Overview - ISO 10848-5:2020 (Radiation efficiencies of building elements)
ISO 10848-5:2020 is part of the ISO 10848 series on flanking transmission in buildings. It specifies laboratory measurement methods to characterize the acoustic radiation of a building element (single-leaf or double-leaf) when directly excited by an airborne or structure-borne source. The measured radiation efficiencies and indices are intended as input data for prediction models (for example ISO 12354 series), for product comparison, or to express performance requirements.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Measured quantities
- Average sound pressure level in the receiving room and average velocity level of the element (on the receiving-room side).
- Radiation function (difference between room sound level and element velocity level).
- Radiation efficiency and radiation indices for airborne (σ,a) and structure-borne (σ,s) excitation.
- Measurement methods
- Airborne excitation: steady-state sound field in the source room using loudspeakers; fixed output during measurements.
- Structure-borne excitation: vibration applied on the source side (or the opposite side where no source room exists).
- Use of one‑third octave band analysis (frequency range defined by ISO 10848-1).
- Reverberation time measurement to derive equivalent sound absorption area (used in radiation efficiency calculation).
- Vibration measurements using accelerometers (document cites minimum accelerometer positions when multiple sources are used).
- Both stationary and transient excitation procedures are covered; an informative Annex A describes sound intensity-based measurement options.
- Test arrangement and instrumentation
- Test facility and equipment must comply with ISO 10140-5 and ISO 10848-1 requirements (test opening dimensions, instrumentation, uncertainty evaluation).
- Reporting and precision
- Procedures for expressing results, test reports and measurement uncertainty are specified or referenced.
Practical applications
- Provide input data for acoustic prediction of flanking paths and resonant transmission (used in ISO 12354-1 and ISO 12354-2).
- Support product comparison and design optimization by manufacturers of façades, partitions, doors, floors and other building elements.
- Enable acoustic consultants and test laboratories to quantify how an element radiates sound into an adjoining room under defined excitation conditions.
- Useful for estimating adaptation terms in predicting building service equipment sound (referenced by EN 12354-5).
Who should use this standard
- Building acoustics laboratories and test houses
- Acoustic consultants and engineers designing partitions, floors and service penetrations
- Manufacturers of building elements seeking validated performance data
- Researchers and compliance officers involved in building acoustic predictions
Related standards
Keywords: ISO 10848-5, radiation efficiency, flanking transmission, building acoustics, laboratory measurement, airborne excitation, structure-borne excitation, ISO 12354.