ASTM E497-99

Standard Practice for Installing Sound-Isolating Lightweight Partitions (Withdrawn 2008)

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
Many of the benefits of walls with high sound transmission class ratings (STC), can be lost because of poor construction details or improper installation. Established reputable manufacturers of building materials and systems exercise great care to properly determine the acoustical performance of their products and, specifically, the ability of wall systems to attenuate sound. The laboratory-measured performance of partitions will not be achieved in buildings unless both the construction details of the acoustically rated wall and the installation details such as described in this procedure are strictly followed. This practice is intended to emphasize several factors that can substantially reduce the sound insulation of an otherwise good wall and to illustrate satisfactory solutions.
The STC rating of the partition alone does not necessarily determine the acoustic privacy of the total construction.
Note 1—Adherence to the precautions described in this recommended practice for control of sound leaks and flanking transmission should help achieve the noise reduction anticipated by laboratory tests. However, it is cautioned that the control of workmanship, materials, and site conditions is not as simple as it is in a laboratory.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers measures intended to prevent situations or conditions that will detract from the sound-insulating properties of acoustically-rated lightweight partitions. It is not intended to include all sound insulating constructions. Many acoustically-rated partitions are also fire rated and when being installed must be built in accordance with the construction details specified in the fire test construction. In any event, applicable building codes and regulations should be checked for possible conflicts.  
1.2 Excluded from this scope are masonry type partitions having all or part of their construction from brick, concrete block, aggregate block, plaster block, poured concrete, etc. Also excluded are operable and demountable partitions (Operable are those partitions with a mechanism for easy movement; demountable partitions are those which 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). Not excluded are those partitions which are lightweight but have thin brick, tile, or plaster on one or both faces.  
1.3 Plumbing wall and kitchen problems are excluded from this document.  
1.4 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.  
1.5 This standard may involve hazardous materials, operations, and equipment. This standard does not purport to address all of the safety problems 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.
WITHDRAWN RATIONALE
Formerly under the jurisdiction of Committee E33 on Building and Environmental Acoustics, this practice was withdrawn in January 2008 in accordance with section 10.5.3.1 of the Regulations Governing ASTM Technical Committees, which requires that standards shall be updated by the end of the eighth year since the last approval date.

General Information

• Status: Withdrawn
• Publication Date: 09-Aug-1999
• Withdrawal Date: 11-Feb-2008
• ICS: 91.060.10 - Walls. Partitions. Facades
• ICS: 91.120.20 - Acoustics in building. Sound insulation
• Technical Committee: E33 - Building and Environmental Acoustics
• Drafting Committee: E33.04 - Application of Acoustical Materials and Systems

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation:E497–99
Standard Practice for
1
Installing Sound-Isolating Lightweight Partitions
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 497; 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 C 919 Practice for Use of Sealants in Acoustical Applica-
3
tions
1.1 This practice covers measures intended to prevent situ-
E 90 Test Method for Laboratory Measurement of
ations or conditions that will detract from the sound-insulating
2
Airborne-Sound Transmission Loss of Building Partitions
properties of acoustically-rated lightweight partitions. It is not
E 336 Test Method for Measurement of Airborne Sound
intended to include all sound insulating constructions. Many
2
Insulation in Buildings
acoustically-rated partitions are also fire rated and when being
2
E 413 Classification for Rating Sound Insulation
installed must be built in accordance with the construction
E 597 Practice for Determining Single-Number Rating of
details specified in the fire test construction. In any event,
Airborne Sound Isolation for Use in Multi-Unit Building
applicable building codes and regulations should be checked
2
Specifications
for possible conflicts.
1.2 Excluded from this scope are masonry type partitions
3. Terminology
having all or part of their construction from brick, concrete
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
block, aggregate block, plaster block, poured concrete, etc.
3.1.1 caulking—a non-hardening permanently resilient ma-
Also excluded are operable and demountable partitions (Oper-
terial used to seal sound leaks and to damp vibration.
able are those partitions with a mechanism for easy movement;
3.1.2 sound leaks—openings, often extremely small holes
demountable partitions are those which are designed and
orcracks,throughwhichsoundcanpass.Ingeneral,anairleak
installed with the intent of later being taken down and
is a sound leak.
re-erected by a crew over a period of time, with the compo-
3.1.3 short-circuit—to reduce the transmission loss of a
nents being reusable). Not excluded are those partitions which
partition by direct connections that have low resistance to
are lightweight but have thin brick, tile, or plaster on one or
sound.
both faces.
3.2 Definitions—for additional definitions of terms used in
1.3 Plumbing wall and kitchen problems are excluded from
this standard, see Terminology C 634.
this document.
1.4 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
4. Summary of Practice
as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for
4.1 This practice details precautions that should be taken
information only.
during the installation of lightweight partitions to maximize
1.5 This standard may involve hazardous materials, opera-
their sound insulating effectiveness. Potential problems with
tions, and equipment. This standard does not purport to
flanking sound transmission and sound leaks are discussed and
address all of the safety concerns associated with its use. It is
methods to avoid these are offered. A number of figures and
the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish
drawings are included to illustrate the potential errors and
appropriate safety and health practices and determine the
suggested precautions.
applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
5. Significance and Use
2. Referenced Documents
5.1 Many of the benefits of walls with high sound transmis-
2.1 ASTM Standards:
2 sion class ratings (STC), can be lost because of poor construc-
C 634 Terminology Relating to Environmental Acoustics
tion details or improper installation. Established reputable
manufacturers of building materials and systems exercise great
care to properly determine the acoustical performance of their
1
products and, specifically, the ability of wall systems to
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E-33 on Environ-
mental Acoustics, and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E 33.04 on
attenuate sound. The laboratory-measured performance of
Application of Acoustical Materials and Systems.
Current edition approved August 10, 1999. Published September 1999. Origi-
e1
nally published as E 497 – 73 T. Last previous edition E 497 – 89 (1994) .
2 3
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.06. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.07.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
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E497
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