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RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT BULLETIN RD066
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Sound Transmission Loss
Through Concrete and
Concrete Masonry Walls
by Albert Litvin and Harold W. Belliston
Reprinted with permission from the Journal of the American Concrete Institute,
No. 12, Proceedings Vol. 75, December 1978.
PORTLAND CEMENT I Ca ASSOCIATION
Research and Development/Construction Technology Laboratories
a guide for determining transmission loss. The.
Sound Transmission "mass law" indicates that transmission loss should
increase 6 db when either the weight or the
Loss Through Concrete frequency is doubled.
Other factors that affect sound deadening char-
and Concrete Masonry acteristics are stiffness of the wall and presence
of resonant and coincident frequencies. Because of
Walls overlapping of the effects of the various factors
involved, it is difficult to determine by analysis
the transmission loss of a particular panel. Most
designs, therefore, rely on STC values determined
by Albert Litvin and Harold W. Belliston* in the laboratory.
Most housing codes require minimum STC val-
ues of about 45 for partitions where living units
adjoin other living units. Values of about 50 are
required where living units adjoin public spaces
or service areas. The mass and stiffness of concrete
BUILDING CODES AND GOVERNMENTAL agencies and concrete masonry walls generally put them
have, for many years, set limits on the amount of in a range where they have little trouble meeting
noise that can be transmitted through building present day STC requirements.
components from one space to another.1-4f In recent Tests reported in this paper provide STC values
years, there has been a greater awareness of the for commonly used concrete and concrete masonry
adverse effects of excess noise on personal health walls and on walls that were upgraded to improve
and comfort, work efficiency, and privacy. Con- their sound transmission properties. For conven-
sequently methods of obtaining increased sound ience in selecting walls for specific applications
insulation in buildings are needed. and STC requirements, selected STC values ob-
The efficiency of a wall in restricting the tained by others on a variety of wall types are
passage of airborne sound is measured in the included in this report.
laboratory using the procedure outlined in "Lab-
oratory Measurement of Airborne Sound Trans-
mission Loss of Building Partitions" (ASTM TEST PROGRAM
E 90).5 Measurements are made of sound transmis-
sion loss (STL) in decibels (db) for a series of Specimens
frequencies ranging from 125 to 4000 Hz. Three basic concrete wall specimens were fabri-
"Determination of Sound Transmission Class" cated for these tests. Two were cast-in-place con-
(ASTM E 413)6 describes a method for using the crete and the third was concrete masonry.
transmission loss values, determined as above, to Structural concrete panels, 14 ft, 4 in. (4.37 m)
arrive at a single figure rating for comparing the wide by 9 ft, 4 in. (2.84 m) high, were cast in
effectiveness of walls in resisting the transmission thicknesses of 6 and 8 in. (152 and 203 mm). An
of airborne sound. This is defined as the sound air-entrained, sand and gravel concrete, repre-
transmission class (STC). It is determined by fit- sentative of wall construction, was used. Concrete
ting the proper STC contour (ASTM E 413) to the strengths at 28 days were 5610 and 4580 psi (38.7
plot of sound transmission loss vs frequency and 31.6 MPa) for the 6 and 8 in. (152 and 203 mm)
(ASTM E 90). The STC is then equal to the trans- thick panels, respectively. Corresponding unit
mission loss at 500 Hz. weights of the fresh concretes were 145 and 142
A number of factors affect sound transmission pcf (2323 and 2275 kg/m3). The panels were cured
loss through walls. Weight per sq ft (mass) of the for a minimum of 28 days before sound transmis-
wall has a major effect, and is sometimes used as sion loss tests were started. In addition to tests on
the bare concrete panels, wall finishing materials
*Principal construction consultant and former construction engineer, were added to permit determination of their effect
respectively,Construction Methods Section,Portland Cement Associ- on sound transmission.
ation. A masonry wall, 14 ft (4.26 m) wide by 9 ft
t Superscript numbers that are not part of measurements designate ref-
erences at the end of this report. (2.74 m) high, was constructed using nominal
2 Sound Transmission Loss Through Concrete and Concrete Masonry Walls
TABLE I—SOUND TRANSMISSION CLASS (STC)—PCA TESTS
Description of wall Approx-
Test imate Measured
No. Construction of walls wall STC
Side 1 Side 2 weight,
psf
6 in.cast concrete walls
71.0 57
a 70
76-66 Plain Plain ' „sx,, �o,�o•,s �ofr , „b.1, :'
a
76-68 Plain "Z" furring channels plus 72.5 59
t.4 d.; Q a 6 G "¢d,;a
i'g1/2 in.gypsum board 2p�2o0 8cp of ,� o�,,�
,ik °o%o °� .f c•r$5 b2'cOc F.
