A series of planned experiments were conducted to investigate whether systematic differences may exist between ASTM C423 and ISO 354 measured sound absorption using the E-400 mm mounting condition for acoustical ceilings. These experiments focused on the differences in the two test methods, with the goal of identifying and understanding differences in the resulting test results. A variety of acoustical ceiling tile were tested, in a facility accredited (NVLAP) to perform both ASTM and ISO testing, generating data representing a broad range of acoustical performance. The factors examined were: the effect of sample size and calculation procedure on the measured absorption; and the differences between the SAA and α w calculations derived from the two test methods. The results of these experiments will then be used to identify areas in which additional research is needed if harmonization of the two standards is to occur.
Speech privacy (or the lack thereof) is becoming a well-defined issue relating to “acoustic comfort” as a factor in building IEQ. This is the case for commercial offices as well as for healthcare spaces. The drivers for this include worker productivity, and confidentiality of sensitive information. CBE (Center for the Built Environment, UC Berkeley) surveys show the lack of speech privacy as being the most significant factor in disapproval of building IEQ for “green rated,” and for all other building types. Healthcare regulations such as HIPAA and HCAHPS are transforming the design of hospital facilities and procedures in part due to oral privacy and annoyance issues. The “WELL Building Standard” is going beyond LEED to consider the occupants health and productivity as affected by the IEQ. ASHRAE is going beyond “high performance green buildings” to now include an IEQ Global Alliance. So, where are we going with all this work?? Well, the metrics and measurement procedures used to measure and define levels of speech privacy are being updated at ASTM International to provide a basis for evaluation of speech privacy in both open plan and closed plan, and combinations thereof. This work will be outlined herein.
The U.S. is a participating member in the development of ISO standards through the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Specific ANSI participation relative to standards on architectural acoustics is within ISO TC43 SC2, which deals with building acoustics, as opposed to noise for instance. The actual standards development and voting responsibilities rest with the ANSI Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to ISO TC43 SC2, which is delegated to ASTM (American Standards for Testing and Materials) committee E 33.06 International Standards. This paper will present the process whereby the entire American continent is involved in the development of ISO standards, since ASTM is an international standard organization, whereas the U.S. voting is of course solely an ANSI responsibility. Both current and in-development ISO standards will be discussed.
Acoustic comfort is all about meeting the acoustic needs of the patient, family, professional staff in hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, etc. These needs include low distraction and annoyance for patients to fully enjoy a “healing environment”, high levels of speech intelligibility to support communications and to help reduce medical errors, and adequate speech privacy to meet HIPAA and other privacy needs. How to design for these, and how to verify performance—these are the key issue to be addressed. Architectural choices need to be made with a view for acoustic comfort in addition to all the other relevant design factors. Facility evaluations as part of the commissioning process need to include both objective and subjective surveys to push forward evidence based design approaches for others to take advantage of in future designs. All of these issues are part of the ongoing discussions and field studies that we have been having, and will continue to have.
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