Standard Test Method for Objective Measurement of the Speech Privacy Provided by a Closed Room

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
This test method provides a means of measuring the sound isolation between the interior of a closed room and locations outside the room, and also the background noise levels at the locations outside the room. The results can be used to rate the degree of speech privacy, or to estimate the probability of speech being intelligible or audible at each receiving point.
People speak at different levels and vary their voice level in reaction to room noise and other acoustical factors. Consequently it is not possible to say definitely whether a room is protected against eavesdropping. One can only assign a probability of being overheard. The owners or managers of the closed room under consideration must set criteria for this probability according to their specific goals and circumstances. The non-mandatory appendix gives an approach to setting criteria.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method describes a test procedure for measuring the degree of speech privacy provided by a closed room, for conversations occurring within the room, and with potential eavesdroppers located outside the room.
1.2 The degree of speech privacy measured by this method is that due to the sound insulation of the room structurethe walls, floor, ceiling and any other elements of the room boundariesand to the background noise at listening positions outside the closed the room.
1.3 Potential eavesdroppers are assumed to be unaided by electronic or electroacoustic equipment, and not touching the room boundaries. Determined efforts to eavesdrop are not addressed.
1.4 The method may be applied to any enclosed room, whether specifically intended to be protected against eavesdropping or not.
1.5 The method does not set criteria for adequate speech privacy. A non-mandatory appendix provides guidance on how the results of this test method may be used to estimate the probability of an eavesdropper being able to understand speech outside a closed room, and how to set criteria for such rooms.
1.6 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.7 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)

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: E2638 − 10
Standard Test Method for
Objective Measurement of the Speech Privacy Provided by
1
a Closed Room
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2638; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
INTRODUCTION
This test method is one of a set of standards for evaluating speech privacy in buildings. It is
designed to measure the degree of speech privacy provided by a closed room, indicating the degree
to which conversations occurring within are kept private from listeners outside the room. A related
method (Test Method E1130) deals with assessing speech privacy in open plan spaces.
1. Scope responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
1.1 This test method describes a test procedure for measur-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
ing the degree of speech privacy provided by a closed room,
forconversationsoccurringwithintheroom,andwithpotential
2. Referenced Documents
eavesdroppers located outside the room.
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.2 The degree of speech privacy measured by this method
C634 Terminology Relating to Building and Environmental
is that due to the sound insulation of the room structure—the
Acoustics
walls, floor, ceiling and any other elements of the room
E1130 Test Method for Objective Measurement of Speech
boundaries—and to the background noise at listening positions
Privacy in Open Plan Spaces Using Articulation Index
outside the closed the room.
2.2 ANSI Standards:
1.3 Potential eavesdroppers are assumed to be unaided by
S1.11 Specification for Octave-Band and Fractional-Octave-
3
electronic or electroacoustic equipment, and not touching the
Band Analog and Digital Filters
room boundaries. Determined efforts to eavesdrop are not
S1.43 Specifications for Integrating-Averaging Sound Level
3
addressed.
Meters
1.4 The method may be applied to any enclosed room,
3. Terminology
whether specifically intended to be protected against eaves-
dropping or not.
3.1 The following terms used in this test method have
specific meanings that are defined in Terminology C634:
1.5 The method does not set criteria for adequate speech
airborne sound sound attenuation
privacy.Anon-mandatory appendix provides guidance on how
average sound pressure level sound isolation
the results of this test method may be used to estimate the
background noise sound level
probability of an eavesdropper being able to understand speech
decibel sound pressure level
level source room
outside a closed room, and how to set criteria for such rooms.
octave band white noise
1.6 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as pink noise
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
standard.
3.2.1 receiving point—a location outside the closed room
1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the under consideration where someone might accidentally over-
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the hear or deliberately listen to speech occurring within the room.
1 2
ThistestmethodisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeE33onBuilding For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
and Environmental Acoustics and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
E33.02 on Speech Privacy. Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Current edition approved May 1, 2010. Published May 2010. Originally the ASTM website.
3
approved in 2008. Last previous edition approved in 2008 as E2638–08 DOI: Available fromAmerican National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,
10.1520/E2638-10. 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E2638 − 10
3.2.2 speech privacy class (SPC)—an objective rating of the tion of energy and frequencies over each test band. White or
speech privacy provided by a closed room, calculated as a sum pink electronic noise sources satisfy this condition.
of factors related to sound isolation provided by the room, and
background noise at the receiving point.
7. Frequency Range
7.1 Bandwidth and Filtering—The overall frequency re-
4. Summary of Test Method
sponse of the electrical system, including the filter or filters in
4.1 Sound is generated at a high level in the closed room
the source and microphone sections, shal
...

This document is not anASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of anASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation:E2638–08 Designation: E2638 – 10
Standard Test Method for
Objective Measurement of the Speech Privacy Provided by
1
a Closed Room
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2638; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
INTRODUCTION
This test method is one of a set of standards for evaluating speech privacy in buildings. It is
designed to measure the degree of speech privacy provided by a closed room, indicating the degree
to which conversations occurring within are kept private from listeners outside the room. A related
method (Test Method E1130) deals with assessing speech privacy in open plan spaces.
1. Scope
1.1 This test method describes a test procedure for measuring the degree of speech privacy provided by a closed room, for
conversations occurring within the room, and with potential eavesdroppers located outside the room.
1.2 The degree of speech privacy measured by this method is that due to the sound insulation of the room structure—the walls,
floor, ceiling and any other elements of the room boundaries—and to the background noise at listening positions outside the closed
the room.
1.3 Potential eavesdroppers are assumed to be unaided by electronic or electroacoustic equipment, and not touching the room
boundaries. Determined efforts to eavesdrop are not addressed.
1.4 The method may be applied to any enclosed room, whether specifically intended to be protected against eavesdropping or
not.
1.5 The method does not set criteria for adequate speech privacy. A non-mandatory appendix provides guidance on how the
results of this test method may be used to estimate the probability of an eavesdropper being able to understand speech outside a
closed room, and how to set criteria for such rooms.
1.6 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.7 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.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
C634 Terminology Relating to Building and Environmental Acoustics
E1130 Test Method for Objective Measurement of Speech Privacy in Open Plan Spaces Using Articulation Index
2.2 ANSI Standards:
3
S1.11 Specification for Octave-Band and Fractional-Octave-Band Analog and Digital Filters
3
S1.43 Specifications for Integrating-Averaging Sound Level Meters
3. Terminology
3.1 The following terms used in this test method have specific meanings that are defined in Terminology C634:
airborne sound sound attenuation
average sound pressure level sound isolation
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E33 on Building and Environmental Acoustics and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E33.03
on Sound Transmission.
Current edition approved Nov. 15, 2008. Published December 2008. DOI: 10.1520/E2638-08.
Current edition approved May 1, 2010. Published May 2010. Originally approved in 2008. Last previous edition approved in 2008 as E2638–08 DOI: 10.1520/E2638-10.
2
For referencedASTM standards, visit theASTM website, www.astm.org, or contactASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
3
Available from American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St., 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E2638 – 10
background noise sound level
decibel sound pressure
level
level source room
octave band white noise
pink noise
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 receiving point—a location outside the closed room under consideration where someone might accidentally overhear or
deliberately listen to speech occurring within the room.
3.2.2 speech privacy class (SPC)—an objective rating of the speech privacy provided by a closed room, calculated as a sum
of factors related to sound isolation provided by the room, and background noise at
...

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