COST Action TU0901: Integrating and Harmonizing Sound Insulation Aspects in Sustainable Urban Housing Constructions

http://w3.cost.esf.org/index.php?id=240&action_number=TU0901

Main objectives
- Propose harmonized descriptors for airborne and impact sound insulation.
- Propose a European acoustic classification scheme for dwellings.
Secondary objectives
- Include low frequency range adequately
- Prepare a uniform questionnaire on annoyance by neighbour noise
- Provide a correlation between sound insulation and annoyance
- Establish a catalogue of sound insulation data for construction solutions found in the different participating countries
- Produce an on-line compendium on good workmanship practice

Abstract: In Europe, legal requirements concerning acoustic performance of buildings differ widely in performance descriptors and limit values. The diversity (indicators, steps between classes, grade of quietness achieved, etc.) found in the nine existing national schemes and proposals in three more countries is an obstacle for exchange of experience, development and trade. The harmonization of such descriptors and performance levels of sound insulation classes is important to make progress and would be well received by industry, government and research sectors. The Action will stimulate innovation, support sustainability through simplified research and development objectives, reduce trade barriers between Member States and facilitate marketing. Coordination of research activity, knowledge transfer, psychoacoustic evaluation, collection of data of typical and high performance acoustic solutions is necessary to make progress. Keywords: Dwellings, sound insulation, descriptors, legislation, sound classification, social surveys, design guidelines