Which are the input data useful for sizing the partitions of an enclosure (soundproofing hood)?

The input data useful for the design of the partitions of an enclosure - structure enveloping a sound source (machine), designed to protect the environment of this sound source (machine) - are mainly the conditions prevailing inside the envisaged enclosure (and the degree of aggressiveness with respect to the partitions that may result from the existence of projections such as cutting fluid in the case of a milling machine, water in the case of a water jet cutting machine for example), the existence of projections of solids (chips in the case of machining centers for example, silica in the case of a sander, etc ...), the thermodynamic state considered inside the enclosure (pressure, temperature, presence of vapors more or less inert), the level of acoustic performance required depending on frequency (insertion loss, remaining sound power) and also - where appropriate - the existence of additional constraints such as possibility of disassembly, reaction to fire, explosion resistance, need for partitions to provide thermal insulation, or to be translucent to allow the vision etc ...

In the case of realization in the food industry, in pharmaceuticals, or in hospitals, specific constraints related to hygiene are involved and may necessitate the use of particular absorbing linings (washable, waterproof) or the use of stainless steels. In the case of constructions located outside, the resistance to weather and to corrosion must also be taken into account, what may affect the definition of appropriate construction systems.

Other parameters may be involved such as the authorized mass, the required longevity or the available budget.

Whether small enclosures (cowls), or enclosures for single fixed machines (in the workshops, outside), or enclosures for large machines and for machine groups within which one can penetrate or mobile enclosures or even enclosures mounted on vehicles are concerned, the design of partitions must account the needs in terms of sound reduction (i.e. the ability to oppose the transmission of noise), the effects of amplification of sound levels related to the existence of the enclosure itself and also the accessibility needs in terms of gates whose effectiveness is related to the airtightness (rotating doors, sliding doors, folding doors, rolling doors) and also the needs of air circulation (ventilation, suction of waste ...), the needs for cuts for the passage of material flows (raw material inputs, outputs for finished products), the need for cuts for passages of ancillairies (cables, ducts, pipes ...).

These various inputs are necessary for the selection of products and of construction systems appropriate to the acoustic performance required for the partitions of an enclosure depending on the respective acoustic performance and area of its various subsets: acoustic insulation panels for facades, roof and floor where necessary, access, glass frames, silencers, cuts and openings.

What acoustic regulations for noise limitation in educational and training institutions ?

What acoustic regulations for noise limitation in educational and training institutions ?

With regard to nursery schools, elementary schools, colleges, high schools, regional establishments for adapted education, universities and establishments of higher education, general, technical or professional, public or private, it is a question that arises in various contexts:

• for the architect, engineer, technician in charge of the construction or renovation of such an establishment
• for the head of such an establishment, for for the head of general resources
• for anyone, working there or passing through (users, parents of students) perceiving that the acoustic comfort leaves something to be desired

In France, the decree of April 25, 2003 relates to the limitation of noise in educational institutions; among other technical regulatory aspects, acoustic insulation, limitation of reverberation and equipment noise are the subject of formalized requirements.

Acoustic regulations for the limitation of noise in educational and training institutions: acoustic insulation between premises

With regard to sound insulation (a major concept for noise limitation and acoustic comfort), the order of 25 April 2003 relating to noise limitation in educational institutions specifies the requirements relating to interior airborne noise to the building in terms of standardized sound insulation weighted DnT,A ^[1]:

