ASTM E336-97
(Test Method)Standard Test Method for Measurement of Airborne Sound Insulation in Buildings
Standard Test Method for Measurement of Airborne Sound Insulation in Buildings
SCOPE
1.1 Measures of Acoustical Insulation- This test method covers procedures for determining the sound insulation between two rooms in a building. The evaluation may be made including all paths by which sound is transmitted or attention may be focused only on the dividing partition. The word "partition" in this test method includes all types of walls, floors, or any other boundaries separating two spaces. The boundaries may be permanent, operable, or movable.
1.2 Application to Building Specifications:
1.2.1 Sound Transmission Class or Transmission Loss Specifications- Building specifications may require that partitions have a certain minimum sound transmission class (STC) or transmission losses (TL). When it is required to demonstrate that a specific partition in a finished building complies with such specifications, a test satisfying the requirements of Annex A1 will be required.
1.2.1.1 Measurements may be made in accordance with the main body of this test method and with the requirements in Annex A1 without taking any steps to eliminate flanking transmission along paths other than that through the common partition. Transmission loss values can then be calculated as though the partition in question were the only transmission path. These apparent transmission loss values give a lower limit for the performance of the partition. Clearly when these values exceed the specifications, no further investigation is needed. If the partition is apparently not in compliance, then the procedures described in Annex A2 to reduce flanking transmission should be followed and the partition re-tested.
1.2.2 Sound Isolation Specifications- where a building code specifies minimum values of noise isolation class (NIC) or normalized noise isolation class (NNIC), then only the procedures in the main body of the test method are necessary. Of the available single-number ratings, NNIC relates best to occupant satisfaction in an occupied building.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
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Standards Content (Sample)
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Designation:E336–97
Standard Test Method for
Measurement of Airborne Sound Insulation in Buildings
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E336; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (ϵ) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
INTRODUCTION
This test method is part of a set of standards for evaluating the sound-insulating properties of
building elements. It is designed to measure the sound isolation between two rooms or the
performance of a partition element installed as an interior part of a building. Others in the set cover
the airborne sound transmission loss of an isolated partition element in a controlled laboratory
environment (Test Method E90E90), the laboratory measurement of impact sound transmission
throughfloors(TestMethodE492E492),themeasurementofimpactsoundtransmissioninbuildings
(Test Method E1007E1007), the measurement of sound transmission through building facades and
facade elements (Guide E966E966), the measurement of sound transmission through a common
plenum between two rooms (Test Method E1414E1414), a quick method for the determination of
airborne sound isolation in multiunit buildings (Practice E597E597), and the measurement of sound
transmission through door panels and systems (Test Method E1408E1408).
1. Scope path. These apparent transmission loss values give a lower
limit for the performance of the partition. Clearly when these
1.1 Measures of Acoustical Insulation—This test method
values exceed the specifications, no further investigation is
covers procedures for determining the sound insulation be-
needed. If the partition is apparently not in compliance, then
tween two rooms in a building. The evaluation may be made
the procedures described in Annex A2 to reduce flanking
including all paths by which sound is transmitted or attention
transmission should be followed and the partition retested.
may be focused only on the dividing partition. The word
1.2.2 Sound Isolation Specifications—Where a building
“partition” in this test method includes all types of walls,
code specifies minimum values of noise isolation class (NIC)
floors, or any other boundaries separating two spaces. The
or normalized noise isolation class (NNIC), then only the
boundaries may be permanent, operable, or movable.
procedures in the main body of the test method are necessary.
1.2 Application to Building Specifications:
Of the available single number ratings, NNIC relates best to
1.2.1 Sound Transmission Class or Transmission Loss
occupant satisfaction in an occupied building.
Specifications—Building specifications may require that parti-
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
tions have a certain minimum sound transmission class (STC)
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
ortransmissionlosses(TL).Whenitisrequiredtodemonstrate
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
that a specific partition in a finished building complies with
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
such specifications, a test satisfying the requirements ofAnnex
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
A1 will be required.
1.2.1.1 Measurements may be made in accordance with the
2. Referenced Documents
main body of this test method and with the requirements in
2.1 ASTM Standards:
Annex A1 without taking any steps to eliminate flanking
C634 Terminology Relating to Environmental Acoustics
transmission along paths other than that through the common
E90 Test Method for Laboratory Measurement ofAirborne
partition. Transmission loss values can then be calculated as
Sound Transmission Loss of Building Partitions
though the partition in question were the only transmission
E413 Classification for Rating Sound Insulation
E492 Test Method for Laboratory Measurement of Impact
Sound Transmission Through Floor-Ceiling Assemblies
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E-33 on
Using the Tapping Machine
EnvironmentalAcousticsandisthedirectresponsibilityofSubcommitteeE33.03on
Sound Transmission.
