2000

STANDARD for SOUND RATING

AND SOUND
TRANSMISSION
LOSS OF
PACKAGED
TERMINAL
EQUIPMENT

Standard 300

4301 NORTH FAIRFAX DRIVE • ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA 22203

 IMPORTANT

SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS

It is strongly recommended that the product be designed, constructed, assembled and installed in accordance with
nationally recognized safety requirements appropriate for products covered by this standard.

ARI, as a manufacturers’ trade association, uses its best efforts to develop standards employing state-of-the-art and
accepted industry practices. However, ARI does not certify or guarantee safety of any products, components or
systems designed, tested, rated, installed or operated in accordance with these standards or that any tests conducted
under its standards will be non-hazardous or free from risk.

Note:

This standard supersedes ARI Standard 300-88.

Note:

This version of the standard differs from the 1988 version of the standard in the following:

a. The single number Sound Rating (SRARI) in bels has been replaced by a Sound Rating comprised of
a set of Sound Power Levels expressed in decibels (dB). The set of Sound Power Levels include
Octave Band Sound Power Levels (LW(n)), an A-Weighted Sound Power Level (LWA), and a Tone
Adjusted A-Weighted Sound Power Level (LWAT). The Sound Power Levels used for the Sound
Rating are all determined from the same One-Third Octave Band sound pressure measurements
that are required in the 1988 version of the standard.

b. The Reference Sound Source used in the sound test is calibrated in accordance with ARI Standard
250.

c. ARI Standard 280 has been incorporated for obtaining optional sound data below 100 Hz.

d. This standard includes the addition of an Outdoor-Indoor Transmission Class (OITC). The OITC
is provided in both overall A-Weighted and One-Third Octave Band forms. Future editions of this
standard will eliminate the use of Sound Transmission Class (STC) in lieu of the more appropriate
OITC.

Price $10.00 (M) $20.00 (NM) ©Copyright 2000, by Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute
Printed in U.S.A. Registered United States Patent and Trademark Office
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION PAGE

Section 1. Purpose........................................................................................................................... 1

Section 2. Scope.............................................................................................................................. 1

Section 3. Definitions ..................................................................................................................... 1

Section 4. Test Requirements ......................................................................................................... 2

Section 5. Rating Requirements...................................................................................................... 2

Section 6. Minimum Data Requirements for Published Ratings .................................................... 3

Section 7. Conformance Conditions ............................................................................................... 3

APPENDICES

Appendix A. References - Normative ................................................................................................. 4

Appendix B. References – Informative ............................................................................................... 5


