ASTM E557-93
(Guide)Standard Guide for The Installation of Operable Partitions
Standard Guide for The Installation of Operable Partitions
SCOPE
1.1 This guide describes options of intructions recommended to be considered in preparation for, and application and installation of, operable partitions and, to some extent, in the design of the building in which they are installed. Operable partitions are those that are quickly movable.
1.2 Excluded from this guide are those partitions that are classified by the building products industry as demountable. Demountable partitions are those that are designed and installed with the intent of later being taken down and re-erected by a crew over a period of time, with the components being reusable.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety problems, 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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Designation: E 557 – 93
Standard Practice for
Architectural Application and Installation of Operable
Partitions
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 557; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope the basis of laboratory tests in accordance with Test Method
E 90 and Classification E 413.
1.1 This practice describes procedures to be followed in
3.2 Because normal building design and construction prac-
preparation for, and application and installation of, operable
tices are not the same as those used in acoustical laboratories,
partitions and, to some extent, in the design of the building in
actual field performance of operable partitions may be less than
which they are installed. Operable partitions are those that are
that of test specimens. Sound transmission between areas to be
quickly movable.
isolated will occur through all of the connecting building
1.2 Excluded from this practice are those partitions that are
components in addition to the operable partition, that is, floor
classified by the building products industry as demountable.
and ceiling slabs, ceiling plenums, common walls, etc. All
Demountable partitions are those that are designed and in-
possible paths between the areas being isolated should have a
stalled with the intent of later being taken down and re-erected
sound insulation performance at least equal to the operable
by a crew over a period of time, with the components being
partition. Unless good acoustical practice is followed in both
reusable.
building design and installation, there may be a significant
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
discrepancy between the sound isolation expected and that
safety problems, if any, associated with its use. It is the
achieved.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
3.3 Because of the complex nature of the sound flanking
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
paths adjacent to operable partitions, it is highly recommended
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
that all related construction details be reviewed by a person
2. Referenced Documents
qualified in acoustical construction.
3.4 This practice does not specify requirements. However,
2.1 ASTM Standards:
persons desiring to write installation and construction specifi-
E 90 Test Method for Laboratory Measurement of Airborne
cations may find the contents useful in developing require-
Sound Transmission Loss of Building Partitions
ments for the site preparation, and installation practices nec-
E 336 Test Method for Measurement of Airborne Sound
essary to minimize leakage and flanking sound around the
Insulation in Buildings
operable partition.
E 413 Classification for Rating Sound Insulation
E 497 Practice for Installing Sound-Isolating Lightweight
4. Properties of Operable Partitions
Partitions
4.1 There are several types of operable partitions. Some are
E 1155 Test Method for Determining Floor Flatness and
supported by overhead track with or without a floor guide or
Levelness Using the F-Number System
track. They may be manual or power-operated. One type
E 1155M Test Method for Determining Floor Flatness and
consists of movable panels secured in place by vertical
Levelness Using the F-Number System (Metric)
expansion to seal against the floor and ceiling. Seals or gaskets
3. Significance and Use
are of many kinds; some consist of resilient material that
maintains continuous flexible contact with floor or ceiling, and
3.1 Rooms formed by operable partitions must often be
some include a mechanical, hydraulic or pneumatic mechanism
isolated acoustically. Sound-isolating properties of operable
that maintains clearance when in motion and a positive seal
partitions are specified by architects in terms of sound trans-
when finally closed.
mission class (STC) and so advertised by the manufacturer on
4.2 Sound Leaks:
4.2.1 The seals at the top of the partitions should make
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E-33 on Environ-
continuous contact with smooth surfaces on both sides of the
mental Acoustics and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E33.04on
operable partitions. The sound path through an insufficient seal,
Application of Acoustical Materials and Systems.
Current edition approved Apr. 15, 1993. Published June 1993. Originally
up and over the track, and out on the other side through the
published as E 557-75. Last previous edition E 557-92.
insufficient seal constitutes a serious sound leak.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.06.
3 4.2.2 When a partition consists of several panels, leaks may
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.07.
Copyright © ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
E 557
occur at the vertical joints when the seals at the joint are not hollow spaces must be blocked directly above the operable
tight. partition. The sound transmission loss provided by the block-
4.3 Sound Flanking Paths—Although the operable partition ing barrier should be equal to or greater than that provided by
may be an adequate barrier itself, sound may pass from one the operable partition.
side to the other by going over, around, or under the partition. 5.1.2 When a plenum is part of the air conditioning system,
The passage of sound by paths other than directly through the a sound-attenuating duct or silencer should be provided
partition itself is called flanking transmission. through the barrier wall. The composite attenuation of the duct
or silencer, and the ceiling, should be equal to or greater than
5. Recommendations
the sound transmission loss of the partition (see Fig. 2).
5.1.3 Generally, track systems for operable partitions are
5.1 Area Above Track:
installed during the early phases of building interior construc-
5.1.1 If there is a plenum above the partition, sound may
tion. The panels are often among the last items installed in the
pass up through the ceiling on one side and down through the
building. The barrier above the track may be built between
ceiling on the other. A barrier should be erected directly above
these two events. To level the track after the weight of the
the operable partitions. This barrier, in conjunction with the
panels is applied, manufacturers and installers of operable
ceiling, should have a sound transmission loss equal to or
partitions request access to the area above the track. This can
greater than that of the partition. The barrier is best designed as
conflict with the need to build a barrier in the same area. It is
part of the building and not added as an afterthought (see Fig.
important to work out a design that provides an adequate
1). Often a seemingly solid ceiling has hollows behind it, such
acoustical barrier and allows access for adjustment of the track.
as spaces between the joists, or spaces in corrugated decks, that
If built-in access doors or removable gypsum board panels are
provide a flanking path around an operable partition below. The
used for this purpose, they must be sealed at the periphery with
solid or closed cell gaskets.
5.1.4 If doors or removable panels used to cover openings in
a monolithic ceiling, to gain access for servicing partition drive
train components, the openings should be sufficiently large to
permit all service operations without modification or damage to
the ceiling. The covers must be sealed at the periph
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