Sound classification of dwellings – A diversity of national schemes in Europe

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    Abstract

    Sound classification schemes for dwellings exist in ten countries in Europe, typically prepared and published as national standards. The schemes define quality classes intended to reflect different levels of acoustical comfort. The main criteria concern airborne and impact sound insulation between dwellings, facade sound insulation and installation noise. This paper presents the sound classification schemes in Europe and compares the class criteria for sound insulation between dwellings.
    The schemes have been implemented and revised gradually since the early 1990s. However, due to lack of coordination, there are significant discrepancies, and new standards and revisions continue to increase the diversity. Descriptors, number of quality classes, class intervals and class levels vary – as well as the status of the classification schemes in relation to regulatory requirements. In some countries, the building code and the classification standard are incoherent, in other countries strongly "integrated", implying that the building code refers to a specific class in a classification standard rather than describing requirements.
    The diversity in Europe is an obstacle for exchange of experience about constructions fulfilling different classes. The current variety of descriptors and classes also causes trade barriers. Thus, there is a need to harmonize characteristics of the schemes, and a European COST Action TU0901 "Integrating and Harmonizing Sound Insulation Aspects in Sustainable Urban Housing Constructions", has been established and runs 2009-2013. The main objectives of TU0901 are to prepare proposals for harmonized sound insulation descriptors and for a European sound classification scheme with a number of quality classes for dwellings.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationProceedings of Forum Acusticum 2011
    Number of pages6
    PublisherEuropean Acoustics Association - EAA
    Publication date2011
    Pages1799-1804
    ISBN (Electronic)978-84-694-1520-7
    Publication statusPublished - 2011
    EventForum Acusticum 2011 - Aalborg, Denmark
    Duration: 27 Jun 20111 Jul 2011
    Conference number: 6

    Conference

    ConferenceForum Acusticum 2011
    Number6
    Country/TerritoryDenmark
    CityAalborg
    Period27/06/201101/07/2011

    Bibliographical note

    ISSN: 221-3767

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