• when the noise emission is located in a room for teaching, practical activities, administration (as far as the noise reception room is concerned):
  • 43 dB(A) for a room for teaching, practical activities, administration, in a library, an information and documentation center (CDI), a music room, a meeting room, a room for teachers, a moderately noisy workshop
  • 43 dB(A) for a medical room, an infirmary
  • 40 dB(A) for a multipurpose room
  • 40 dB(A) for a catering room
• when the noise emission is located in a medical room, an infirmary, a low-noise workshop, a kitchen, a closed assembly room, a meeting room, toilets (as far as the noise reception room is concerned):
  • 50 dB(A) for a room for teaching, practical activities, administration, in a library, an information and documentation center (IDC), a music room, a meeting room, a room for teachers, a moderately noisy workshop
  • 50 dB(A) for a medical room, an infirmary
  • 50 dB(A) for a multipurpose room
  • 50 dB(A) for a catering room
• when the noise emission is located in a stairwell (as far as the noise reception room is concerned):
  • 43 dB(A) for a room for teaching, practical activities, administration, in a library, an information and documentation center (IDC), a music room, a meeting room, a room for teachers, a moderately noisy workshop
  • 43 dB(A) for a medical room, an infirmary
  • 43 dB(A) for a multipurpose room
  • 43 dB(A) for a catering room
• when the noise emission is in a horizontal circulation, a closed changing room (as far as the noise reception room is concerned):
  • 30 dB(A) for a room for teaching, practical activities, administration, in a library, an information and documentation center (IDC), a music room, a meeting room, a room for teachers, a moderately noisy workshop
  • 40 dB(A) for a medical room, an infirmary
  • 30 dB(A) for a multipurpose room
  • 30 dB(A) for a catering room
• when the noise emission is located in a music room, a multipurpose room or a sports room (as far as the noise reception room is concerned):
  • 53 dB(A) for a room for teaching, practical activities, administration, in a library, an information and documentation center (IDC), a music room, a meeting room, a room for teachers, a moderately noisy workshop
  • 53 dB(A) for a medical room, an infirmary
  • 50 dB(A) for a multipurpose room
  • 50 dB(A) for a catering room
• when the noise emission is located in a dining room (as far as the noise reception room is concerned):
  • 53 dB(A) for a room for teaching, practical activities, administration, in a library, an information and documentation center (IDC), a music room, a meeting room, a room for teachers, a moderately noisy workshop
  • 53 dB(A) for a medical room, an infirmary
  • 50 dB(A) for a multipurpose room
• when the noise emission is located in a noisy workshop (as far as the noise reception room is concerned):
  • 55 dB(A) for a room for teaching, practical activities, administration, in a library, an information and documentation center (IDC), a music room, a meeting room, a room for teachers, a moderately noisy workshop
  • 55 dB(A) for a medical room, an infirmary
  • 50 dB(A) for a multipurpose room
  • 55 dB(A) for a catering room

And also:

• when the noise emission is located in a rest room (as far as the noise reception room is concerned):
  • 43 dB(A) for a rest room
  • 50 dB(A) for a teaching room, an exercise room
  • 43 dB(A) for an administration room, a staff room
  • 50 dB(A) for a medical room, an infirmary
• when the noise emission is located in an exercise room or in a teaching room (as far as the noise reception room is concerned):
  • 50 dB(A) for a rest room
  • 43 dB(A) for a teaching room, an exercise room
  • 43 dB(A) for an administration room, a staff room
  • 50 dB(A) for a medical room, an infirmary
• when the noise emission is located in an administration room (as far as the noise reception room is concerned):
  • 50 dB(A) for a rest room
  • 43 dB(A) for a teaching room, an exercise room
  • 43 dB(A) for an administration room, a staff room
  • 43 dB(A) for a medical room, an infirmary
• when the noise emission is located in a medical room, an infirmary (as far as the noise reception room is concerned):
  • 50 dB(A) for a rest room
  • 50 dB(A) for a teaching room, an exercise room
  • 50 dB(A) for an administration room, a staff room
  • 43 dB(A) for a medical room, an infirmary
• when the noise emission is located in an activity space, a meeting room, a games room, a closed gathering room, a reception room, a meeting room, toilets, a catering room, a kitchen, an office (as far as the noise reception room is concerned):
  • 55 dB(A) for a rest room
  • 53 dB(A) for a teaching room, an exercise room
  • 53 dB(A) for an administration room, a staff room
  • 53 dB(A) for a medical room, an infirmary
• when the noise emission is in horizontal circulation, a cloakroom (as far as the noise reception room is concerned):
  • 35 dB(A) for a rest room
  • 30 dB(A) for a teaching room, an exercise room
  • 30 dB(A) for an administration room, a staff room
  • 40 dB(A) for a medical room, an infirmary

Acoustic regulations for the limitation of noise in educational and training institutions: specifications relating to the limitation of reverberation

With regard to the limitation of reverberation (another major concept for the limitation of noise and acoustic comfort), the decree of April 25, 2003 relating to the limitation of noise in educational institutions specifies the requirements relating to the equivalent absorption area of ​​absorbent coverings placed in horizontal passages and halls with a volume of less than 250 m3 and in courtyards:

• at least half of the floor area of ​​the considered premises

With regard to the limitation of reverberation, the decree of 25 April 2003 relating to the limitation of noise in educational institutions also specifies the reverberation time ^[3] for different premises:

