Direct and flanking airborne sound transmission for hotel guestrooms; results and comments regarding three field tests

Abstract

A “four-and-a-half star” hotel was constructed within an existing historic structure. Among the design/build team there were differences of opinion of what was needed for peace and privacy for hotel guests. Hotel guidelines suggested a moderately high airborne sound transmission class rating for the primary wall partition. Three field tests were conducted during an early phase of construction. A strong flanking transmission path in a corridor wall assembly was discovered during the first test. An error in preparation for this test caused an important opportunity for valuable field test data development to be lost regarding a flanking path via a common ceiling, which points to the kinds of difficulties encountered in conducting field tests. The second test showed improvement in results due to rectification of the corridor wall flanking path. The third test gave information about flanking transmission via the common floor. Comments will be made regarding field testing and flanking sound transmission.