Elements for an acoustic classification of dwellings and apartment buildings in France C. Guigou-Carter, R. Wetta, R. Foret, J.-B. Chéné CSTB Acoustics 2012 Nantes, France PAGE 1
Introduction The goal would be to have similarly to energy performance of building or dwellings a classification of the acoustic performance from A (very good) to F (very bad) for example that would be easily understandable by a common person When considering buying an apartment, the consumer has access to mandatory thermal diagnostic giving information on apartment energy performance; it would also be in the consumer interest to have simple information defining apartment acoustic comfort Acoustics 2012 Nantes, France PAGE 2
Classes number : 3 to 5 Step between classes : 4 to 5 db Regulation middle class in Europe Classes below middle class for old buildings with limited acoustic comfort Global class : all indicators verify class requirement Building class deduced from lowest class of all dwellings Acoustics 2012 Nantes, France PAGE 3
and annoyance Relation liking acoustic performance and annoyance based on models and/or insitu sociologic and psychoacoustic investigations Acoustics 2012 Nantes, France PAGE 4
Dutch approach Classification system based on annoyance evaluation model using representative levels for different noise sources L p,aeq,source, sound insulation levels D nt,a and acceptable noise level in considered reception room L ref about 25 db(a) for dwellings in residential area Tolerance/acceptation value C tolerance and information C spectral of sound source spectral content are also used depending on the noise source type Level obtained in the reception volume for an airborne noise source located in a neighbor dwelling room is given by L r =L p,aeq,source +C spectral D nt,a C tolerance L ref By comparing these reception levels with sociologic and psychoacoustic investigations on noise annoyance, classes are defined. Then back to sound insulation level to define classes Acoustics 2012 Nantes, France PAGE 5
In 2009, German acoustical society proposed 2 classifications with 7 levels : acoustical building environnement and building acoustic global performance Airborne and impact sound insulation, and service equipment noise are classified within 7 levels and corresponding requirement for the building components for each class is provided A number of points is given depending on reached performance and total number of points is used to obtain building global class Extra points depending on investigation methods (performance measurements or prediction) German approach Acoustics 2012 Nantes, France PAGE 6
St Gobain Isover approach In 2007, St Gobain Isover proposed 4 classes for acoustic comfort based on a research project performed at Vienna University Based on calculations evaluating perception levels (audible or not) of different types of activities in a dwelling, as well as acoustic classes in different countries, conditions in terms of airborne and impact sound insulation are defined for classes Extra costs associated to buildings modification to achieve different acoustic classes were found to be limited to 1 to 7% of construction cost Acoustics 2012 Nantes, France PAGE 7
GIAc ADEME approach Method developped since 1999 based on building acoustic situation analysis To best adjust the acoustic performances to the different activities taking place in the building with noise aggression level and tolerance level defined for each room, correction terms depending on noise sources types and sensitivity level with respect to reception room type Good balance between different insulation levels as a function of noise sources Final GIAc/ADEME method will be quite precise and completely adaptable to very different types of situations and activities in a building, while taking into account an objective in terms of background noise adapted to each condition, as well as noise emergence Close to Dutch approach, but no link to sound insulation levels. Acoustics 2012 Nantes, France PAGE 8
Proposition elements Acoustic performance classes would be noted from A (best performing) to F (least performing) Increment of 5 db for insulation levels between classes, except for the insulation levels within a dwelling Class C would be representative of the proposed modification of French acoustic regulation in 2009 Basic assumption is to consider that modified acoustic regulation allows to have a quite good balance between the different indoor and outdoor noise sources Class A Excellent acoustic comfort Class B Good acoustic comfort Class C Average acoustic comfort (acoustic insulation reinforced with respect to 1999 French regulation requirements). Noise from other dwellings or from outside can be perceived. Class D Limited acoustic comfort Annoyance due to sound transmission from other dwellings or from outside is quite possible. Confidentiality is not totally insured. Class E Poor acoustic comfort Annoyance due to sound transmission from other dwellings or from outside should be anticipated. Confidentiality should not be expected. Class F Acoustically unsanitary conditions. Acoustics 2012 Nantes, France PAGE 9
