Sound classification of dwellings in the Nordic countries – Differences and similarities between the five national schemes

In all five Nordic countries, sound classification schemes for dwellings have been published in national standards being implemented and revised gradually since the late 1990s. The national classification criteria for dwellings originate from a common Nordic INSTA-B proposal from the 1990s, thus having several similarities.
In 2012, status is that number and denotations of classes for dwellings are identical in the Nordic countries, but the structures of the standards and several details are quite different. Also the issues dealt with are different. Examples of differences are sound insulation internally in dwellings, classification of outdoor areas and verification of compliance with a specific quality class. Furthermore, classification of other types of buildings like schools and offices has been included in Norway, Finland and Iceland, but not in Denmark, and Sweden has a separate standard for classification of such buildings.
This paper presents and compares the main class criteria for sound insulation of dwellings and summarizes differences and similarities in criteria and in structures of standards.
Classification schemes for dwellings also exist in several other countries in Europe and with an even higher diversity, impeding exchange of experience about constructions and creating trade barriers like in the Nordic countries.