Controlling air-borne and structure-borne sound in buildings

In recent years, the science an engineering for controlling sound transmission in buildings have shifted from a focus on individual assemblies such as walls or floors, to a focus on performance of the complete system. Standardized frameworks for calculating the overall transmission including structure-borne flanking, combined with standardized measurements to characterize sub-assemblies, have advanced these issues from research concepts to engineering practice in many countries. From studies of relatively homogeneous and isotropic constructions of concrete and masonry in the 1990s, the technology is now expanding to include the more complicated behavior of lightweight framed constructions. These advances in measurement-based calculations offer the potential for better design based on comprehensive prediction of sound transmission between units in multifamily buildings.