Proposal elements Dutch Class III corresponding to a basic acoustic comfort (defined by Dutch regulation) and respecting a certain balance with the different noise sources, is relatively close to proposed Class C French acoustic regulation allows 3 db tolerance margin on measured sound insulation levels; for the classification, a no tolerance margin could be proposed Current regulation does not take into account low frequencies, thus the proposed classes do not either, but this frequency range is important with respect to comfort Proposed Class A and Class B include sound insulation between living and sleeping rooms within the same dwelling in addition to sound insulation with respect to the other dwellings and outdoor Acoustics 2012 Nantes, France PAGE 10
Definition Steps 1) For each apartment, define the acoustic comfort class for each category Airborne sound insulation, Impact sound insulation, Service equipment noise, Façade sound insulation. Acoustic comfort class is given by the lowest class obtained for these different categories 2) For building, comfort class is given by the lowest class obtained for different apartments, and from the acoustic treatment of communal areas category. If several classes can be determined for a category, then the lowest class obtained is always retained. Classification first obtained by prediction using standardized methods ; then acoustic measurements to validate building and dwellings classification, percentage of dwellings to be checked Acoustics 2012 Nantes, France PAGE 11
Airborne sound insulation Proposed classes for airborne sound insulation between rooms of different dwellings D nt,a in db Reception room: Emission room : room in different dwelling room in dwelling Living and sleeping room Kitchen and bathroom Class A 63 60 Class B 58 55 Class C 53 50 Class D 48 45 Class E 43 40 Class F <43 <40 Proposed classes for airborne sound insulation between rooms in the same dwelling D nt,a in db Reception room : Sleeping room Living room Emission room: Kitchen and bathroom Class A 53 45 Class B 43 35 Class C 33 25 Class D 27 20 Class E 22 20 Class F <22 <20 To follow different French regulation requirements, different class levels in terms of airborne sound insulation global index D nt,a between an indoor hallway and a room in a dwelling, between an individual or collective garage and a room in a dwelling, between a commercial space and a room in a dwelling Acoustics 2012 Nantes, France PAGE 12
Impact sound insulation Proposed classes for impact sound insulation between rooms of different dwellings L nt,w in db 1 Reception room : Living or sleeping room Emission room: Hallways and garages 1 Other rooms 2 Class A 48 45 Class B 53 50 Class C 58 55 Class D 63 60 Class E 68 65 Class F > 68 > 65 excepted (i) balconies and loggias not directly located above reception room, (ii) stairs above 3rd floor if elavator in building, (iii) technical rooms, (iv) cellars and collective garages located at the same level or below the dwellings living or sleeping rooms. 2 Any other rooms not located in the dwelling, different from hallways, garages and the exceptions listed above. Proposed classes for impact sound insulation between rooms in the same dwelling L nt,w in db Emission room: Reception room : living room, kitchen Sleeping room and bathroom Class A 55 Class B 65 Class C 75 Class D 85 Class E 95 Class F > 95 Acoustics 2012 Nantes, France PAGE 13
Service equipment noise Proposed classes for an individual service equipment noise perceived in dwelling Individual heating or airconditioning system L nat in db(a) Individual Reception room in same dwelling service equipment Living and sleeping rooms Closed Kitchen Open Kitchen Class A 25 40 30 Class B 30 45 35 Class C 35 50 40 Class D 40 55 45 Class E 45 60 50 Class F > 45 > 60 > 50 Minimum level L nat = 25 db(a) expected to be a realistic level for background noise To follow different French regulation requirements, different class levels in terms of service equipment noise global index L nat in db(a) for mechanical ventilation system under minimal air-flow conditions building collective service equipment Acoustics 2012 Nantes, France PAGE 14
Façade sound insulation Proposed classes for façade sound insulation D nt,a,tr in db Reception room Living and sleeping rooms and Kitchen Class A D nt,a,tr-regulation +10 Class B D nt,a,tr-regulation +5 Class C D nt,a,tr- regulation Class D D nt,a,tr- regulation -5 Class E D nt,a,tr- regulation -10 Class F < D nt,a,tr- regulation -10 Comfort classes defined with respect to requirement D nt,a,tr regulation depending on building location with respect to ground transportation infrastructures and airports From minimum D nt,a,tr regulation = 30 db in a quiet zone, up to 47 db for buildings very close to airport Acoustics 2012 Nantes, France PAGE 15
Conclusions Classification based on the French acoustic regulation has been proposed for discussion (working document) Acoustic classification is a complex subject ; more work is certainly necessary, especially a large psycho-socio-acoustic investigation in order to evaluate more precisely the correlation between in-situ measurements, the choice of acoustic indices, noise annoyance, the effect of background noise and noise emergence, etc... Furthermore including low frequencies aspect should be evaluated Acoustics 2012 Nantes, France PAGE 16