Détermination du découplage acoustique des installations techniques et sanitaires dans les constructions en bois par méthode de mesurage impulsionnelle

• Research unit: COST
• Project number: C09.0163

Key words (English)

Building acoustics; dwellings; legislation and sound classification; social surveys; design guidelines

Research programs (English)

COST-Action FP0702 - Net-Acoustics for Timber Based Ligthweight Buildings and Elements

Short description (Italian)

Vede abstract

Further information (English)

Full name of research-institution/enterprise: EPF Lausanne Laboratoire d'électomagnétisme et d'acoustique STI IEL LEMA

Partners and International Organizations (Italian)

AT, BE, CH, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, IE, LT, NL, NO, SE, SI, UK

Abstract (Italian)

The latest version of SIA 181 standard (issued on 06/2006) introduced a new methodology for assessing noise induced by the usage of kitchen furnitures and bathrooms equipment in new buildings. In order to lower the human factor influence on the repeatability of such measurements, a test methodology based on a reproducible excitation reducing the variation due to the operator has been designed by EMPA. A swing-arm hammer is used there as the actuator. This methodology is directly transposed from the normalised tapping machine, which is a standard technique well-known by the practitioners for assessing impact noise. This method gives accurate information relative to the decoupling of tested elements with respect to the structure and the partitions of the construction, although certain limitations exist for some manipulation noise, such as in the case of a fall of the toilet seat. Also, the problem of the evaluation of the airborne sound contribution associated to the manipulation of the hammer also represents a limitation of the method. In any case, this method has been elaborated and tested essentially on massive constructions. The objective of the proposed research is to improve the technique of the swing-arm hammer assessment to contemporary wooden constructions, with a focus on the realization of kitchen and toilets. The decoupling characteristics of the construction elements are especially of critical importance in lightweight buildings. As wooden constructions are becoming an important trend in the building industry (0% CO2, ecological concerns, etc.), it seems important to provide the most accurate tools to assess the acoustic quality of such constructions, and to verify that they comply with the objectives of the SIA 181 standard. In such case, it would be useful to define specific building guidelines to achieve the specified objectives in terms of noise impact. It is important to mention that the conditions for sound isolation in massive constructions are fundamentally different than for wooden buildings. We assume that it is possible to objectively quantify those differences concerning technical installations (kitchens, bathrooms). One important outcome of this research is to provide a database with several details corresponding to basic constructive situations, with an acurrate indication of the expected acoustic performances. In some case, the airborne noise contribution might become determinant and deserve a specific control. This project shall also determine the situations where and how such airborne path should be taken into account.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: COST-DB of the State Secretariat for Education and Research Hallwylstrasse 4 CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland Tel. [phone] Swiss Project-Number: C09.0163