SOUND RATING AND SOUND TRANSMISSION LOSS
OF PACKAGED TERMINAL EQUIPMENT
Section 1. Purpose
1.1 Purpose. The purpose of this standard is to establish a
method to determine the Sound Rating of both the indoor and
outdoor portions of Packaged Terminal Equipment. The
Sound Rating is comprised of a set of Sound Power Levels
that include Octave Band Sound Power Levels; an A-
Weighted Sound Power Level; and a Tone-Adjusted A-
Weighted Sound Power Level.
Additionally, this standard establishes a method to determine
sound transmission loss for Packaged Terminal Equipment.
Established are definitions; test requirements; rating
requirements; minimum data requirements for Published
Ratings; and conformance conditions.
1.1.1 Intent. This standard is intended for the
guidance of the industry, including manufacturers,
engineers, installers, contractors and users.
1.1.2 Review and Amendment. This standard is
subject to review and amendment as technology
advances.
Section 2. Scope
2.1 Scope. This standard applies to Packaged Terminal
Equipment as defined in ARI Standard 310/380.
Section 3. Definitions
Definitions. All terms in this document shall follow the
standard industry definitions in the current edition of
ASHRAE Terminology of Heating, Ventilation, Air
Conditioning and Refrigeration, unless otherwise defined in
this section.
3.1 A-Weighting. A frequency weighting applied to One-
Third Octave Band data in accordance with the provisions of
ANSI Standard S1.4A Amendment to ANSI S1.4.
3.2 Octave Band. A band of sound covering a range of
frequencies such that the highest is twice the lowest. The
Octave Bands used in this standard are those defined in ANSI
Standard S1.11.
ARI STANDARD 300-2000
3.3 One-Third Octave Band. A band of sound covering a
range of frequencies such that the highest frequency is the
cube root of two times the lowest. The One-Third Octave
Bands used in this standard are those as defined in ANSI
Standard S1.11.
3.4 Outdoor-Indoor Transmission Class (OITC). The
A-Weighted sound reduction calculated using its sound
transmission loss in the range of 80 to 4000 Hz, as measured
in accordance with ASTM Test Method E90 and ASTM
Guide E966.
3.5 Packaged Terminal Air Conditioner. A wall sleeve
and a separate unencased combination of heating and cooling
assemblies specified by the builder and intended for mounting
through the wall. It includes a prime source of refrigeration,
separable outdoor louvers, forced ventilation and heating
availability by purchaser’s choice of at least hot water, steam
or electric resistance heat.
3.6 Packaged Terminal Heat Pump. A separate unencased
refrigeration system installed in a cabinet of similar function
and configuration to that of a packaged terminal air
conditioner. It utilizes reverse cycle refrigeration as its prime
heat source and has other supplementary heat source
availability by purchaser’s with the choice of hot water, steam
or electric resistance heat.
3.7 Published Ratings. A statement of the assigned values
of those performance characteristics, under stated rating
conditions, by which a unit may be chosen to fit its
application. These values apply to all units of like nominal
size and type (identification) produced by the same
manufacturer. As used herein, the term Published Rating
includes the rating of all performance characteristics shown
on the unit or published in specifications, advertising or other
literature controlled by the manufacturer, at stated rating
conditions.
3.7.1 Application Rating. A rating based on tests
performed at Application Rating Conditions (other
than Standard Rating Conditions).
3.7.2 Standard Rating. A rating based on tests
performed at Standard Rating Conditions.
3.8 Reference Sound Source (RSS). A portable,
aerodynamic sound source that produces a known stable
broad band sound power output. The device shall meet the
performance requirements as defined in ARI Standard 250.
1
ARI STANDARD 300-2000