• kindergarten rest room, kindergarten exercise room, kindergarten play room:
  • 0.4 s to 0.8 s
• room for teaching, music, studies, practical activities; dining room and multipurpose room with a volume at most equal to 250 m3:
  • 0.4 s to 0.8 s
• medical or social premises, infirmary, toilets, administration, foyer, meeting room, library, documentation and information center (IDC):
  • 0.4 s to 0.8 s
• room for teaching, music, studies or practical activities with a volume greater than 250 m3, except noisy workshop:
  • 0.6 s to 1.2 s
• dining room with a volume greater than 250 m3:
  • 1.2 sec as a maximum
• multipurpose room with a volume greater than 250 m3:
  • 0.6 s to 1.2 s
• other rooms and circulation areas accessible to pupils with a volume greater than 250 m3:
  • in the case of a volume lower than 512 m3: 1.2 s as a maximum
  • otherwise 0.15 times the cube root of the volume (this latter: iexpressed in m3)

Acoustic regulations for the limitation of noise in educational and training institutions: specifications relating to equipment noise

With regard to noise from equipment, the decree of 25 April 2003 relating to the limitation of noise in educational institutions specifies the requirements relating to noise generated by equipment in the building (with regard to the reception room noise):

• in libraries, documentation and information centers (IDC), medical premises, infirmaries and rest rooms, music rooms:
  • 33 dB(A) if the equipment operates continuously; 38 dB(A) if operating intermittently
• in all other premises (mentioned above):
  • 38 dB(A) if the equipment operates continuously; 43 dB(A) if operating intermittently

What can ITS offer for compliance with acoustic regulations for noise limitation in educational and training institutions ?

What ITS can offer for compliance with acoustic regulations for noise limitation in education and training institutions:

• an acoustic diagnosis:
  • with (on site) airborne noise insulation measurements, equipment noise level measurements e.g. for Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning (HVAC) facilties, reverberation time measurements of premises: involving a qualified measurement technician physical (specialized in instrumental techniques) and sound equipment duly calibrated and verified
  • with the study (based on darwings and involving calculations of sound propagation carried out by an acoustic engineer with extensive skills in building physics) of the issues refering to sound insulation (in relation to the construction systems constituting the envelope of the building and the separations between dwellings: walls, roof, floors, partitions - including doors and windows - for what concerns in particular the sound reduction index of such construction elements) and to the limitation of reverberation (in relation to the area and the sound absorption coefficient of the materials in the concerned premises, given their volume and the conditions of their use)
  • with a comparison of the planned or existing construction provisions with what the acoustic regulations for education and training institutions impose
• the marketing of solutions for compliance with acoustic regulations for for education and training institutions impose:
  • soundproofing materials and products (acoustic insulation, limitation of reverberation, reduction of equipment noise)
  • works, with guaranteed results

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^[1] difference between the sound pressure levels in the noise emission room (or alternatively: in front of a building) and in the reception room, with a corrective term taking into account the reverberation time ^[2] of the receiving room; when calculated for pink noise: accounting an emission sound spectrum with the same level in dB in each frequency band of 1/1 octave
^[2] time (s) required for the existing sound level in a room to decrease by 60 dB when the noise source is instantly interrupted
^[3] for the arithmetic average in octave intervals with central frequencies 500, 1000 and 2000 Hz

What acoustic regulations for the limitation of noise in housing - residential buildings ?

What acoustic regulations for the limitation of noise in housing - residential buildings ?

With respect to housing (e.g. residential buildings), including those comprising premises for professional use, technical premises, or business premises, this is a question that arises in various contexts:

• for the architect, the engineer, the technician in charge of the construction or the renovation of such edifices, individual (houses) or collective (buildings), including when he works in a real estate development company
• for the president of a co-ownership trustee
• for anyone living in the building (resident: owner, tenant) perceiving that the acoustic comfort leaves something to be desired

In France, the Decree of 30 June 1999 relates to the acoustic characteristics of residential buildings: being therefore not new, this document should not - nowadays - be referred to as the "new acoustic regulation" ; among other technical regulatory aspects, the acoustical insulation, the limitation of reverberation and the equipment noise impact (determining the acoustic comfort and therefore the habitability of residential buildings) are the subject of specifications.

sound insulation, limitation of reverberation and equipment noise determine the acoustic comfort and therefore the habitability of residential buildings

Acoustic regulation for noise limitation in housing - residential buildings: specifications relating to acoustic insulation

With regard to sound insulation (a major concept for noise limitation and acoustic comfort) , the decree of 30 June 1999 relating to the acoustic characteristics of residential buildings specifies the requirements relating to airborne noise inside the building in terms of standardized sound insulation weighted DnT,A ^[1] :

