Calculation of:

STC (Sound Transmission Class), RW (European) as per ISO 717-1, MTC (Music/Machinery Transmission Class), OITC (Outdoor-Indoor Transmission Class)
Note: This document is an extension/adaptation of a document explaining STC and OITC to be found at http://www.peerlessproducts.com/acoustical/STCandOITC.doc It is expanded (+ additional adjustments and more in-depth comments) with the MTC and RW single number rating. The related mathematical MTC approach was explained by Dr. Noral D. Stewart a US acoustic consultant, member of ASTM to the Author Eric Desart, who adjusted/expanded this document for use in the studiotips acoustics group. The additional MTC single number rating was designed by H. Stanley Roller, Architectural Construction Manager, Acoustics, United States Gypsum Company, in order to compensate for the neglect of the STC Class in view of low frequent noise as music and machinery. TL: Transmission Loss ASTM E-90 TL values per frequency band in one-third octave bands to be used for the calculation of the single number ratings are obtained as per ASTM E-90 and rounded to the nearest whole dB TL value. This deviate from the European and ISO approach, which mostly use TL values rounded to 1/10 dB. The difference between both approaches can cause differences on the rounded resulting single number ratings of 1 dB. Suggestions were made within ASTM meetings to alter the ASTM E-90 approach to an accuracy of 1/10 dB. However most likely the standard used method of rounding TL values to whole dB values will continue to exist. STC: Sound Transmission Class ASTM E413-87 (Re-approved 1994) Classification for Rating Sound Insulation The Sound Transmission Class (STC) method assigns a single number rating to measured Sound Transmission Loss (TL) data obtained in accordance with ASTM E-90. The method compares a family of numbered contours with one-third octave band TL data covering the one-third octave bands from 125 Hz to 4000 Hz, inclusive. The number of the contour that best fits the data gives the STC rating. All contours are defined across the one-third octave band range 125 Hz to 4000 Hz, inclusive, and are numbered according to their value at the 500 Hz band. The numbered contours are generated from a reference contour, which defines STC 0. The one-third octave band values of a numbered contour are computed Eric Desart Page 1 1 March 2002

by adding the contour number (which must be an integer) to the reference contour values for all bands. For example, the 45 contour has a value of 45 dB in the 500 Hz band, as well as 29 dB (4516 dB) in the 125 Hz band, 32 dB (45-13 dB) in the 160 Hz band, and so on. STC Reference Contour 1/3-Octave Band [Hz] 125 160 200 250 315 400 500 630 Reference Contour [dB] -16 -13 -10 -7 -4 -1 +0 +1 STC Reference Contour (continued) 1/3-Octave Band [Hz] 800 1000 1250 1600 2000 2500 3150 4000 Reference Contour [dB] +2 +3 +4 +4 +4 +4 +4 +4 To calculate the STC, 1. Select a trial contour for comparison with the measured TL data. 2. Identify bands with deficiencies, where the measured TL data fall below the contour under consideration. The magnitude of the deficiency is the difference between the TL value and the contour value for that band. No credit is given for TL data above the contour. 3. Sum the deficiencies and identify the maximum deficiency. 4. Increase the trial contour number in 1-dB increments to find the highestnumbered contour that meets both of the following criteria: a) The sum of the deficiencies is less than or equal to 32 dB, and b) The maximum deficiency in any one band does not exceed 8 dB. 5. The resulting value at 500 Hz represents the STC value. RW ISO 717-1 ed. 1 1982 and ISO 717-1 ed. 2 1996 ISO European equivalent of the US STC Class Basically the European approach equals the US approach. The main differences are the frequency range. STC covers the range 125 Hz to 4000 Hz, while R W covers 100 Hz to 3150 Hz. So both cover 16 one-third octave bands. STC equals the 500 Hz band of the reference curve with 0 dB, While R W sets the 500 Hz reference value to 52 dB, equaling a standard separation between houses. The calculation methods show that this level doesn't matter. Important is the shape of the reference curve (relative weighing), which are comparable for both standards. ISO 717-1 ed.1 1982 uses the same maximum deficiency 8 dB rule as noted in point 4. b As such the RW calculation method of this edition equals exactly the principles described in points 1. to 4. ISO 717-1 ed.2 1996 skipped this 8 dB rule, substituting this rule by new single number ratings (not covered by this document). The R W however is still used as a standard single number rating, without inclusion this 8 dB rule (meaning old pr-1996 and new RW's calculated on the same TL values can differ from one another). Eric Desart Page 2

