## A NEW ICELANDIC SOUND QUALITY CLASSIFICATION STANDARD. PROPOSED CHANGES REGARDING DWELLINGS.

Steindór Gudmundsson

Verkis hf

Armula 4

IS – 108 Reykjavik, Iceland

stgu@verkis.is

1. INTRODUCTION

In July 2003 the Icelandic standard IST 45:2003 “Sound classification of dwellings” was approved. The standard is in English and it is identical to the Nordic standard proposal INSTA 122:1998, which was prepared by a Nordic working group in 1998.

The acoustical demands in the Icelandic building code have not changed since 1979, but in 1998 sk. “recommended values” were introduced. These values are identical to the C - class demands in the classification standard. The next revision of the building code will probably result in setting the C – class demands in the classification standard as the minimum requirements for dwellings.

The Icelandic code for noise regulation was revised in 2008, and here it is stated that regarding noise from road traffic, it is allowed to refer to the C – class demands in the classification standard.

2. SOUND CLASSES FOR VARIOUS TYPES OF BUILDINGS

In 2009 the work started on a new, revised classification standard. The aim of this work was to prepare a proposal for a new classification standard for various types of buildings. This new standard will be in Icelandic, and it will include several different types of buildings:

a) Dwellings.

b) Secondary schools, colleges etc. (for students older than 16 years).

c) Day-care institutions, kindergartens, primary schools (for children up to about 16 years).

d) Hospitals and nursing institutions etc.

e) Hotels etc.

f) Offices.

g) Other workplaces.

The proposal for this new standard will probably be sent out for hearing in February-March 2010, and hopefully it will become a standard later in 2010.

3. INDOOR/OUTDOOR SOUND QUALITY CLASSIFICATION

Similar to the present standard for dwellings, limit values are set for the following parameters of the indoor sound quality of the building:

a) Airborne sound insulation.

b) Impact sound pressure level.

c) Reverberation time in stairwells, corridors etc.

d) Indoor noise levels from building services.

e) Indoor noise levels from transport sources.

f) Indoor noise levels from other outdoor sources.

Also, limit values are set for the following parameters of the outdoor sound quality conditions:

g) Outdoor noise levels from transport sources.

h) Outdoor noise levels from building services

and from other outdoor sources.

4. CHANGES REGARDING DWELLINGS

There are only proposed some minor changes in the new standard regarding dwellings. One change is proposed regarding the airborne sound insulation between the dwelling and a common corridor. Some minor changes have also been made regarding different sound level parameters and limits.

The paper gives an overview of the sound quality demands for dwellings, highlighting the proposed changes in the new standard.