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Installation noise measurements according to the new standard lead to values 2 dB larger on average

31.05.2012

It could be shown by a comprehensive measurement program and additional computer simulations that the installation noise levels according to the new standard DIN EN ISO 10052 are larger by 2 dB than the levels determined in accordance with the old standard DIN 52219.

Within a research project funded by the Deutsches Institut für Bautechnik, investigations on the measurement of installation noise were performed at PTB. A major part of the investigation was dedicated to the in-situ measurements. In addition to the determination of uncertainty, the specific question arose about whether measurements according to the new standard DIN EN ISO 10052 yield the same results as the old measurement standard DIN 52219. This was initially investigated by a comprehensive measurement program. Six different teams with different equipment measured the installation noise from six different installation noise sources according to both the old and the new standards. Two different reception rooms with volumes of 56 m³ and 27 m³ were included. The difference of the results according to the old and the new standard is between -5 dB and 1 dB (Figure 1). To analyse the reasons for these deviations, Monte Carlo simulations were performed. It became obvious that the introduction of a microphone position in a corner is essential. Sound pressure levels at low frequencies are higher by about 10 dB there than at positions far away from the walls, which leads to an increase in the A-levels. A weak increase is observed with noise with a flat spectrum (sanitary noises in Figure 1), and a stronger increase with predominantly low-frequency noises (lift).

For this reason, the introduction of the new standard acts as a tightening of the building requirement by 2 dB on average. Discussions about whether the requirement according to DIN 4109 should be increased have already been held within the standardisation committee responsible.

Figure 1: Deviation between A-weighted installation noise levels determined according to DIN 52219 (old standard) and DIN EN ISO 10052 (new standard), different sanitary noise sources and lift in different operating modes, receiving rooms with volumes of 56 m³ and 27 m³

Contact person:

Volker Wittstock, Dept. 1.7, WG 1.72, E-mail: volker.wittstock@ptb.de