ASTM E2179-01
(Test Method)Standard Test Method for Laboratory Measurement of the Effectiveness of Floor Coverings in Reducing Impact Sound Transmission Through Concrete Floors
Standard Test Method for Laboratory Measurement of the Effectiveness of Floor Coverings in Reducing Impact Sound Transmission Through Concrete Floors
SCOPE
1.1 This test method describes a method for the laboratory measurement of the effectiveness of floor coverings in reducing impact noise from a standard tapping machine through concrete floors. The test results are not necessarily directly related to the subjective evaluations of the floor coverings.
1.2 This test method applies to all floor coverings, whether single or multi-layered, as installed on a standard concrete floor. Multi-layered coverings may be factory-assembled or assembled at the test laboratory.
1.3 The test method applies only to laboratory measurements. It does not apply to the measurement of the effectiveness of a floor covering in a field situation.
1.4 Laboratory Accreditation—A procedure for accrediting a laboratory for performing this test method is given in Method E 492.
1.5 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: E 2179 – 01
Standard Test Method for
Laboratory Measurement of the Effectiveness of Floor
Coverings in Reducing Impact Sound Transmission
Through Concrete Floors
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 2179; 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.
INTRODUCTION
This test method is part of a set for evaluating the sound-insulating properties of building elements.
It is designed to measure the reduction in transmission of impact sound due to a floor covering in a
laboratory. Others in the set include the measurement of sound isolation in buildings ( Test
MethodE 336), the laboratory methods of measuring airborne sound transmisssion loss of building
partitions such as walls, floor-ceiling assemblies, doors, and other space-dividing elements ( Test
Method E 90); the laboratory measurement of impact sound transmission through floors ( Test Method
E 492), the measurement of impact sound transmission in buildings ( Test Method E 1007), the
measurement of sound transmission through building facades and facade elements ( Guide E 966), and
the measurement of sound transmission through a common plenum between two rooms (Method
E 1414).
1. Scope C 634 Terminology Relating to Environmental Acoustics
E 90 Test Method for Laboratory Measurement of Airborne
1.1 This test method describes a method for the laboratory
Sound Transmission Loss of Building Partitions and Ele-
measurement of the effectiveness of floor coverings in reducing
ments
impact noise from a standard tapping machine through con-
E 336 Test Method for Measurement of Airborne Sound
crete floors. The test results are not necessarily directly related
Insulation In Buildings
to the subjective evaluations of the floor coverings.
E 492 Test Method for Laboratory Measurement of Impact
1.2 This test method applies to all floor coverings, whether
Sound Transmission through Floor-Ceiling Assemblies
single or multi-layered, as installed on a standard concrete
Using the Tapping Machine
floor. Multi-layered coverings may be factory-assembled or
E 966 Guide for Field Measurements of Airborne Sound
assembled at the test laboratory.
Insulation of Building Facades and Facade Elements
1.3 The test method applies only to laboratory measure-
E 989 Classification for Determination of Impact Insulation
ments. It does not apply to the measurement of the effective-
Class (IIC)
ness of a floor covering in a field situation.
E 1007 Test Method for Field Measurement of Tapping
1.4 Laboratory Accreditation—A procedure for accrediting
Machine Impact Sound Transmission Through Floor-
a laboratory for performing this test method is given in Method
Ceiling Assemblies and Associated Support Structures
E 492.
E 1414 Test Method for Airborne Sound Attenuation Be-
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
tween Rooms Sharing a Common Ceiling Plenum
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
2.2 ANSI Standards:
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
S1.6 Standard Preferred Frequencies, Frequency Levels,
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
and Band Numbers for Acoustical Measurements
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
S1.10 Pressure Calibration of Laboratory Standard Pressure
2. Referenced Documents Microphones
S1.11 Specification for Octave-band and Fractional-Octave-
2.1 ASTM Standards:
Band Analog and Digital Filters
2.3 ISO Standards:
ISO 717-2 Rating of Sound Insulation in Buildings and of
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E33 on
Environmental Acoustics and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E33.02 on
Open Plan Spaces.
Current edition approved Dec. 10, 2001. Published February 2002. 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 superceded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
E 2179
Building Elements—Part 2: Impact Sound Insulation 5.4 When the impact sound pressure levels below a bare
ISO 140-6 Acoustics—Measurement of Sound Insulation in concrete slab are known, the difference spectrum calculated in
Buildings and of Building Elements—Part 6: Laboratory 13.1 may be used to estimate the impact sound pressure levels
Measurements of Impact Sound Insulation of Floors and hence the IIC that would result if the covering were
ISO 140-8 Acoustics Measurement of Sound Insulation in installed on the slab.
