Changing Standards for Building Acoustics Regulation

Authors

  • J. David Quirt

Abstract

A new approach to the control of sound transmission between adjacent units in multi-family residential buildings is among the changes in the 2015 edition of the National Building Code of Canada (NBCC). Derivative provincial codes are expected to follow this approach.  The design objective has changed from a minimum direct STC for the wall or floor/ceiling assembly separating adjacent units to a requirement for the Apparent Sound Transmission Class (ASTC) that includes both direct and flanking transmission.  The required design procedure uses data from conventional laboratory measurements (ASTM E90) of direct transmission through wall or floor/ceiling assemblies combined with measurements of flanking transmission (conforming to ISO 10848) as inputs for a calculation procedure based on ISO Standard 15712 Part 1 (1995).  Meanwhile, ISO committee TC43/SC2 is revising the calculation standard and bringing its number into alignment with the corresponding European standard EN 12354-1. This paper focuses on explaining the technical intent and form of the new Building Code requirements, and how these are supported by the old and new versions of the ISO calculation standard.

Author Biography

J. David Quirt

Chair, SCC advisory committee for ISO/TC43/SC2

Additional Files

Published

2016-08-25

How to Cite

1.
Quirt JD. Changing Standards for Building Acoustics Regulation. Canadian Acoustics [Internet]. 2016 Aug. 25 [cited 2024 Apr. 19];44(3). Available from: https://jcaa.caa-aca.ca/index.php/jcaa/article/view/2989

Issue

Vol. 44 No. 3 (2016)

Section

Proceedings of the Acoustics Week in Canada

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