Prediction and reduction of alarm sound propagated through elevator shaft and escape stairways

In this study, alarm sound generated as a priority alert system propagation through an elevator shaft in apartment buildings were simulated using room acoustic simulation software. The simulations were conducted on three kinds of elevator hall plan with a different number of elevators and placement. First, the elevator shaft without sound absorption material was simulated as a condition of the present. When the distance from the alarm sound generating floor became farther, alarm sound level was decreased. However, the alarm sound level three-floor distance was about 54 dB(A)~56 dB(A) which were louder than a background sound level of typical apartment buildings. Sound absorption material placement proposed by previous studies were simulated and the alarm sound levels were decreased about 12 dB~16 dB. These levels were similar or lower than the background level of apartment buildings. From these results, it can be concluded that placing sound absorption material on the surface of the elevator shaft wall can be one of the methods to control the alarm sound as regulated in NFSC.