3.9 AShall@ or AShould.@ AShall@ or Ashould@ shall be
interpreted as follows.
3.9.1 Shall. Where Ashall@ or Ashall not@ is used for
a provision specified, that provision is mandatory if
compliance with the standard is claimed.
3.9.2 Should. AShould@ is used to indicate
provisions which are not mandatory but which are
desirable as good practice.
3.10 Sound Power Level, LW. This is ten times the
logarithm to the base ten of the ratio of the sound power
radiated by the source to a reference power, expressed in
decibels (dB). The reference power used in this standard is 1
picowatt (1 pW).
3.11 Sound Pressure Level, Lp. This is twenty times the
logarithm to the base ten of the ratio of a given pressure to a
reference sound pressure of 20µPa, expressed in decibels
(dB).
3.12 Sound Rating. A set of values that characterize the
sound behavior of a unit. For this standard, the Sound Rating
is comprised of a set of Sound Power Levels that are derived
from measured One-Third Octave Band Sound Pressure
Levels. Sound Power Levels include Octave Band Sound
Power Levels; an A-Weighted Sound Power Level; and a
Tone Adjusted A-Weighted Sound Power Level.
3.12.1 Application Sound Rating. A set of Sound
Power Levels that characterize the sound behavior at
conditions other than Standard Rating Conditions.
3.12.2 Standard Sound Rating. A set of Sound
Power Levels that characterize the sound behavior at
Standard Rating Conditions.
3.13 Sound Transmission Class (STC). A single-number
descriptor derived from sound transmission loss values in
accordance with the method described in ASTM Standard
E413.
3.14 Tone Adjustment. An adjustment made to the One-
Third Octave Band data to account for the subjective
response to discrete frequencies (pure tones).
Section 4. Test Requirements
4.1 Test Requirements. All sound tests used to determine
or verify indoor and outdoor Sound Ratings shall be
conducted in accordance with ANSI Standard S12.32, using
the comparison method and a Reference Sound Source
calibrated in accordance with ARI Standard 250.
2
4.1.1 Sound Power Levels shall be determined in
decibels re 1 pW for the One-Third Octave Bands with
center frequencies from 100 to 10,000 Hz.
Throughout this frequency range, the laboratory
facility shall have been qualified for pure tone
response in accordance with ANSI Standard S12.32
using frequency rather than noise source position as
the independent variable.
4.1.1.1 Sound Power Levels measured
and recorded in the optional 50, 63, and 80
Hz One-Third Octave Bands are determined
in accordance with ARI Standard 280.
4.1.2 Sound tests for the determination of sound
transmission loss shall be conducted in accordance
with ASTM Standards E90 and E1332.
4.1.3 Indoor/outdoor sound tests shall be
conducted in accordance with ARI Standards 350 and
270 respectively.
4.2 Mounting of Equipment for Testing.
4.2.1 Indoor Sound Rating. The unit shall be
mounted in accordance with the provisions of ARI
Standard 350.
4.2.2 Outdoor Sound Rating. The unit shall be
mounted to have the minimum protrusion outdoors as
recommended by the manufacturer. In no case shall
the unit be recessed.
4.2.3 Sound Transmission Loss. The unit shall be
mounted in accordance with the provisions of ASTM
Standard E90 with the unit not running and with the
damper closed. This rating shall be calculated using
the area of the outside dimensions of that portion of
the wall sleeve that penetrates the outer face of the
wall.
Section 5. Rating Requirements
5.1 Sound Rating. The Sound Rating is a set of Sound
Power Levels derived from the One-Third Octave Sound
Power Levels determined in Section 4. Sound Power Levels
include Octave Band Sound Power Levels; an A-Weighted
Sound Power Level; and a Tone Adjusted A-Weighted Sound
Power Level.
5.2 Sound Transmission Loss. This standard employs
three distinct characterizations for sound transmission loss:
a. One-Third Octave Band
b. Sound Transmission Class (STC)
c. Outdoor-Indoor Transmission Class (OITC)

