Masking effect of HVAC noise on walking sounds on concrete floors

Abstract

Background noise masks living sounds in apartment buildings. Depending on the sound insulation properties of the structures of the apartments, background noise affects the audibility of the perceived airborne and impact sounds from neighboring dwellings. This preliminary study focused on the masking effect of the background noise generated by HVAC systems on the impact sounds generated by walking on concrete floors. The study was carried out by determining the signal-to-noise ratios of walk induced sound levels on the concrete floors and measured background noise levels. The walking sounds were generated by walking with socks and shoes on nine concrete floors, and the sound pressure levels were measured in a receiving room below the floors. The background noise levels, where these walking sounds were compared, consisted of the results collected in 210 measurements carried out in Finnish apartment buildings. The results of the study show how it is likely that the background noise masks sound from walking with socks and shoes differently. To investigate the phenomenon more in detail, follow-up research has been proposed.