On Dec. 10, 2001, ASTM Committee E33 on Environmental Acoustics approved E 2179, Standard Test Method for Laboratory Measurement of the Effectiveness of Floor Coverings in Reducing Impact Sound Transmission Through Concrete Floors. Subcommittee E33.03 on Sound Transmission developed and will maintain the method, which is now available.

“ASTM E33 has developed a new test method for evaluating the effectiveness of floor toppings (or coverings, like tile, carpet, etc.) that reduce impact sound,” said subcommittee chairman Alf Warnock, senior research officer, National Research Council, Canada. “The method is an adaptation with minor changes of an ISO [International Organization for Standardization] test method. The ratings obtained for the floor toppings do not depend on the details of the floor assembly; they apply only to the topping. Thus, the ratings permit fair comparisons among different floor toppings ranging from vinyl, through carpet to engineered wood or plastic coverings resting on foam or rubber substrates.

“Sound levels generated by a standard tapping machine are measured beneath a concrete slab, with and without the floor topping in position,” continued Warnock. “The difference in level due to the floor topping does not depend on the properties of the concrete slab. The ratings apply only to floor toppings on concrete slabs. A similar approach for light joist floors is being studied.”

To comment or obtain further technical information, contact Alf Warnock, Indoor Environment, Institute for Research in Construction, NRC, Ottawa, Canada, (phone: 613/993-9370). Committee E33 meets April 15-16 in Pittsburgh, Pa. For meeting or membership details, contact Steve Mawn, manager, ASTM Technical Committee Operations (phone: 610/832-9726). //

Copyright 2002, ASTM