Buildings and of Building Elements—Part 8: Laboratory 5.5 Warning: Difference spectra measured using this
Measurements of the Reduction of Transmitted Impact method shall not be used to estimate impact sound pressure
Noise by Floor Coverings on a Heavyweight Floor levels for floors comprising only one or two lightweight floor
layers such as oriented strandboard or plywood. Such esti-
3. Terminology
mated impact sound pressure levels would be very inaccurate.
3.1 Definitions of the acoustical terms used in this test
NOTE 1—The difference spectrum calculated in 13.1 gives unreliable
method are given in Terminology C 634.
estimates of the reduction in impact sound pressure levels due to the floor
3.2 Descriptions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
covering when it is placed on a joist floor incorporating a concrete topping
3.2.1 floor covering—any resilient material, combination of
(about 50 mm thick) poured directly on the plywood subfloor or steel
resilient materials or combination of resilient material and rigid deck. The estimated impact sound pressure levels are too low.
materials used to provide a finished walking surface on a floor.
5.6 This test method closely follows that described in ISO
This includes all materials between the upper walking surface
140-8 except that the single number rating used is the impact
and the base concrete slab.
insulation class (IIC) described in Classification E 989. The
3.2.2 reference concrete floor—a hypothetical concrete
description of the standard concrete floor also differs.
floor used to calculate changes in impact insulation class
NOTE 2—The requirement in Classification E 989 that no deviation
(DIIC).
above the reference contour may exceed 8 dB means that there is no
3.2.3 standard concrete floor—the actual concrete floor
simple relationship between ISO 140-8 test ratings and those generated by
satisfying the provisions of this method used in the measure-
this method.
ments.
6. Test Rooms
4. Summary of Test Method
6.1 The test rooms shall satisfy the requirements given in
4.1 Two vertically adjacent rooms are used: the upper one
Method E 492.
being designated the source room and the lower one the
7. Standard Concrete Floor
receiving room. A standard concrete floor is installed in an
7.1 The standard concrete floor on which the test coverings
opening between them. The rooms and the floor installation are
are to be installed shall consist of a reinforced concrete slab or
designed so the only significant sound radiation into the
slab sections with a thickness of 150 6 50 mm. The slab or
receiving room is from the standard concrete floor.
slabs shall be homogeneous and of uniform thickness.
4.2 A standard tapping machine is placed and activated on
the standard concrete floor and the impact sound pressure
NOTE 3—A thickness of 150 mm is preferred for new facilities.
levels are measured in the room below. The floor covering to be
7.2 The surface of the test floor shall be smooth and
evaluated is then placed on the standard concrete floor and the
sufficiently hard to endure the impacts of the tapping machine.
impact sound pressure levels measured again.
Any screed applied to the surface of the test floor shall adhere
4.3 The differences in impact sound pressure level are used
solidly at all points so the screed does not chip, crack or
to calculate two single number ratings. The first is an IIC rating
become pulverized.
calculated for the covering installed on the reference concrete
7.3 Inspect the surface of the slab frequently to assess
floor. The second rating, DIIC, represents the calculated
surface damage. Repairs shall be made when the surface is no
reduction in IIC when the covering is placed on the reference
longer smooth.
concrete floor, that is the improvement in IIC due to the
NOTE 4—Altering the position of the tapping machine slightly for each
covering.
test will reduce wear on the standard slab and prolong the life of the
surface.
5. Significance and Use
5.1 The impact sound rating for a floor assembly is deter-
8. Test Specimens
mined both by the basic floor assembly and the floor covering
8.1 Classification of Test Specimens:
on the upper surface. The same floor covering in combination
8.1.1 Category I (Small Specimens)—This category in-
with different basic floor assemblies will not always give the
cludes flexible coverings (plastics, rubber, cork, matting, carpet
same impact insulation class (IIC) ratings. This test method is
or combinations thereof), which are installed loosely or by
designed to provide data that characterize the floor covering
adhesion to the floor surface.
alone when installed over concrete slab floors.