..\\i" Channels,vertically, \4 OyPsum
24"O.C. wallboard
76-69 Plain "Z" furring channels plus o 4 4 75.5 62
1 in, 8 pcf rockwool plus 4:a p�o a ° r: k4° �a
1/2 in. gypsum board ,o.__; ':G'°
" "cMnnels 1.. 8 P011 9YPsurn
vertloally,2d"OC wallboard
llboard
76-70 2 x 2 in.wood furring "Z" furring plus 1 in. wo;?bYgo a l'r", 4pcf rockwool 2 x 2. 78.5 63
verpca ly,
plus 12 in.4 pcf rock- 8 pcf rockwool plus 1/2 in. s =I a oc.
wool plus 2 in. gypsum gypsum board oaag 1 a.
board ::6 Fey .c xa4 °•
° v."gypsum
.2"channels,vertically, "-I",8 pcf wallboard
24"O.C. rockwool
76-71 Plain 2 x 2 wood furring plus 73.0 63
11/2 in. 4 pcf rockwool Ve^gypsum Il/,4pcf rockwool
plus 1/z in. gypsum board y ��-.y�����imer ve,2cally,
dti.:° a 9. o 0 O 24"0.C.
ao5".
.goa. 00 30 ri.
8 in. cast concrete walls
Plain ( 96.6 58
p rd d 5.R.
g 1 a.' jLS:"oor!�yr'�
76-77 Plain ,aeons a 3a o a
"2"Minns's,vertically,24"O.C. lie"gypsum
76-78
"Z" furring plus 1 in. 2 x 2 in. wood furring wallboard 101.6 59
8 f rockwoolplus 1/zplus 2 in. gypsum board 'sd:;` L3�' �'o %a.wPd
Pc p dob Q _
in.gypsum board pia x 'ao ;r s Wg >.
2x2, vertically, IVe gypsum wallboard
24"0.C.
PCA Research and Development Bulletin 3
TABLE I (Cant.)—SOUND TRANSMISSION CLASS (STC)—PCA TESTS
Description of wall Approx-
Test Construction of walls wall
imate Measured
No. Side 1 Side 2 weight, STC
psf
8 in.cast concrete walls
%, .,�o -no . 97.0 59
o
QakCf§ �4Ci!3 b 8'�G 4"40ZCi,
2 x 2 in.wood furring •bG 4 ° : °' °�'
76-79 Plain �o" o a ,o
plus f in. gypsum board224x2,O.vCerticolly, \`/"
gypsum
wallboard
76-99 Plain 2 x 2 in. wood furring og4a r�=oP4u 'aMo°,
plus 11/z in. 4 pcf rock- V <„�d�o�."; tea s8 P`A:
97.2 63
,. a •b
wool plus 1 in.gypsum 4 a 7ri R�ar;�:cQo�r ' "
board 2x 2, vertically, `%2'Wpsum
l/e",wallbooro
24" O.C. I
4 pcf
rockwool
8 in. lightweight concrete block walls
32.0 44
76-75 Plain Plain .. Q. nae Fl
76-76 Plain 2 coats acrylic latex „•_1 •._ .;,,,,,, 32,0 48
paint
2 coats latex point
76-72 Plain 1 in. air space plus 15/s in. "':"'�•' }ed'�A f` 35.0 59
metal runner with studs 1111111111
with 11/z in. 4 pcf rock- 'oIllit t � '
wool plus 1/2 in. gypsum pip-`�,�Ars. ... �.
board /t gypsum Il/i' 4 pcf 154'metal runner
wallboard rockwool with studs,
I"oirspace 24"O.C.