5.3 Rating Requirements. Indoor Sound Ratings shall be
determined in accordance with the provisions of ARI
Standard 350. Outdoor Sound Ratings shall be determined in
accordance with the provisions of ARI Standard 270. Sound
Transmission Class (STC) shall be determined in accordance
with ASTM Standard E413. Outdoor-Indoor Transmission
Class (OITC) shall be determined in accordance with ASTM
Standard E1332.
5.4 Application Ratings. Application Sound Ratings for
conditions other than standard shall be based upon tests
conducted at those conditions.
5.5 Rating Tolerances. Any equipment selected at random
and tested in a suitably qualified laboratory in accordance
with this standard, shall not have a Sound Rating higher than
its published Sound Rating and shall not have STC and OITC
values less than its published Standard STC and OITC values
Section 6. Minimum Data Requirements for
Published Ratings
6.1 Published Ratings. Published Ratings shall include all
Standard Ratings. All claims to ratings within the scope of
this standard shall include the verbiage “Rated in accordance
with ARI Standard 300”. All claims to ratings outside the
scope of this standard shall include the verbiage “Outside the
scope of ARI Standard 300”. Wherever Application Ratings
are published or printed, they shall include a statement of the
conditions at which the ratings apply.
ARI STANDARD 300-2000
6.2 Published Sound Ratings. Published Sound Rating
shall be comprised of a set of Sound Power Levels that
include Octave Band Sound Power Levels; an A-Weighted
Sound Power Level; and a Tone-Adjusted A-Weighted Sound
Power Level.
Published Sound Ratings shall be reported for the frequency
range from 100 to 10,000 Hz. If optional low frequency data
is included, it shall be clearly designated. Published Sound
Ratings shall be expressed in decibels rounded to the nearest
1.0 dB. Whenever ratings are published or printed, they shall
include or be accompanied by the Standard Sound Rating,
clearly designated as such. Published Application Ratings
shall include a statement of the conditions at which the ratings
apply. The determination of Published Sound Ratings solely
the responsibility of the manufacturer.
Section 7. Conformance Conditions
7.1 Conformance. While conformance with this standard
is voluntary, conformance shall not be claimed or implied for
products or equipment within its Purpose (Section 1) and
Scope (Section 2) unless such claims meet all of the
requirements of the standard.
3
ARI STANDARD 300-2000
APPENDIX A. REFERENCES - NORMATIVE
A1 Listed here are all standards, handbooks and other
publications essential to the formation and implementation
of the standards. All references in this appendix are
considered as part of the standard.
A1.1 ANSI Standard S1.4A-1985 (R1990),
Amendment to ANSI Standard S1.4-1983 (R1994)
Sound Level Meters, 1990, American National
Standards Institute, 11 West 42nd Street, New York,
NY 19936, U.S.A.
A1.2 ANSI Standard S1.11-1986 (R1993),
Specifications for Octave-Band and Fractional
Octave-Band Analog and Digital Filters, 1993,
American National Standards Institute, 11 West 42nd
Street, New York, NY 10036, U.S.A.
A1.3 ANSI Standard S12.32-1990 (R1996),
Precision Methods for the Determination of Discrete-
Frequency and Narrow-Band Noise Sources in
Reverberation Rooms, 1996, American National
Standards Institute, 11 West 42nd Street, New York,
NY 10036, U.S.A.
A1.4 ARI Standard 110-97, Air-Conditioning and
Refrigerating Equipment Nameplate Voltage, Air-
Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute, 1997, 4301
North Fairfax Drive, Suite 425, Arlington, VA
22203, U.S.A.
A1.5 ARI Standard 250-2001, Performance and
Calibration of Reference Sound Sources, 2001, Air-
Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute, 4301 North
Fairfax Drive, Suite 425, Arlington, VA 22203,
U.S.A.
A1.6 ARI Standard 270-95, Sound Rating of
Outdoor Unitary Equipment, 1995, Air-Conditioning
and Refrigeration Institute, 4301 North Fairfax Drive,
Suite 425, Arlington, VA 22203, U.S.A.
A1.7 ARI Standard 280-95, Requirements for the
Qualification of Reverberant Rooms in the 63 Hz
Octave Band, 1995, Air-Conditioning and
Refrigeration Institute, 4301 North Fairfax Drive,
Suite 425, Arlington, VA 22203, U.S.A.
4
A1.8 ARI Standard 310/380-93, Packaged
Terminal Air-Conditioners and Heat Pumps, 1993,
Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute, 4301
North Fairfax Drive, Suite 425, Arlington, VA
22203, U.S.A. (CSA-C744-93) (ANSI/ARI 310/380-
93).
A1.9 ARI Standard 350-2000, Sound Rating of
Non-Ducted Indoor Air-Conditioning Equipment,
2000, Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute,
4301 North Fairfax Drive, Suite 425, Arlington, VA
22203, U.S.A.
A1.10 ASHRAE Terminology of Heating,
Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration,
Second Edition, 1991, American Society of Heating,
Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc.,
1791 Tullie Circle N.E., Atlanta, GA 30329, U.S.A.
A1.11 ASTM Standard E90-90, Standard Test
Method for Laboratory Measurement of Airborne
Sound Transmission Loss of Building Partitions,
1990, American Society for Testing and Materials,
100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA
19428-2959, U.S.A.
A1.12 ASTM Standard E413-87 (R1994),
Classification for Rating Sound Insulation, 1994,
American Society for Testing and Materials, 100
Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-
2959, U.S.A.
A1.13 ASTM Standard E966-92, Standard Guide
for Field Measurement of Airborne Sound Insulation
of Building Facades and Facade Elements, 1992,
American Society for Testing and Materials, 100
Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-
2959, U.S.A.
A1.14 ASTM Standard E1332-90 (R1994),
Determination of Outdoor-Indoor Transmission
Class, 1994, American Society for Testing and
Materials, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West
Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, U.S.A.
A1.15 IEC Standard Publication 38, IEC Standard
Voltages, International Electrotechnical Commission,
1983, 3, rue de Varembe, P.O. 131, 1211 Geneva 20,
Switzerland.
 ARI STANDARD 300-2000

APPENDIX B. REFERENCES – INFORMATIVE

None