ISO TR 21136-2017 PDF

Full title and description

St ISO TR 21136-2017 — Timber structures — Vibration performance criteria for timber floors. This technical report reviews research-based vibration design criteria and provides guideline methods and calculation procedures to help establish human acceptability criteria for timber floor vibrations (walking-induced).

Abstract

ISO/TR 21136:2017 surveys key floor vibration design criteria developed in research over recent decades and presents associated design methods (in annexes) intended for establishing human acceptability criteria for timber floor vibrations induced by walking. The report covers lightweight joist-and-subfloor systems, heavy timber floors, and mass-timber slab floors (for example CLT, NLT and glued laminated timber), and identifies vibration parameters that correlate with human perception (natural frequency, static point deflection, peak velocity, peak and rms acceleration).

General information

• Status: Published (Technical Report).
• Publication date: April 2017.
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 91.080.20 (Timber structures).
• Edition / version: Edition 1 (2017).
• Number of pages: 29.

Bibliographic and lifecycle details as published by ISO and standard catalogues.

Scope

Provides a review of human acceptability criteria and associated calculation/measurement parameters for timber floor vibrations, and supplies guideline methods for developing region- or project-specific acceptance criteria based on measured or calculated vibration parameters and subjective human evaluations. The guidance is intended for a broad range of timber floor types including lightweight joisted floors, heavy timber floors and mass-timber slab systems.

Key topics and requirements

• Overview of research on human perception and acceptability of walking-induced timber floor vibrations.
• Identification of key vibration parameters: fundamental natural frequency, static point-load deflection, peak velocity, peak acceleration and root-mean-square (rms) acceleration.
• Guideline procedures to develop human acceptability criteria from measured/calculated parameters combined with subjective ratings (statistical analysis and criterion fitting).
• Annexed calculation methods and worked examples for estimating frequencies, deflections and velocity/acceleration responses for typical timber floor systems.
• Discussion of the relationship between the ISO-type acceptability approaches and regional/national design criteria (for example those in EN/Eurocode guidance) and limitations of simple single-value thresholds (e.g., fixed-frequency rules) for long-span or heavy floors.

Technical detail and examples, and comparisons with existing design checks, are provided in the report annexes and narrative.

Typical use and users

Used by structural and timber engineers, building designers, researchers, testing laboratories, manufacturers of timber floor systems, and code or standards developers to: (1) assess vibration performance of timber floors, (2) develop or validate human acceptability criteria for projects or jurisdictions, and (3) inform specification and remedial design to improve perceived floor performance. The document is primarily guidance (technical report) rather than a mandatory design standard.

Related standards

Referenced or related documents commonly used with ISO/TR 21136:2017 include EN/Eurocode guidance for timber structures (design checks related to vibration), ISO 2631-2 and BS 6472 (human exposure and acceptability criteria for vibration), and national timber design or serviceability guidance dealing with floor vibration. Practitioners typically consult these alongside ISO/TR 21136 when setting acceptance thresholds and calculation procedures.

Keywords

timber structures; floor vibration; vibration performance; human acceptability; natural frequency; static deflection; peak velocity; rms acceleration; CLT; mass timber; timber floor design; serviceability.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO/TR 21136:2017 is a Technical Report titled "Timber structures — Vibration performance criteria for timber floors" that reviews research-based human acceptability criteria for timber floor vibrations and provides guideline methods and annexed calculation procedures.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers the review of vibration criteria and the parameters that correlate with human perception (fundamental natural frequency, static point deflection, peak velocity, peak and rms accelerations), and it gives methods to develop acceptability criteria using measured or calculated parameters together with subjective evaluations; annexes include calculation procedures and examples.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Structural and timber engineers, researchers, testing labs, timber product manufacturers and standards or code committees use it to assess and specify vibration performance and to develop region- or project-specific acceptability criteria.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: As published, ISO/TR 21136 was released in April 2017 as Edition 1 (Technical Report). ISO’s published record lists it as published and provides lifecycle information; users should check ISO or national bodies for any subsequent revisions or confirmations when relying on the latest status.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: It is published under ISO/TC 165 (Timber structures) as a technical report addressing vibration acceptability; while not formally a numbered multi‑part series, it complements other ISO and national documents on timber structures and human vibration criteria (for example ISO 2631‑2 and applicable Eurocode timber design guidance).

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Timber floor vibration, human acceptability, natural frequency, static deflection, peak velocity, peak acceleration, rms acceleration, mass timber, CLT, engineered wood floors.