Intercomparison test of sound insulation measurement in test facilities. I

Abstract

The implementation of ISO 140 harmonized at the European level requires for the determination of the characteristic values of building elements that the airborne sound insulation of partitions be measured in test facilities with suppressed flanking transmission. When heavy separating elements are under test, it is also important to take the energy dissipation of the test facility itself into account, as these factors considerably influence the sound insulation measured. Additional measurements of the total loss factor inform about the energy dissipation and may be used to convert sound reduction indices obtained under different test facility conditions. However, in the past two years measuring techniques and experience of loss factor determination have developed to such an extent that reliable results can be obtained now. Moreover, in Germany all test facilities with flanking transmission are to be converted into facilities without flanking transmission. This is why a government-financed intercomparison was carried out, which was aimed at determining the new situation of the German test facilities by measuring the sound insulation of the same solid wall. In addition to the sound insulation, the total loss factors of the partition were measured. The first part of this paper reports on the background, the way of proceeding, and the methods of measurement used for the intercomparison, as well as on the results obtained in a preliminary study at PTB.