Comparison of the Standard Floor Impact Sound with Living Impact Source by Subjective Evaluation

Abstract

In the previous test, the verification of the standard floor impact source was carried out comparing the physical characteristics with living impact sources. The result was appeared the validation of the standard impact source was very low because of differences of physical characteristics. This study aims to evaluate annoyance and loudness of standard impact source which is used for the measurement of floor impact sound, and to compare the annoyance and loudness of living impact sources which are produced in real life. The impact sources considered are tapping machine, tire and impact ball as standard sources, and nine real sources which were chosen from the existing researches. The result showed differences of annoyance and loudness between standard impact sources and living impact sources, which means the standard impact sources may rate the performance of floor system inappropriately. In the future, the rating method should be examined how the standard impact sources are similar with real sources in the point of rating the performance of floor system.