Overview
EN ISO 15186-1:2003 - "Acoustics - Measurement of sound insulation in buildings and of building elements using sound intensity - Part 1: Laboratory measurements" specifies a sound‑intensity method for laboratory determination of the sound reduction index and the element‑normalized level difference of building elements. The procedure is an alternative to ISO 140‑3 and ISO 140‑10, particularly useful when traditional methods are compromised by high flanking transmission. The standard was adopted by CEN from ISO 15186‑1:2000.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Measurement principle: Uses sound intensity probes to determine average sound intensity on a receiving‑room measurement surface and source‑room sound pressure to calculate the intensity sound reduction index (RI) and intensity element‑normalized level difference (DI,n,e).
- When to use: Intended as an alternative where ISO 140‑3 fails (e.g., strong flanking paths). Reproducibility is estimated to be equal to or better than ISO 140‑3.
- Instrumentation:
- Intensity instrumentation complying with IEC 61043 (Class 1).
- Measurement in one‑third octave bands with real‑time scanning capability.
- Pressure‑residual intensity index (pI0) of probe/analyser should be > 10 dB; field indicator FpI requirements apply.
- Suggested spacer guidance from the text (example): 50 mm spacer for 50–500 Hz and 12 mm above 500 Hz; full coverage often possible from ~100 Hz to 5 kHz with appropriate probe configuration.
- Calibration & checks:
- Verify IEC 61043 compliance (laboratory calibration at least annually or every 2 years with a calibrator).
- Pre‑use checks: warm‑up, microphone calibrator per IEC 60942, residual intensity testing and phase compensation as recommended.
- Test arrangement & specimens:
- Source and receiving rooms must meet ISO 140‑1 requirements; specimens conform to ISO 140‑3 or ISO 140‑10 mounting rules.
- Measure average source room sound pressure and average receiving room sound intensity over the measurement surface; compute RI or DI,n,e (modifications and Kc adaption term covered in Annex B).
Applications and users
- Who uses it: acoustic test laboratories, building acousticians, product manufacturers (doors, facades, partition elements), research organisations, and regulatory compliance bodies.
- Practical applications:
- Laboratory certification of sound insulation performance of walls, floors, doors and small building elements.
- Testing when flanking transmission prevents reliable ISO 140‑3 measurements.
- R&D and quality control where sound intensity scanning allows localized diagnosis of transmission paths.
Related standards
Keywords: EN ISO 15186-1:2003, sound insulation, sound intensity, laboratory measurements, intensity sound reduction index, building elements, acoustic measurement.