IV,4 pcf rockwool 38,0 57
76-73 2 x 2 in. wood furring 1 x 2 in. furring at 16 in, ,Z.gypeam Resilient channels, 2a2,vertically
vertically at 24 in. plus plus 1/2in. gypsum board wallboard horizontally, 19°0c 24"0.c
i --Nor—r� tom----..-
resilient channels hori-
zontally at 18 in. plus 11 o
in, 4 pcf rockwool plus 1a;•o. •„'a•''•1■'e
12 in.gypsum board Ix 2,vertically,16"O.C. '/y'gypsum wollcoc'd
11/2",4 pcf rockwool
76-74 2 x 2 in. wood furring Plain ," Resilient ahonnels, 58
e 9Ypwm horizontally, 2x 2,vertically,
vertically at 24 in.plus wallboard is o.c.
resilient channels hori- % 7---A _ jr�
zontally f
in. 4 pcf rockwool plus Ms111:01111
1/z in. gypsum board
Cores grouted
76- Cores of block grouted, Cores of block grouted,
104 painted plain o`� '0L ;"L " �? o e 89.0 56
>;p� . o
�O w-re:o•:,, 11o:C- O R• a 4.
`�2 coats latex paint
4 Sound Transmission Loss Through Concrete and Concrete Masonry Walls
TABLE 2—STC VALUES REPORTED IN THE LITERATURE FOR WALLS
Refer-
Description of wall weight, STC
Wall Reported
ence
psf
8 4 x 8 x 16 in. concrete masonry units, both sides plain 18 40
8 4 x 8 x 16 in.concrete masonry units, both sides plain 27 45
8 4 x 8 x 16 in. concrete masonry units, both sides painted 22 43
8 4 x 8 x 16 in. concrete masonry units, both sides 1/2 in. plaster 30 48
8 4 x 8 x 16 in. concrete masonry units, both sides 1/2 in. plaster 42 50
8 4 x 8 x 16 in. concrete masonry units, both sides 1/2 in. gypsum wallboard 26 47
8 4 x 8 x 16 in. concrete masonry units, both sides 1/2 in. gypsum wallboard 32 48
8 6 x 8 x 16 in. concrete masonry units, both sides plain 21 44
8 6 x 8 x 16 in. concrete masonry units, both sides painted 28 46
8 6 x 8 x 16 in. concrete masonry units, both sides painted 39 48
8 6 x 8 x 16 in. concrete masonry units, both sides 1/2 in. plaster 31 46
8 6 x 8 x 16 in.concrete masonry units, both sides 1/2 in. plaster 54 52
8 6 x 8 x 16 in.concrete masonry units, both sides 5/8 in. gypsum wallboard 35 49
8 6 x 8 x 16 in. concrete masonry units,one side Y2 in. gypsum wallboard, other 27 53
side painted
8 8 x 8 x 16 in. concrete masonry units, both sides plain 30 45
8 8 x 8 x 16 in. concrete masonry units, both sides plain 53 52
8 8 x 8 x 16 in. concrete masonry units, both sides painted 30 46
8 8 x 8 x 16 in. concrete masonry units, both sides painted, cores grouted and 73 55
reinforced
8 8 x 8 x 16 in. concrete masonry units, one side plaster, other side plain 38 52
8 8 x 8 x 16 in. concrete masonry units, both sides plaster 67 56
8 8 x 8 x 16 in. concrete masonry units, both sides plaster,cores grouted and 79 56
reinforced
8 Composite wall, 4 in, brick, 4 in. concrete masonry units, block side plaster 61 53
8 8 x 8 x 16 in. concrete masonry units, one side 1 in. gypsum wallboard 40 56
8 8 x 8 x 16 in. concrete masonry units, both sides 1/2 in. gypsum wallboard, cores 77 60
grouted and reinforced
8 Composite wall, 4 in. brick, 4 in. concrete masonry units, 1/2 in. gypsum wall- 60 56
board on block side
9 9 in. brick wall, both sides 1/2 in. plaster 100 52
9 Double wall of 41/2 in. brick leaves separated by 2 in. air cavity, no ties, Y2 in. 100 54
plaster on exposed surfaces
9 4 x 8 x 16 in. concrete masonry units, both sides 5/8 in.sanded gypsum plaster 36 46
9 6 in. thick cast concrete, both sides Y2 in. plaster 80 53
8 x 8 x 16 in. (203 x 203 x 406 mm) lightweight Test procedure
concrete masonry units. The units were laid using Sound transmission loss measurements were
ASTM C 270 Type N7 masonry cement mortar. made by the Riverbank Acoustical Laboratories
The mortar joints were 3/8 in. (10 mm) high and following procedures outlined in ASTM E 90-75.