8.1.1.1 Use three samples, preferably from different produc-
5.2 The DIIC rating calculated in 13.4 is used to compare
tion runs but from the same source. Each sample shall measure
the effectiveness of different floor coverings on concrete floors.
at least 1 3 0.5 m.
5.3 The impact insulation class (IIC) calculated for the
reference concrete floor with a covering provides an indication
“Impact Sound Measurements on Floors Covered with Small Patches of
of the impact sound insulation that the covering will provide
Resilient Materials or Floating Assemblies,” A.C.C. Warnock. Internal Report IRC
with typical, monolithic concrete floors. IR-802. National Research Council Canada. January 2000.
NOTICE: This standard has either been superceded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
E 2179
8.1.2 Category II—This category includes rigid, homoge- 12. Procedure
neous surface materials or complex floor coverings of which at
12.1 Measurement of Impact Sound Pressure Level—The
least one constituent is rigid. When the area of the standard
average impact sound pressure level in the receiving room shall
concrete floor is less than 10 m , the specimen shall cover the
be measured as detailed in Method E 492, once with the
whole surface of the standard concrete floor. When the area of
tapping machine striking the bare standard concrete floor and
the standard concrete floor is greater than 10 m , the specimen
once on the floor covering installed on the standard concrete
area need not exceed 10 m provided that the smallest
floor. The paper described in 8.2.2 shall not be present when
dimension of the specimen is not less than 3 m.
measurements are made on the bare floor. The average impact
8.1.3 Materials of Uncertain Classification—In the case of
sound pressure levels are denoted L and L respectively.
0 c
uncertainty as to the appropriate category for a material, the
12.1.1 Category I Specimens—The impact sound pressure
testing laboratory shall decide whether small or large speci-
levels for the bare standard concrete floor shall be obtained by
mens will be tested. In any case the specimen shall be
operating the tapping machine in the middle of each area to be
described in detail in the test report.
occupied by the three small specimens. The three sets of levels
8.2 Preparation and Installation of Test Specimens:
obtained shall be averaged and the result used as L in the
8.2.1 Adhesive Mounting—Install coverings to be mounted
calculations.
with adhesive with great care, normally with adhesive covering
12.1.1.1 The three samples shall be placed side by side on
the entire surface of the test specimen. If the adhesive is
the standard concrete floor. The supporting feet of the tapping
applied in isolated patches, describe the exact procedure in the
machine shall rest on the sample being tested. The tapping
report. Follow strictly the manufacturer’s instructions for use
machine shall be operated on top of each sample in turn in the
of the adhesive, especially with regard to the amount and the
position it occupied on the bare floor and the results averaged
bonding-time. Report the type of adhesive and the bonding-
as specified below. The levels for the three samples shall be
time.
averaged and the result used as L in the calculations.
c
8.2.2 To avoid damage to the standard concrete slab and
12.1.2 Category II Specimens—For the bare standard con-
ease removal of specimens, it is acceptable to first apply a
crete floor and the floor with covering, the standard tapping
removable thin layer such as double-faced tape or thin paper
machine shall be operated in the four positions defined in
using soluble paste. Adhesives for coverings may then be
Method E 492 and the impact sound pressure levels measured
applied to the removable layer. Users shall establish by
for each position.
experiment that such protective coverings have negligible
12.2 Averaging Time, Stationary Microphones—For each
effect on the measurements. The data collected during such
sampling position, the averaging time shall be sufficient to
experiments shall be kept on file and made available on
yield an estimate of the time-averaged level to within 60.5 dB.
request.
This requires longer averaging times at low frequencies than at
8.3 Room Temperature and Humidity—Measure and report
high. For 95 % confidence limits of 6e dB in a one-third
the temperature and the humidity of the air in each room. The
octave band with mid-band frequency f, the integration time, T,
temperature shall be in the range 18 to 25°C in the upper room.
shall be estimated from
8.4 Aging of Specimens—Test specimens that incorporate
materials for which there is a curing process (for example
T 5 (1)
fe
adhesives, plasters, concrete, mortar, damping compound)
Thus at 125 Hz, the minimum averaging time for confidence
shall age for a sufficient interval before testing. Manufacturers
limits of 60.5 dB is 9.9 s. At 100 Hz, an averaging time of 12.4
may supply information about curing times for their products.
Aging periods for certain common materials are given in s is needed. For more information on averaging times, see
footnote.
Methods E 492 and E 90.
12.2.1 If a movin
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