Acoustic classes - Airborne sound insulation

Abstract

In building acoustics, sound insulation classes are used to characterise a certain sound insulation quality. The corresponding classes specify different levels of acoustic conditions in dwellings. If a sound insulation class is stated, this is typically done by specifying a certain level of sound insulation, expressed as for example a weighted apparent sound reduction index R'w or a weighted standardized level difference DnT,w. Both sizes describe a quality that is not necessarily comparable. In this paper, the difference between R'w and DnT,w is discussed, and it is shown that if a class formation with both quantities is to be characterized in a linked manner, it is possible if certain boundary conditions are fulfilled or if a certain deviation between the two quantities is accepted.