were tooled on both sides of the wall. After the Measurements were made using a one-third octave
wall was assembled, sound transmission loss tests band of "pink" noise from 100 to 5000 Hz, as
were made on the bare wall. Next, wall finishing recommended in ASTM E 90-75. The sound trans-
materials were added and the tests were repeated. mission values were tabulated at 18 specified
The test walls and details of the surface varia- standard frequencies. All STC values were com-
tions are listed in Table 1. puted in accordance with ASTM E 413-73.
PCA Research and Development Bulletin 5
Each of the three walls was tested without any SUMMARY
surface treatment. Tests were next made on the Concrete and concrete masonry walls generally
walls to determine the effect of additions to the meet minimum STC requirements for partitions
wall surfaces. Gypsum wallboard, acoustical in- in living units. Tests reported in this paper were
sulation, paint, and resilient fastenings were made on walls treated to upgrade their sound
added. transmission loss properties. Results indicate that
significant sound insulation can be obtained even
TEST RESULTS with relatively inexpensive procedures.
Sound transmission loss tests were made on
PCA tests 6 and 8 in. (152 and 203 mm) thick cast concrete
The tests are summarized in Table 1. As indi- walls and on a wall constructed of nominal 8 x 8 x
cated in Table 1, bare concrete and concrete ma- 16 in. (203 x 203 x 406 mm) lightweight concrete
sonry walls commonly meet current STC require- masonry units. Sound insulation was changed by
ments of 45 to 50 for buildings. However, to pro- the addition of several combinations of furring,
vide data needed to obtain higher STC values, sound insulation blankets, and gypsum wallboard.
concrete walls were acoustically upgraded to de- Tests to determine sound transmission loss were
termine values that could reasonably be achieved. made in accordance with ASTM E 90. Sound trans-
The tests indicate that STC values in excess of mission loss (STC) was determined using the pro-
those obtained would be difficult and costly to cedures of ASTM E 413.
achieve. Consequently, requirements for higher With the addition of furring, insulation, and
values would significantly increase the cost of wallboard, STC values up to 63 were obtained on
construction. both the 6 and 8 in. (152 and 203 mm) thick con-
With the addition of wall finishes, sound trans- crete walls. The highest value obtained on the
mission class values up to 63 were obtained on masonry wall was 59. However, the data indicate
both the 6 and 8 in. (152 and 203 mm) cast con- that a somewhat higher STC would have been
crete walls. It should be noted that the 6 and 8 in. obtained from a grouted wall with furring, insu-
(152 and 203 mm) plain walls had STC values of lation and wallboard attached.
57 and 58, respectively. These are considerably STC values, obtained by other investigators, for
higher than most current code requirements. a variety of concrete wall constructions are in-
The plain masonry wall had an STC of 44. Most eluded.
of the normal wall finishing techniques provided ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
STC values that significantly exceeded present
day requirement s. Even application of paint All sound transmission tests were performed by the
brought the masonry wall above the minimum Riverbank Acoustical Laboratories, Geneva, Ill., under
requirement of 45. The grouted wall with one side contract to the Portland Cement Association.
Assistance on planning the test walls and interpreting
painted had an STC of 56, very close to that of the the test results was given by Allen H. Shiner, Acoustical
cast concrete walls. Based on the increase in STC Engineer, Skokie, Ill., and Keith Walker, U.S. Gypsum
obtained by the addition of furring, gypsum wall- Acoustical Laboratory, Round Lake, Ill. E. A. Valko,
board, and acoustic insulation, it is apparent that Senior Technician, assisted in preparing the walls for
the addition of these materials to the grouted wall testing. W. G. Corley, Director, Engineering Develop-
ment Department, reviewed the text of this report and
would have resulted in an STC of 60 or greater. suggested valuable changes.
