Testing of products and solutions for building acoustics
We assist our customers in building product industry to develop acoustically well performing wall and floor structures.
Our main tests are accredited by national accreditation body (FINAS) and they comprise standards EN ISO 10140 and EN ISO 717 for sound insulation of wall and floor structures, and EN ISO 354 standard for sound absorption properties of lining materials.
Our services cover
- Product development
- Type testing when entering the market
- Factory production control tests
Typical products and structures
- Walls, windows, doors and ventilation devices
- Floors
- Floor coverings and surface layers
- Acoustic lining materials and furniture
- Noise barriers for road
Airborne sound insulation
We measure the airborne sound insulation of building structures in laboratory and in situ within the frequency range of 50 - 5000 Hz. Laboratory measurement results are given as a sound reduction index Rw (or as a single-number quantity Dn,e,w). Results of in situ measurements can be presented also with other standardized single number values. Spectrum adaption terms C and Ctr will be also presented in the test report.
Impact sound insulation
In laboratory and in situ we determine the impact sound insulation of floors and their surface structures in the frequency range of 50 - 5000 Hz. Measurement results are given as standardized single number values (for example weighted impact sound pressure level Ln,w) together with spectrum adaption terms.
Results of floating floors, parquets and other surface material are presented as ΔLw (improvement in impact sound insulation). We also assess the usability of tested products and solutions with respect to Finnish building code when installed on typical Finnish bare concrete floor structures.
Sound absorption of materials
Reverberation time is a key property in planning of the acoustic environment in challenging public spaces such as concert halls. In kindergartens the reduction of noise (minimizing reverberation time) is often essential requirement. In both cases the sound absorption properties of lining materials and furniture has to be known to be able to achieve required acoustic properties.
We determine the sound absorption of lining materials and, for instance, the seats of concert halls by applying reverberation room method (measurement of reverberation time with specimen and without specimen). The needed amount of surface area of the specimen is 12 m2 or a representative number of concert hall seats.
Environmental noise
We are able to carry out also many kinds of environmental noise measurements (e.g. traffic and industrial noise).
Testing equipment and facilities
- 5 reverberation rooms that are acoustically isolated from surrounding environment
- Loudspeakers for generating test load
- Rotating microphones that are calibrated almost daily for measurement of sound pressure accurately
- Sound analysers
- Equipment for vibration measurements
Noise emission from appliances (sanitary tapware) used in water supply installations
Noise emission from sanitary tapware to another room is essential characteristic in apartment houses. Type approvals/certifications typically require acoustic classification.
The appliance to be tested is mounted at the end of a water pipe, the test pipe, which is fixed to the wall of a room. The sound generated by the appliance is transmitted from the test pipe to the test wall. The airborne sound which is radiated from the test wall into the test room is measured. [According to standard EN ISO 3822]
Result is expressed as Lap meaning the A-weighted decibel (dBA or dB(A)) which is an expression of the relative loudness of sounds as perceived by the human ear. Sound pressure level is measured by octave bands 100 – 5000 Hz. Acoustic classification is based on the measurement done by 3 bar pressure (in some countries based on 5 bar results). The product is classified to group I (Lap ≤ 20 dB) or II (20 < Lap ≤ 30) or unclassified.
Eurofins Expert Services Oy makes the measurement in default by 1, 3 and 5 bars and in different temperature positions.
