Rating the impact sound insulation of flooring from its airborne sound reduction index

With the increasing adoption of higher density forms of dwellings in urban environments we need reliable but economic means of verifying that they meet specified sound insulation requirements. This is particularly so now that territorial and building code authorities are realising that performance checking is an indispensible part of the quality assurance process. This presentation concerns a simplified way of confirming the impact noise insulation in buildings. This makes impact sound insulation rating possible without the need to make impact sound pressure level measurements. The technique estimates the impact sound level by using an accelerometer attached to a hammer (similar to those used in the standard tapping machine) to measure the reaction force from the floor and combines this with the floor's sound reduction index. The method simplifies the equipment required for impact sound insulation rating and allows measurements to be made in the presence of high background noise.