Using color mapping of sound intensity measurement to detect and identify sound isolation weak spots

Abstract

Typically, the ears of a trained acoustician could easily detect and identify the weakest element of a construction system when performing a sound isolation measurement. This typical approach to identify the path that needs to be addressed in order to increase sound isolation performance is however subjective. Because of this subjectiveness, this approach is sometimes challenged by skeptics and those that have a limited knowledge of acoustics. In those situations, a more objective approach and a better communication tool is required. For that purpose, a simple gridded sound intensity measurements combined with a color mapping algorithm is a powerful tool to illustrate the sound isolation weak spots. Examples are presented in order to show how sound isolation deficiencies (or absence of it) could become visually appreciated by building designers, constructors and managers with the use of sound intensity color mapping.