Guidelines to measure low-frequency floor impact performance with high reproducibility

The impact performance of a floor-ceiling assembly is calculated as a single number rating using the ASTM standard but this method suffers from high measurement variability due to a non-diffuse sound field, especially in low-frequencies. The same assembly tested by different engineers can get different results. This work is part of a large project undertaken by the authors to develop a new measurement method for floor-ceiling impact noise performance with an improved reproducibility in low frequencies. A simulation model was used to guide a new measurement method based on the reciprocity principle. Different types and shapes of assemblies were simulated and the learnings were used to develop measurement guidelines with a standard deviation of 1 - 1.5 dB, a significant improvement from the existing variation of 4 - 10 dB. In the future, the proposed guidelines would be tested in real structures.