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ISO 717-1 RW Reference Contour 1/3-Octave Band [Hz] 100 125 160 200 250 315 400 500 Reference Contour [dB] 33 36 39 42 45 48 51 52 ISO 717-1 RW Reference Contour (continued) 1/3-Octave Band [Hz] 630 800 1000 1250 1600 2000 2500 3150 Reference Contour [dB] 53 54 55 56 56 56 56 56 When we should shift this ISO 717-1 R W reference contour one will notice that the contour is exactly similar to the ASTM E413-87 contour with this difference that ISO has an additional value for the 100 Hz band, and one lacking value for the 4000 Hz. Since the lowest frequencies are often the most defining ones in the calculation of a single number rating, the standard European approach is a bit more stringent than the US approach. ISO 717-1 RW Shifted Reference Contour 1/3-Octave Band [Hz] 100 125 160 200 250 315 Reference Contour [dB] -19 -16 -13 -10 -7 -4 400 -1 500 0 3150 4

ISO 717-1 RW Shifted Reference Contour (continued) 1/3-Octave Band [Hz] 630 800 1000 1250 1600 2000 2500 Reference Contour [dB] 1 2 3 4 4 4 4

To calculate the RW, 1. Contrary to STC, the TL (in Europe called R) values must be given with an accuracy of 1/10 dB 2. Select a trial contour for comparison with the measured TL data. 3. Identify bands with deficiencies, where the measured TL data fall below the contour under consideration. The magnitude of the deficiency is the difference between the TL value and the contour value for that band. No credit is given for TL data above the contour. 4. Sum the deficiencies and identify the maximum deficiency. 5. Increase the trial contour number in 1-dB increments to find the highestnumbered contour that meets both of the following criteria: a) The sum of the deficiencies is less than or equal to 32 dB, and b) The 8 dB rule Old ISO 717-1 ed. 1 1982: The maximum deficiency in any one band does not exceed 8 dB. New ISO 717-1 ed. 2 1996: The 8 dB rule is skipped all together and substituted by alternative single number correction factors, one for a more accurate calculated dB(A) weighting and a second for traffic/music noise (not covered by this document). This means one should be careful interpreting existing RW's, since values dated before ed. 2 of the standard, cover a bit a different content. 6. The resulting value at 500 Hz represents the R W value.

Eric Desart

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MTC: Music/Machinery Transmission Class Classification for Rating Sound Insulation for music and machinery Even when RW is a bit more stringent than STC, both standards, give a very low relative importance in relation to low frequencies, making it a bad approach to rate single number insulation values in function of traffic, mechanical noise sources and music. Therefore a new class was designed by H. Stanley Roller, Architectural Construction Manager, Acoustics, United States Gypsum Company, in order to compensate for the neglect of the STC Class in view of this low frequent noise. This class however never became an official standard, and most likely never will be. The following is a poetic license by the author as a possible explanation (without knowing the exact history, open for corrective suggestions by readers of this document): Both the European RW and the ASTM STC class are old norms designed in a period, that computers and electronic calculators were still rare objects, hard to get by. That made logarithmic calculations, on which most acoustic calculations are based, difficult and time consuming, certainly for people the standards where meant for. This resulted in a more graphical approach, only needing arithmetic calculations. In fact from a mathematical/acoustical approach this is a rather inaccurate approach, which is based on empirical statistics. New norms as OITC and lots of others, are much more logical from a mathematical point of view, taking the nowadays calculation means into account. In fact exact logarithmic calculated single number ratings are easier with current calculation means, than the old approach, which is much more complicated to put in simple formulae. The MTC Class is 100% based on an STC calculation, with the same reference spectrum and the same frequency range, but with some added restrictions calculated on the two lowest frequency bands of 125 Hz and 160 Hz. This method was most likely chosen, since it started from a well-known STC calculation procedure, meaning that acceptance of this rather graphical method (complex for easy calculation) could be expected to be good. However the existence now of the later designed OITC class for outdoor noise (with a much more modern acoustic/mathematical approach) will most likely prevent the MTC to become a new official standard. One can expect that new norms will much more resemble the OITC approach. STC Reference Contour 1/3-Octave Band [Hz] 125 160 200 250 315 400 500 Reference Contour [dB] -16 -13 -10 -7 -4 -1 +0 STC Reference Contour (continued) 1/3-Octave Band [Hz] 800 1000 1250 1600 2000 2500 3150 Reference Contour [dB] +2 +3 +4 +4 +4 +4 +4 A) To calculate the MTC, one first starts with the standard STC procedure Eric Desart Page 4 1 March 2002