Tests by others
Sound transmission measurements have been REFERENCES
made on a wide variety of wall constructions. The 1. "Sound Transmission Control in Residential Build-
STC values obtained from these measurements ings," BOCA Basic Building Code, Building Officials and
have appeared in the literature or been reported Code Administrators International, Inc., Chicago, 1976
Supplement, Section 522.
by governmental agencies, trade associations, and 2. Southern Standard Building Code, Southern Build-
private companies. Table 2 lists STC values for ing Code Congress, Birmingham, 1976, Appendix E.
a variety of wall types as reported by some of the 3. National Building Code, American Insurance Asso-
above sources. ciation, New York, 1976, Section 380.13.
6 Sound Transmission Loss Through Concrete and Concrete Masonry Walls
4. "Sound Transmission Limitations," Minimum 60
Property Standards for Multifamily Housing, Depart-
ment of Housing and Urban Development, Washington,
D.C., Apr. 1977, Table 4-4.1. 70
5. "Standard Method for Laboratory Measurement
of Airborne-Sound Transmission Loss of Building 60
Partitions," (ASTM E 90-75), 1976 Annual Book of
ASTM Standards, Part 18, American Society for Testing I //� STC Contour
and Materials,Philadelphia, pp. 667-679. 01 50 / (ASTM E413)
6. "Standard C l a s s i f i c a t i o n for Determination of gi /'I
Sound Transmission Class," (ASTM E 413-73), 1976 9
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Part 18, American z 40 Measured
Society for Testing and Materials, Philadelphia, pp. N
m
819-821. z
a 30
7. "Standard Specification for Mortar for Unit Ma- w
sonry," (ASTM C 270-73), 1976 Annual Book of ASTM z
Standards, Part 13, American Society for Testing and o 20
Materials, Philadelphia, pp. 243-247. 1
8. "New Data on Sound Reduction With Concrete Ma- Test No. 76-68
STC = 59
sonry Walls," NCMA-TEK 69.A, National Concrete Ma- 10 I
sonry Association, McLean, Va., 1978, 4 pp.
125 200 315 500 800 125 200 315 500
9. "A Study of Techniques to Increase the Sound In- 0 '« 116o i 250,(400 4 630 0! 160 1250.j40a , ,,1
sulation of Building Elements," Wyle Laboratories Re- 5 100 2 5 l000 2 5 l0000
port No. 73-5, Department of Housing and Urban FREQUENCY, HERTZ (CYCLES PER SECOND)
Development, Washington, D. C., June 1973, 216 pp.
so
APPENDIX
For certain applications, the use of sound transmission 70
class(STC)values is not sufficient. For those who require ___
additional data,sound transmission loss values versus fre-
quency were plotted.Figures for each specimen tested are 60 / sured
presented here. Test numbers shown correspond with testTC Contour
numbers in Table 1 of the text. 50 (ASTM E413)
9
0z 40
70 vi
Ft 30
ct
-
6Q ,"-- � I I 0
Z
i STC Contour N 20
/ (ASTM E413)
on 50 /�
v / Test
STC No.6726-69
10 -
9
O 40 Measured
125 200 315 500 e0I0 125 200 315 500
f i O ' 1 1 ' 1 l 1 160 1 250 1 400 1 630 1 1 j I I60 1250 400 I '1 I
V' S 100 2 I 5 11000 21 r S 10000
z 30
ta co I FREQUENCY, HERTZ (CYCLES PER SECOND)
0
z
N• 20
I
Test No.76-66
10 STC = 57
125 200 315 500 800 125 200 315 5I