Current edition approved March 10, 1997. Published August 1997. Originally
published as E336–71. Last previous edition E336–96. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.06.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Please contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
E336–97
E597 Practice for Determining a Single-Number Rating of and radiated on the other side. The quantity so obtained is
Airborne Sound Isolation for Use in Multiunit Building expressed in decibels. (See Eq 10.)
Specifications
3.2.6 field sound transmission class, FSTC—the sound
E966 Guide for Field Measurement of Airborne Sound
transmission class of a partition installed in a building derived
Insulation of Building Facades and Facade Elements
from values of field transmission loss in accordance with
E1007 Test Method for Field Measurement of Tapping
Classification E413E413.
Machine Impact Sound Transmission Through Floor-
3.2.7 flanking transmission—sound that travels between a
Ceiling Assemblies and Associated Support Structures
sourceandareceivingroomalongpathsotherthanthroughthe
E1408 Test Method for Laboratory Measurement of the
partition dividing the two rooms.
Sound Transmission Loss of Door Panels and Door Sys-
tems
4. Summary of Test Method
E1414 Test Method for Airborne Sound Attenuation Be-
4.1 The noise reduction between two rooms in a building is
tween Rooms Sharing a Common Ceiling Plenum
obtained by measuring the difference between the average
2.2 ANSI Standards:
sound pressure levels in each room at specified frequencies in
S1.4 Specification for Sound Level Meters
one-third octave bands when one room, the source room,
S1.10 Pressure Calibration of Laboratory Standard Pressure
contains a source of noise.
Microphones
4.2 The rate of decay of sound in the receiving room is
S1.11 Specification for Octave-Band and Fractional-
measured to enable calculation of room sound absorption or
Octave—Band Analog and Digital Filters
normalization factors.
S12.31 Precision Methods for the Determination of Sound
PowerLevelsofBroadBandNoiseSourcesinReverbera- 4.3 The noise reduction may be normalized to a reference
tion Rooms reverberation time of 0.5 s (see 3.2.2).
2.3 IEC Standard:
4.4 When room size and absorption requirements are satis-
IEC 804 Specification for Integrating Sound Level Meters
fiedsosoundfieldsaresufficientlydiffuseandwhenflankingis
not significant, the field transmission loss may be calculated
3. Terminology
and reported (see the conditions inAnnexA1 andAnnexA2).
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in this test
method, see Terminology C634C634. 5. Significance and Use
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
5.1 Measurement of Sound Isolation—If the purpose of the
3.2.1 noise reduction, NR—in sound transmission measure-
test is to determine the existing degree of sound isolation
ments, in a specified frequency band, the difference between
between a certain pair of adjacent spaces (rooms), any pecu-
the average sound pressure levels measured in two enclosed
liarities of the environment or of the partition common to the
spaces or rooms due to one or more sound sources in one of
two rooms, including existing flanking transmission paths,
them.
must be considered as part of the whole structure to be tested.
3.2.2 normalized noise reduction, NNR—the noise reduc-
No preparation of the test specimen is either needed or
tion between rooms that would exist if the reverberation time,
permitted. Pertinent measures are the noise reduction (NR),
T, in the receiving room were 0.5 s.
noiseisolationclass(NIC),normalizednoisereduction(NNR),
and normalized noise isolation class (NNIC) and the proce-
NOTE 1—The normalized noise reduction is approximately equal to the
noise reduction that would exist between the rooms when ordinarily
dures in Annex A1 and Annex A2 need not be followed.
furnished.
5.1.1 The main text of this test method specifies procedures
3.2.3 noise isolation class, NIC—a single-number rating and requirements for measuring the noise reduction between
derivedfrommeasuredvaluesofnoisereductioninaccordance
two enclosed spaces or rooms. If these requirements are
with Classification E413E413. satisfied, noise reduction measurements can always be made.
When all sound paths, including flanking transmission paths,
NOTE 2—NIC provides a measure of the sound isolation between two
areincludedinthemeasurements,noisereductionisaproperty
enclosed spaces that are acoustically connected by one or more paths.
of the two adjacent spaces, all connecting structures and the
3.2.4 normalized noise isolation class, NNIC—a single-
separatingpartition.Undersuchconditions,thenoisereduction
number rating, similar to noise isolation class, except that it is
or normalized noise reduction provides a measure of the sound
derived from measured values of normalized noise reduction.
isolation between the spaces.
