Overview
EN ISO 10140-4:2021 (CEN / ISO 10140-4:2021) is the international/CEN standard that specifies laboratory measurement procedures and requirements for the airborne and impact sound insulation of building elements. Endorsed by CEN in May 2021 and superseding the 2010 edition, this part of the ISO 10140 series defines the basic measurement techniques, required test conditions and procedural rules used in acoustic test facilities.
Key topics and technical requirements
The standard provides practical guidance and mandatory requirements for laboratory sound insulation testing, including:
- Frequency range for measurements and provisions for low-frequency extensions (Annex A).
- Sound pressure level measurement: microphone positioning rules, minimum separation distances, averaging times and procedures for energy-average sound pressure levels.
- Background noise correction: procedures to correct measured levels for ambient noise in the laboratory.
- Airborne sound insulation: measurement procedures using fixed microphone positions or a continuously moving microphone, and configurations with single or multiple loudspeakers.
- Impact sound insulation: measurement methods for floor coverings and floor elements including fixed and moving microphone procedures.
- Reverberation time and equivalent sound absorption area: measurement of RT and calculation of equivalent absorption area to determine room acoustics for test calculations.
- Structural reverberation time and radiated sound power: special measurements based on surface velocity of elements.
- General measurement workflows for determining airborne and impact sound insulation, data processing and reporting expectations.
The standard references other parts of ISO 10140 and ISO 10140-1/2/3/5 for application rules, general procedures and test facility requirements.
Applications and users
EN ISO 10140-4:2021 is used to produce reproducible, comparable laboratory test results for building components. Typical users include:
- Acoustic testing laboratories seeking compliance and accreditation.
- Acoustic engineers and consultants performing laboratory evaluations of walls, floors, doors and facades.
- Manufacturers of building elements (partitions, windows, floor systems) who need certified laboratory data.
- Architects, specifiers and building regulators requiring verified sound insulation performance for design and compliance.
- Research organizations assessing new materials and assembly designs for airborne and impact sound reduction.
Keywords: sound insulation, acoustics, laboratory measurement, airborne sound, impact sound, reverberation time, ISO 10140-4:2021.
Related standards
- ISO 10140 series (ISO 10140-1, -2, -3, -5) - application rules, airborne and impact procedures and test facility/equipment requirements.
- EN adoption: EN ISO 10140-4:2021 (three official languages: English, French, German).