630 +1 4000 +4

1. Select a trial contour for comparison with the measured TL data. 2. Identify bands with deficiencies, where the measured TL data fall below the contour under consideration. The magnitude of the deficiency is the difference between the TL value and the contour value for that band. No credit is given for TL data above the contour. 3. Sum the deficiencies and identify the maximum deficiency. 4. Increase the trial contour number in 1-dB increments to find the highestnumbered contour that meets both of the following criteria: a) The sum of the deficiencies is less than or equal to 32 dB, and b) The maximum deficiency in any one band does not exceed 8 dB. 5. The resulting value at 500 Hz represents the STC value. B) Then one adds the following restrictions/additions to the STC procedure: 6. Check if there are deficiencies or surpluses at the 125 Hz and 160 Hz bands (calculated contour versus TL values) after determining the STC contour. a) If you have deficiencies in one or both frequency bands, i.e. the TL is less than the contour: i) Lower the contour further until these deficiencies are eliminated. ii) Then read the MTC as the value of the contour at 500 Hz, yielding an MTC that is lower than the STC. b) If after determining the STC, you have surpluses at 125 AND 160 Hz, or surpluses at 125 OR 160 Hz while the other value is 0 (meaning contour not lowered by point 6. a ) the MTC is going to be more than the STC: i) Add the surpluses at 125 and 160 Hz. ii) Divide that sum by 3, and round result to the unit (whole dB's). iii) Add the result to the STC, with this limit that the MTC can never be more than STC plus 4. OITC: Outdoor-Indoor Transmission Class ASTM E1332-90 (Re-approved 1994) Standard Classification for Determination of Outdoor-Indoor Transmission Class ASTM under the leadership of another USG staff member Keith Walker, did standardize another measure: The Outdoor-Indoor Transmission Class (OITC) method assigns a single number rating to measured Sound Transmission Loss (TL) data obtained in accordance with ASTM E-90. The OITC is defined as the A-weighted sound level reduction of a test specimen in the presence of an idealized mixture of transportation noises: aircraft takeoff, freeway, and railroad passby. The rating is computed from measured TL data in one-third octave bands from 80 Hz to 4000 Hz, inclusive. Note from the author: The OITC approach is a modern acoustic/mathematical logic and easy to calculate approach. One can enter the whole standard in one single formula. In fact one can easily substitute the reference spectrum by any custom spectrum covering any frequency range one desires. The level of the spectrum itself doesn't matter since the logarithmic sum factor 100.13 is Eric Desart Page 5 1 March 2002

integrated to correct the formula to a frequency related energetic distribution. In arithmetic terms: the spectrum and its sum is used to recalculate the relative contribution (percentage) of the individual frequency bands, versus a total of 100%. In order to use this approach for other spectra, just enter a dB(A) weighted spectrum, calculate the logarithmic sum of this spectrum, and substitute the factor 100.13 by this logarithmic total. To compute the OITC: 1. Subtract the measured specimen TL for each one-third octave band from the corresponding A-weighted Reference Spectrum for that band. Aweighted Reference Spectrum levels are: A-weighted Reference Spectrum 80 100 125 160 200 250 1/3-Octave Band [Hz]
A-weighted Reference Spectrum [dB(A)]

315 87. 4

400 88. 2 315 0 86. 2

500 89. 8 400 0 85. 0

80. 5

82. 9

84. 9

84. 6

86. 1

86. 4

A-weighted Reference Spectrum (continued) 630 800 100 125 160 200 250 1/3-Octave Band [Hz]
A-weighted Reference Spectrum [dB(A)]

89. 1

89. 2

0 89. 0

0 89. 6

0 89. 0

0 89. 2

0 88. 3

1. Perform a logarithmic sum of the one-third octave band results of Step 1, 2. The OITC is the difference, rounded to the nearest decibel, between the value 100.13 and the logarithmic sum from Step 2. Note this value of 100.13 is the to 2 decimals rounded logarithmic sum of the A-weighted reference spectrum The entire process can be conveniently expressed in a mathematical equation: where AWRSi is the A-wt. Reference Sound Level and TL i is the Sound Transmission Loss, for each one-third octave band. (The second term of this equation is the logarithmic sum mentioned in Step 2.)

4000 Hz ( AWRSi TLi ) OITC = 10013 . 10 log 10 10 i = 80 Hz

Note Older TL test reports, and TL test reports from some laboratories with smaller reverberation chambers, may not include data for the 80 Hz and 100 Hz bands. Such test reports cannot be used to compute OITC. Note from the Author: While indeed a deviating frequency range does not allow an official OITC value as per the current standard, the method easily allows to adjust the frequency range Eric Desart Page 6 1 March 2002

(explained before in document) resulting in an unofficial single number rating, but which is still much more representative than the alternative STC rating when low-frequent noise is involved. Remember: One can easily apply the method for specific purposes as e.g. standardized music spectra.