3.2.5 field transmission loss, FTL—ofapartitioninstalledin
5.2 Transmission Loss Measurement—Tests may be made
abuilding,inaspecifiedfrequencyband,10timesthecommon
todemonstratethatthesoundattenuationofaspecificpartition
logarithm of the ratio, of the airborne sound power incident on
in a building complies with a specification. Or, test data, along
the partition to the sound power transmitted by the partition
withothertestdataonnominallyidenticaltestspecimens,may
be used to typify the field performance of a particular partition
type. In such cases, care should be taken to see that all
Available from American National Standards Institute, 11 W. 42nd St., 13th
conditions are “typical,” that the hazards of measurements are
Floor, New York, NY 10036.
minimized, as specified in 6.2, and that all significant flanking
Available from International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), 3 rue de
Varembé, P.O. Box 131, 1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland. iseliminated.AnnexA2describesproceduresforcheckingthat
NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Please contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
E336–97
no substantial flanking is present. Pertinent measures are field not be used for test purposes unless the small size is charac-
sound transmission loss (FTL) and field sound transmission teristic of the construction being investigated, for example, a
class (FSTC). door.Any exceptional features shall be made clear in reporting
the results.
NOTE 3—It is sometimes possible to use Practice E597E597 to
6.4 Determine the radiating area of the test partition in the
determine if the acoustical isolation between two rooms is sufficient to
receiving room with careful attention to what elements consti-
meet building specifications.
tute the test specimen. If the test partition presents different
5.2.1 The procedures and requirements described in Annex
areastothesourceandreceivingrooms,usetheareaofthepart
A1 andAnnexA2 must be followed when the sound transmis-
common to both rooms. In this case, however, the test results
sionlosspropertiesofapartitionarerequired.Theproblemsof
may deviate considerably from the results for a partition with
measuring the sound transmission loss properties of a partition
the same area exposed on both sides.
in the field are much more difficult than those found in the
6.5 Flanking Transmission—In almost all installations in
laboratory or those associated with the field measurement of
thefield,soundcanarriveinthereceivingspacebypathsother
room-to-room sound isolation. In ordinary buildings, (1) a
than that directly through the partition nominally under test
great variety of room shapes and sizes will be encountered; (2)
(1,2). Flanking transmission includes structure-borne sound
the amount of energy exchange at the nominal boundaries of
transmitted to the partition by the other surfaces (side walls,
the test specimen will vary widely; and (3) there is almost
floor, ceiling) of the source room. Whether flanking transmis-
always a problem of flanking transmission. Such variations
sion includes possible leaks around the edge of the partition
influence the test results to a degree that is not generally
depends on the type of partition and the purpose of the test.A
predictable. Therefore, there may be substantial differences
decisionmustbemadeastowhethertheleaksaroundtheedge
between sound transmission losses of similar partitions when
are a part of the partition. Any such decisions must be
measured in the laboratory and when measured in normal
described in the test report.
buildings, even though efforts are made to minimize leaks and
6.6 Drying and Curing Period—Test specimens that incor-
flanking transmission (1). The procedures and requirements
porate materials for which there is a curing or drying process
describedinAnnexA1andAnnexA2areintendedtominimize
(for example, adhesives, plasters, concrete, mortar, and damp-
thesedifferences.Noeffortshallbemadetoadjustfielddatato
ingcompound)shallageforasufficientintervalbeforetesting.
laboratory values under this test method.
Aging periods for certain common materials are recommended
5.2.2 It is possible that problems raised by flanking trans-
inTestMethodE90E90andsummarizedinTable1ofthistest
mission or by an unusual field-test situation will make the
method.
measurementoffieldtransmissionlosssodifficultormeaning-
less as to be impractical. If this is so, it is preferable to
7. Test Signal
acknowledge the fact instead of attempting to apply an
7.1 Signal Spectrum—Thesoundsignalsusedforthesetests
inappropriate measurement procedure.
shall be random noise containing an approximately continuous
6. Test Specimens distribution of frequencies over each test band.
7.2 Bandwidth—The measurement bandwidth shall be one-
6.1 The special significance of this field test method is that
thirdoctave.Specifically,theoverallfrequencyresponseofthe
measurements are made with partitions as found in the field in
electricalsystem,includingthefilterorfiltersinthesourceand
normally constructed buildings. Nevertheless, some judgment
microphone sections, shall for each test band conform to the
must be used to ensure that the field conditions, as found, are
specifications inANSI S1.11 for a one-third octave band filter
consistent with the purposes of the
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