• when the noise emission is located in a room of the dwelling excluding individual garages (with regard to the room of another dwelling as a noise reception room):
  • 53 dB(A) for a main room; 50 dB(A) for a kitchen or a bathroom
• when the noise emission is in a common circulation inside the building (with regard to the room of another dwelling as the noise reception room):
  • when the transmission room and the reception room are only separated by a landing door or by a landing door and a distribution door:40 dB(A) for a main room; 37 dB(A) for a kitchen or a bathroom
  • in other cases: 53 dB(A) for a main room; 50 dB(A) for a kitchen or a bathroom
• when the noise emission is located in an individual garage of a dwelling or in a collective garage (with regard to the room of another dwelling as a noise reception room):
  • 55 dB(A) for a main room; 52 dB(A) for a kitchen or a bathroom
• when the noise emission is located in an activity room, excluding collective garages (as far as the room in another dwelling is concerned as a noise reception room):
  • 58 dB(A) for a main room; 55 dB(A) for a kitchen or a bathroom

Also with regard to sound insulation, the decree of June 30, 1999 relating to the acoustic characteristics of residential buildings specifies the requirements relating to noise coming from the outside space in terms of standardized sound insulation weighted DnT,A ^[1] :

• (with regard to the room of a dwelling as a noise reception area):
  • 30 dB(A) for a main room and/or for a kitchen

Acoustic regulation for noise limitation in housing - residential buildings: specifications relating to the limitation of reverberation

With regard to the limitation of reverberation (another major concept for noise limitation and acoustic comfort), the decree of June 30, 1999 relating to the acoustic characteristics of residential buildings specifies the requirements relating to the equivalent absorption area of ​​the absorbent coverings placed in the common circulations inside the building:

• at least a quarter of the ground surface of these circulations

Acoustic regulation for noise limitation in housing - residential buildings: specifications relating to equipment noise

With regard to the noise of equipment, the decree of June 30, 1999 relating to the acoustic characteristics of residential buildings specifies the requirements relating to noise:

• generated by a controlled mechanical ventilation system (MVC) (as far as the room in another dwelling is concerned as a noise reception room):
  • 30 dB(A) for a main room; 35 dB(A) for a kitchen
• generated by an individual equipment of a housing of the building (with regard to the room of another housing as noise reception area):
  • 30 dB(A) for a main room; 35 dB(A) for a kitchen
• generated by a collective equipment of the building (with regard to the room of another dwelling as a noise reception room):
  • 30 dB(A) for a main room; 35 dB(A) for a kitchen

What can ITS offer for the compliance to acoustic regulations for noise limitation in housing - residential buildings ?

What ITS can offer for compliance with acoustic regulations for noise limitation in housing - residential buildings:

• an acoustical diagnosis:
  • with (on site) airborne noise insulation measurements, equipment noise level measurements e.g. for Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning (HVAC) facilities: involving a qualified technician in physical measurements (specialized in instrumental techniques) and duly sound measurement equipment calibrated and verified
  • with  the study (based on drawings and involving sound propagation calculations by an acoustical engineer with extended skills in buillding physics) of issues refering to acoustical insulation (in relation to the construction systems constituting the envelope of the building and the separations between dwellings: walls, roof, floors, partitions - including doors and windows - for what concerns in particular the sound reduction index of such construction elements) and to the limitation of reverberation (in relation to the area and the acoustic absorption coefficient of the materials in the common interior circulations)
  • with a comparison of the planned or existing construction provisions with what the noise regulation imposes for residential buildings
• the marketing of solutions for compliance with acoustic regulations for residential buildings:
  • soundproofing materials and products (acoustic insulation, limitation of reverberation, equipment noise reduction)
  • works, with guaranteed results

Spread the word !

^[1] difference between the sound pressure levels in the noise emission room (or alternatively: in front of a building) and in the reception room, with a corrective term taking into account the reverberation time ^[2] of the receiving room; when calculated for pink noise: accounting an emission sound spectrum with the same level in dB in each frequency band of 1/1 octave
^[2] time (s) required for the existing sound level in a room to decrease by 60 dB when the noise source is instantly interrupted

Which environmental protection against noise in France and in the European union?

The environmental protection against noise is a major challenge in France and in Europe, due to the growing noise impact of equipment linked to the housing of the populations of developed countries being concerned, of human activities such as industry and transport infrastructure.

For this, a regulation exists, applicable in France and/or in the European Union and ITS offers solutions.

