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.