Sound barriers
- 72 Accessible design
- 73 Ergonomics: visual and physical
- 74 Exterior noise intrusion
- 75 Internally generated noise
- 76 Thermal comfort
- 77 Olfactory comfort
- 78 Reverberation time
- 79 Sound masking
- 80 Sound reducing surfaces
- 81 Sound barriers
- 82 Individual thermal control
- 83 Radiant thermal comfort
- P4 Impact reducing flooring
81. Sound barriers
To reduce sound transmission and acoustic disruptions through sound barriers.
Noise from adjacent spaces can be disturbing to building occupants. Careful detailing and high quality construction materials can greatly improve the sound reducing abilities of interior partitions or doors that act as sound barriers and reduce sound transmission between adjacent spaces.
The following spaces, if present, have interior partition walls that meet the Noise Isolation Class (NIC) described:
Doors connecting to private offices, conference rooms and teleconference rooms are constructed with at least one of the following:
All interior walls enclosing regularly occupied spaces are constructed for optimal performance by reducing air gaps and limiting sound transmission through the following:
The following requirements are met in buildings located less than 0.8 km [0.5 mi] from significant noise sources, including aircraft over-flights, highways, trains, and industrial processes:
The following requirements are met:
The following spaces, if present, have interior partition walls which meet the Sound Transmission Class (STC) described:
Applicability Matrix
Core & Shell | New & Existing Buildings | New & Existing Interiors | |
---|---|---|---|
Part 1: Wall Construction Specifications | - | O | O |
Part 2: Doorway Specifications | - | O | O |
Part 3: Wall Construction Methodology | - | O | O |
Commercial Kitchen | Education | Multifamily Residential | Restaurant | Retail | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Part 2: Doorway Specifications | - | O | - | - | - |
Part 3: Wall Construction Methodology | - | O | O | O | - |
Part 4: Noise Intrusion Mitigation | - | - | O | O | - |
Part 5: Residential Acoustic Privacy | - | - | O | - | - |
Part 6: Wall Construction Specifications for Schools | - | O | - | - | - |
Verification Methods Matrix
Letters of Assurance | Annotated Documents | On-Site Checks | |
---|---|---|---|
PART 1 (Design) Wall Construction Specifications |
Architect | ||
PART 2 (Design) Doorway Specifications |
Architect & Contractor | ||
PART 3 (Design) Wall Construction Methodology |
Contractor | ||
PART 4 (Design) Noise Intrusion Mitigation |
Architect and Contractor | Spot Check | |
PART 5 (Design) Residential Acoustic Privacy |
Architect | ||
PART 6 (Design) Wall Construction Specifications for Schools |
Architect |
81.1.a |
The General Services Administration's Sound Matters recommends this NIC value for private offices. |
81.1.b |
The General Services Administration's Sound Matters recommends this NIC value for teleconference rooms. |
81.2.a |
The General Services Administration's Sound Matters recommends door gaskets to help prevent noise intrusion into offices. |
81.2.b |
The General Services Administration's Sound Matters recommends that the undercut should be shielded in some fashion such as a sweep or drop seal gasket. |
81.2.c |
The General Services Administration's Sound Matters advises that as it relates to acoustics, hollow core doors are only good to poor. |
81.3.a |
The General Services Administration's Sound Matters recommends caulking gypsum partition slabs as an effective sound blocking technique. |
81.3.b |
The General Services Administration's Sound Matters recommends staggering gypsum partition slabs as an effective sound blocking technique. |
81.3.c |
The General Services Administration's Sound Matters recommends plugging holes as an effective sound blocking technique. |
81.4.a |
The LEED v4 credit for Acoustic Comfort for homes sets 2 options for the LEED point, one of which requires that exterior windows and doors have a min. STC rating of 35 for buildings less than 0.5 mi away from a significant noise source. |
81.4.b |
The LEED v4 credit for Acoustic Comfort for homes sets 2 options for the LEED point, one of which requires that exterior walls are sealed or otherwise treated for sound control, for buildings less than 0.5 mi away from a significant noise source. |
81.5.a |
The LEED v4 credit for Acoustic Comfort for homes sets 2 options for the LEED point, one of which requires that party walls and floor/ceiling assemblies have a min. STC rating of 55. |
81.5.b |
The LEED v4 credit for Acoustic Comfort for homes sets 2 options for the LEED point, one of which requires a min. IIC rating of 55 for floor/ceiling assemblies. |
81.6.a |
ANSI/ASA S12.60-2010 Part 1 notes that if a learning space is within 3 m of an exterior walkway, the exterior wall "shall have an STC rating of at least 45". |
81.6.b |
ANSI/ASA S12-2010 Part 1 writes that for learning spaces that are less than 9 m from a playground, the STC rating of the exterior wall shall have a rating of at least STC 50. |
81.6.c |
ANSI/ASA S12.60-2010 Part 1 notes that if a learning space is within 9 to 15 m of a playground, the exterior wall "shall have an STC rating of at least 45". |
81.6.d |
ANSI/ASA S12.60-2010 Part 1 sets a minimum STC rating of 60 for rooms adjacent to music rooms, music performance spaces, auditoriums, mechnical equipment rooms, cafeterias, gymnasiums or indoor swimming pools. |