Impact Isolation of Floors Revisited

Abstract

Impacts on floors of multi-storey buildings, especially footsteps, are a well known source of annoyance to downstairs neighbours. Structural flanking also can add to the problem. A problem recognised in the measurement and rating of impact noise is that the International Standards Organisation (ISO) recommended source, the tapping machine, is an unrealistically loud airborne source and is an almost continuous force when compared with footsteps. In addition, footsteps contain low frequency energy, not generated by the standard source, which can excite floor resonances. A prototype source has been built and tested which simplifies measurement. It requires less skill to construct and readings can be made in dBA with a simplified rating scheme.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Blazier

W.E.

Jr. and Du Pree

R.B.

, 1994, “Investigation of low frequency footfall noise in wooden frame, multifamily building construction”, Journal of the Acoustical Society of America Vol. 96. No. 3, 1521-1532.

ISO 140/VII-1978, “Methods of Measurement of sound insulation in buildings and of building elements. Part 7. Field measurement of impact sound insulation of floors”.

ISO 717/2-1982, “Rating the sound insulation in buildings and of building elements. Part 2. Method for rating the impact sound insulation”.

Fuchs

G.L.

and Stasyszyn

1979, “Airborne and impact noise level criteria for buildings”, Applied Acoustics Vol. 12, 187-194.