boards of wood tongued and grooved 6. 8 0 mm air gap
3. 70 x 220 mm timber joists at 600 mm centres 7. 2 0 - 25 mm secondary spaced ceiling battens
4. Pugging of 50 mm sand 8. 2 0 - 25 mm laths and plaster

Fig. 1 The construction of the standard timber joist floor.

The plaster ceiling can be replaced by gypsum
boards which are adherently mounted to the
ceiling battens.

To determine an improvement index for concrete floors, the 6 EXPRESSION OF RESULTS

flooring shall be tested on a homogeneous concrete slab floor It shall be clearly stated whether ∆L, has been determined for
according to the specifications in NT ACOU 031 and concrete floors or timber joist floors with plaster ceilings. This
NT ACOU 050. The thickness of the reinforced concrete slab can be done by writing
should be 150 + 50 mm.
∆Lw = . . . dB (on concrete floors)
To determine an improvement index for timber joist floors with AL,,t = . . . dB ( on timber joist floors with plaster
plaster ceilings, the flooring shall be tested on a standard ceilings)
timber floor constructed according to figure 1. The frequency
characteristics of the standard timber floor without flooring ∆L, is always an integer.
should conform to the shape of the spectrum of the reference
timber floor in table 1. Note ∆L, for timber joist floors is always smaller than
the corresponding improvement index
The surface of the standard floor should be flat to ± 1 mm in determined for concrete floors.
a horizontal distance of 200 mm, and sufficiently hard to
endure the impacts of the tapping machine.

5.3 Evaluation of L,
The normalized impact sound pressure level of the reference
floor with the floor covering laid, L,,,, is determined according
to equation (3). The weighted normalized impact sound
pressure level of the reference floor with flooring, Ln,w,T, is then
determined according to NT ACOU 064. Finally, the weighted
impact sound improvement index ∆L, is given by the
difference
AL = L”,W, $J - L,,,, (4)
where L n,,,r,o is the weighted index for the reference floor
without flooring as given in section 5.1. An
example is given in Annex C.
7 TEST REPORT
With reference to this NORDTEST method the test report shall
include:
4 name of the organization that has made the
measurements and derivations
a description of the floor covering and the standard floor
b)
c) the impact sound improvement values, ∆L
4 the weighted impact sound improvement index, ∆Lw,
with a statement whether the value has been
determined for concrete floors or timber joist floors with
plaster ceilings.
NORDTEST METHOD NTACOU 034 4
ANNEX A

CLASSIFICATION OF FLOORINGS ON CONCRETE

REFERENCE FLOOR
This annex is not an integral part of the NORDTEST method.

The scale used for classification of the weighted impact sound

improvement ALW,c f ro m the Swedish Standard
SS 92 35 51 is given in the table.

Class Improvement of ∆Lw,c,

3 < 5 dB
4 5 - 9dB
5 10 - 13 dB
6 14 -17dB
7 1 8 - 2 1 dB
8 > 21 dB

Note -The Swedish Standard uses the old index IAi and it has
not yet been revised. In the table this index has been
translated into ∆Lw,c by using the relation:
AL,,, = IAi - 4 dB.
NORDTEST METHOD NTACOU 034 5
ANNEX B

SUSPENDED CEILINGS
This annex is not an integral part of the NORDTEST method.

This method can also be used for suspended ceilings. The

same rules shall be applied as for floor coverings. However, it
is important to remember that the actual improvement in
buildings can be smaller than the values obtained by this
method, if there is a significant flanking transmission via the
party floor. This limitation should be more accentuated for
concrete floors than for timber constructions.
NORDTEST METHOD NTACOU 034 6
ANNEX C

EXAMPLE
This annex is not an integral part of the NORDTEST method.

A sheet vinyl floor covering has been tested in a laboratory

both on a standard concrete floor and on a timber joist floor
constructed according to figure 1. The measurement results
(AL) and the weighted impact sound improvement indices
obtained are presented below as an example of the
application of this NORDTEST method.

a) Results for concrete floor b) Results for timber joist floor with plaster ceiling

Frequency L,,, L,r = L,r,o - ∆L Frequency L n,r,o AL L,r = L,r,o - ∆L

(Hz) (dB) (dB) (Hz) (dB) (dB) (dB)
100 67,0 3,8 63,2 100 80,0 1,4 78,6
125 67,5 3,8 63,7 125 84,0 1,5 82,5
160 68,0 4,3 63,7 160 84,0 1,0 83,0
200 68,5 4,3 64,2 200 82,0 1,4 80,6
250 69,0 4,4 64,6 250 80,0 1,8 78,2
315 69,5 4,9 64,6 315 78,0 2,2 75,8
400 70,0 5,5 64,5 400 76,0 3,0 73,0
500 70,5 6,5 64,0 500 74,0 4,6 69,4
630 71,0 8,0 63,0 630 72,0 6,4 65,6
800 71,5 9,7 61,8 800 69,0 8,3 60,7
10 0 0 72,0 12,5 59,5 1000 66,0 10,9 55,1
1250 72,0 15,9 56,1 1250 63,0 13,3 49,7
1600 72,0 20,5 51,5 1600 60,0 14,0 46,0
20 0 0 72,0 26,0 46,0 2000 57,0 12,8 44,2
25 0 0 72,0 33,2 38,8 2500 54 10,6 43,4
3150 72,0 40,9 31,1 3150 51 ,o 6,1 44,9
Indices: L,,,,,, AL,,, L n,w,r Indices: L n,w,r,o 4Lw,t L n,w,r
= 78 - 6 0 = 75 - 7 3
= 78dB =18dB =60dB =75dB =2dB =73dB