Regulations on environmental protection against noise in France and in the European Union

• In France :
  • the Decree of August 20, 85 is on airborne noise emitted into the environment by classified installations for environmental protection with the exclusion of facilities subject to the provisions of the Decree of January 23, 1997 Note: all or part of this document has been modified by more recent texts
  • the Order of 10 May 1995 is on procedures for measuring noise from neighbors
  • the Decree of January 23, 1997 relates to the limitation of noise emitted into the environment by installations classified for environmental protection
  • the Order of 15 November 1999 amends Decree of 23 January 1997 on the limitation of noise emitted into the environment by installations classified for environmental protection and the Order of 14 May 1993 is on the glass industry
  • the Decree of April 4, 2006 is relevant to the preparation of noise maps and of plans for prevention of environmental noise
  • the Order of 5 December 2006 is on procedures for measurement of noise from neighbors
  • the Decree of November 27, 2008 changes the order of 5 December 2006 concerning the measurement of neighborhood noise
  • the Decree No. 95-408 of 18 April 1995 is on the fight against neighborhood noise and amends the Code of Public Health
  • the Decree No. 2006-361 of 24 March 2006 is relevant to the preparation of noise maps and plans for prevention of environmental noise and modifies the code of Town Planning
  • the Decree No. 2006-1099 of 31 August 2006 is on the fight against neighborhood noise and amends the Code of Public Health
• In the European Union:
  • the Directive 2002/49/EC of 25 June 2002 is on the assessment and management of environmental noise

What does ITS offer in terms of environmental protection against noise in France and in the European Union ?

What ITS offers in terms of environmental protection against noise in France and in the European Union:

• audits to verify the conformity of facilities of all kinds; noise measurements are made with sound level meters duly calibrated and checked by a qualified technician in physical measurements (specialized in instrumental techniques), possibly with respect to various regulatory criteria:
  • emergence: this is the difference between the A-weighted equivalent continuous pressure levels of ambient noise (considered facilty in operation) and residual noise (in the absence of noise generated by the considered facility, but measured on its operating period) in regulated emergence zones (ZER); depending on the context: 5 or 6 dB(A) during the day and 3 or 4 dB(A) during the night
  • the tonal component: it is present when, considering an unweighted third-octave spectrum, the level in a frequency band exceeds by 5 dB or more the average level of the two adjacent frequency bands from 400 Hz to 6300 Hz or by 10 dB that of the two adjacent frequency bands from 63 to 315 Hz
  • the admissible level at the property boundary - for establishment classified for environmental protection (ECEP) - typically 70 dB(A) during the day, 60 dB(A) during the night
• sound impact studies:
  • with identification and prioritization of noise sources
  • with a search for ways to improve the acoustic situation and the development of solutions for noise reduction
  • with sizing calculations for soundproofing equipment
• noise reduction solutions marketing:
  • at the source: acoustic lagging of ducts and pipes, soundproofing covers and enclosures for noisy equipment, soundproofed premises and buildings
  • limiting the propagation of sound emissions using acoustic screens (noise walls)
  • reducing noise emissions from openings intended for ventilation, as well as from the ends of aeraulic networks, e.g. intakes of heat engines and turbomachines, as well as their discharge and exhausts

The activity of ITS in relation to the protection of the environment against noise (e.g. in France and in the European Union) concerns:

• buildings e.g. Heating Ventilation Air conditioning of houses, apartment buildings and care establishments (in particular: air conditioners, heat pumps)
• industrial sites e.g. transmission of interior noise towards the exterior, limitation of sound emissions from equipment installed outdoors, reduction of the acoustic power of air intakes, vents, gas depressurization orifices

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Which protection of workers against noise in France and in the European Union?

In France, the decree of August 1990 the 30th is adopted in application of Article R. 235-11 of the Labour Code and is related to the reverberation control of working premises: this text is applicable in France in relation to the acoustic characteristics of working premises and in particular with respect to the noise level decay per doubling the distance to a noise source.

In France, the Decree No. 88-405 of april the 21st amends the Labor Code and is on the protection of workers against noise. Note: all or part of this document has been modified by more recent texts.

In France, the Decree No. 2006-892 of July 2006 the 19th is related to the safety and health regulations applicable for exposure of workers to risks arising from noise. This decree transposes Directive 2003/10/EC of 6 February 2003 concerning the minimum safety and health requirements regarding the exposure of workers to risks arising from noise.

In France, the Decree No. 2006-1044 of 23 August 2006 is related to the safety and health regulations applicable for exposure to risks from noise of staff employed on board ships.

In the European Union, Directive No. 86/188/EEC of 12/05/86 is on the protection of workers against noise Note: all or part of this document has been modified by more recent texts.

In the European Union, Directive 2003/10/EC of 6 February 2003 is concerning the minimum safety and health requirements regarding the exposure of workers to risks arising from physical agents (noise): applicable in French law since 2006 and involving in particular a decrease of 5 dB of limits previously in force.