Towards a prediction of the sound transmission from lightweight stairs

Abstract

The sound transmission from lightweight stairs which are connected to separating walls often gives rise for complaints. One reason for this is that at present there is no prediction method available. Treating the stair as an active component in a similar manner like vibrating machines stairs can be characterised as structure‐borne sound sources. The source data then can be used to predict the sound transmission in buildings using parts of EN 12354. Following this approach investigations on a timber stair have been carried out in a staircase test facility. Based on a full characterisation by contact free velocity and mobility and in‐situ measurement using an indirect method, more practical methods like the reception plate method and a characterisation based on a reference power calibration are investigated. The source data obtained was used to predict the sound transmission in buildings.