Performance of sound insulation in buildings - A case study

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to recognize usual facade sound insulation problems that affect a construction's acoustical quality by measuring the facade's sound insulation. Thirteen different situations were evaluated through in situ measurements in Curitiba, Brazil. By measuring buildings in different locations with constructive materials and different designs, this research found that the performance of the majority of evaluated facades did not reach the minimum proposed by both Brazilian and Portuguese standards. These results indicate that the sound insulation quality in Brazilian buildings is low and is mainly due to constructive imperfections and the use of materials with unfavorable acoustical properties.