CONSIDERATIONS

In buildings, acoustic treatment is added to reduce the impact of sound entering into specific areas. Sound is controlled by three means: 1. Firstly treatment of the source (e.g. building an enclosure around the source such as around compressors, or adding acoustic treatment to the area where the sound is coming from) 2. Secondly treatment of the path of the noise (e.g. erection of barriers such as building walls on freeways) 3. And finally treatment at the receiver end. (E.g. wearing earplugs) There are two types of acoustic functions that are of concern in this manual: sound insulation and noise absorption. The acoustic treatments discussed relate not only to the treatment of the path of the sound, such as walls, but also Autex has devised acoustic treatments that not only reduce sound transmission of the path but also treat the source room and receiving rooms, so that noise levels are reduced. Common sound insulation terms. Rw Rw is the weighted sound reduction index in dB (decibels) and it describes the airborne sound insulating power of a building element. It is a laboratory-measured value as defined in ISO717 Part 1. It can apply to walls, ceiling/ floors, ceiling/roofs, doors, or windows. The higher the number, the greater the sound insulating power of the building element. It is measured over the frequency range 100 to 3150Hz and replaces the old measure STC (Sound Transmission Class) that was measured over 125 to 4000Hz. In many cases the Rw has a value of one point less than the STC value for the same construction. An increase in the Rw of a wall by 6 to 10 points will reduce the perceived loudness of sound passing through the wall by about half. Detailed below is how the sound insulating effectiveness of walls depends on their Rw (or Rw + Ctr values).

Eric Desart

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Rw +Ctr Rw + Ctr are Rw with the addition of a low frequency sound correction factor Ctr. (a negative number). The use of Rw + Ctr has become more relevant due to the increase in low frequency sound sources such as surround sound systems, traffic and aircraft noise, drums and bass guitars. Two walls can have the same Rw rating, but have different resistance to low frequency sound, thus a different Rw + Ctr.

DnTw DnTw is the equivalent of Rw, but measured onsite. Rw is the value measured in an acoustic laboratory, while DnTw is measured on-site. An on-site measured value of DnTw + Ctr is permitted to be 5 points lower than the Rw + Ctr value. Where the BCA may call for an Rw + Ctr > 50, the same requirement may be satisfied by measuring DnTw + Ctr > 45 on-site.

Ln,w +Ci Ln,w + Ci describes how easily impact sound travels through a wall or floor. Impact sound is generated by sources such as dryers, washing machines and heeled shoes on a wooden floor. Unlike Rw values, better performing walls or floors have lower values. Therefore when specified, Ln,w + Ci values are maximums while Rw values are minimums. For example, the BCA requires some floors to have Ln,w + Ci < 62.

Impact Sound Isolation and walls Walls that have an Impact Sound Insulation requirement are defined in the BCA as walls that do not have any rigid mechanical connection between two separate leaves except at the perimeter. Discontinuous Construction is defined in the BCA as walls that have a gap of at least 20mm between two separate leaves. Double stud plasterboard walls connected only at the perimeter are classed as discontinuous. NRC A materials ability to absorb sound is measured by its sound absorption coefficient and is often expressed in terms of a Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC) The NRC is the arithmetic average of the products sound absorption coefficients at 250,500,1000 and 2000Hz. The sound absorption coefficients of products are measured according to ISO140-3. An NRC of 0.4 means 40 % of sound is absorbed by the material. Typical building materials such as plasterboard have an NRC of approximately 0.04 which means only 4% sound will be absorbed.

Do you know how an STC test is done? STC and Rw are lab tests. R'w and DnTw are field tests, in-situ. DnTw is defined with the same frequency range as Rw, not STC. Most of the time, Rw=STC or within 1dB. In principle, R'w = L1 - L2 + 10xLog(S) - 10xLog(Abs) Eric Desart Page 8 1 March 2002

where S is the surface area of the dividing wall between the two rooms and Abs is the absorption in the receiving room. L1 is the source room level, L2 the receive room level. DnTw = L1 - L2 + 10xLog(T) + 3 DnTw = R'w + 10*Log[V/S] - 5 Where V is the receive room volume and S as above. T is the decay time (reverberation time) of the receive room. R'w is the "apparent sound reduction index". Apparent since an in-situ test includes all sound transmission paths, including flanking paths. So R'w is invariably lower than Rw. Could be 3 less; a common allowance is 5, but could be much more. So if you want to compare STC and DnTw, you would first set STC=Rw, then set Rw 5dB higher than R'w then calculate DnTw based on the room volume and the transmitting area. Simple.

Eric Desart

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