Airborne sound insulation of vertical partitions of an apartment in Maceió-AL Brazil

Abstract

Brazilian Architecture has shown constant changes in techniques and construction materials reflecting on the quality of buildings. In the case of sound insulation of dwellings, the result, in general, has been negative. With the advent of the NBR 15575, published in 2013 by the “Associação Brasileira de Normas Técnicas - ABNT”, which establishes minimum requirements for the various elements of construction in favor of the performance of buildings, construction companies will have to adapt the new construction to the limits and requirements it establishes. The general objective of this work is to evaluate, through field measurements, the level of sound insulation (airborne noise) of two vertical partitions of the living room of an apartment in Maceió-AL-Brazil on two parameters established in NBR 1557: Weighted Standardised Sound Level Difference (D’nT,w) and Weighted Standardised Sound Level Difference of the façade (D’2m,nT,w). It has been found that airborne sound insulation levels are lower than those recommended by the standard, demonstrating the inadequacy, from the acoustic point of view, of the materials used in the composition of the walls. It’s clear the need to assess and to monitor the acoustic performance, and also to present design strategies and constructive interventions for the comfort and privacy of users.