I i 1 '60 1 250 1 400 I sr, ;i 1 160 1250 400 I i ,Ili
0 1 11 1 i 1 f r ,5 r
5. 100 2 5 1000 2 5 10000
FREQUENCY, HERTZ (CYCLES PER SECOND)
PCA Research and Development Bulletin 7
80 70
•
70 • 60 .�
STC Contour
(ASTM E413)
60 /// •3 50 /
STC Contour 9 /
/ (ASTM E413)
0 50 // z 40 Measured
y
cn
9 m
cn
z0 40 Measured a 30 '
1—
V) 0
cn a 30 0 20
z
H
0
Test No. 76-77
O 20 10 STC 58
0
Test No. 76-70 125 200 315 500 800 125 200 315 500
10 STC = 63 0 , , ' ' ;i 1 160 1250 r 1400 1630 I 1 i 160 1 250 1 400 I ' ' ''
1 5 100 2 5 1000 2 5 10000
125 200 315 500 800 125 200 315 500 FREQUENCY, HERTZ (CYCLES PER SECOND)
0 1 " " i 1 I60 1250 I 14OO I I i I I60 1 250 1 400 I , ' 1
5 100 2 S '1 1000 2 r S 10000
FREQUENCY, HERTZ (CYCLES PER SECOND)
80 80
70 70
---
60 /Measured
�// 60 .�os�
STC Contour / STC Contourm 50 (ASTM E413) m 50 / (ASTM E4I3)
/
9 N izz 40• z 40 / __Measured . •
N N
U)
N U)
V
a• 30 a 30
I- I-
c. 1 Z
O 20 I 0 20
Test No. 76-71 • Test No. 76-78
10 I STC 63 10 STC = 59
125 200 315 500 800I 125 200 315 500 125 200 315 500 800' 125 200 315 500
100 I 160 250 400 630 100 1 I60 250 400 100 160 250 400 630 100 160 250 400
0 5 , ,,,1 2 ' J t I f,l,i 2 I . ..,, 0 51 ,�1� z ' I I „1,i 1 ' ,1 , 5, , ,,l
100 1000 10000 100 1000 10000
FREQUENCY, HERTZ (CYCLES PER SECOND) FREQUENCY, HERTZ (CYCLES PER SECOND)
8 Sound Transmission Loss Through Concrete and Concrete Masonry Walls
80 70
70 60
- STC Contour(ASTM E413)
60 50 --
/ N
/ STC Contour- /
/ (ASTM E413)
c 50 // z0 40 // Measured
N // N
� /
9 / M /
z0 40 Measured 1 z 30 /
0
N 0
a 3p 0 20
0:
I-
z Test No.76-75
O 20 10 STC = 44
cn
Test No. 76-79 125 200 315 500 600 125 200 315 500
10 STC = 59 0 I 1 1 .. IT 160 1250 400 1630r1 ,10t0 I 160 250)400` ,r 1
I
5 100 2 5 1000 2 5 10000
125 200 315 500 800 125 200 315 500 FREQUENCY, HERTZ (CYCLES PER SECOND)
0 , 1 1 „ 1 f I 160 1
I 250,1 410 0 1630 I ,1010 I 160 1 250 1400 11 i i
5 100 2 I 5 1000 2 r 5 10000
FREQUENCY, HERTZ (CYCLES PER SECOND)
70
80 60 i
70 a 50 '
__ I
-"'�i- // STC Contour
9 / (ASTM E413)
60 // z 40 // Measured I I
/
N I
/ STC Contour 0 ./
/ (ASTM E413) N
coo 50 // 1 Q 30
1-
o
z
0
z0 40 `-Measured vt
0 20
Zit
Test No.76-76
co z 0 I STC = 48
a 30 I l
I-
0
125 200 7 5r 7 125 7 315 5r
100 I I60 I260 400 1630 1 100( I60 1 250 1 400 I 1
O 20 I 0 , 1 , , , 1I ! „� r , ,(
N S 100 2 5 1000 2 5 10000
Test No.76-99 FREQUENCY, HERTZ (CYCLES PER SECOND)
10 STC = 63
I
125 200 315 500 800 125 200 315 500
r
0 , ' ' ' 100 1 160 1250 1400 I 1,
630 I 100 I 160 1 250,1 400� I ' 1
5 100 2 5 1000 2 5 10000
FREQUENCY, HERTZ (CYCLES PER SECOND)
PCA Research and Development Bulletin 9
70 70
60 '' - 60 -
/ STC Contour /,/'' `AC Contour
/ (ASTM E413) /
✓ 50 v 50 /
/ /
�
/ ai
-FA. / Cl) /
9 /
z 40 leisured zo 40 Measured
0
F In
rn
f U)
cr) N
a 30 -cc 2 30
I- I-
0 0
z z
0 20 0 20
Test No.76-72 Test No.76-74
10 STC = 59 10 STC = 58
I
125 200 315 500 800 125 0 315 20 500 125 200 315 500 800 125 200 315 500
Q , I , ,,,1010
l 160 1 250 I I 1 400 1 6f0 C II I0 160 1250,1 40,0 I ' 1 0 , ,1 1 10I I 50 60 1 2 1 400 1 630 1.1010 1 160 1 250 1 400 I , 1
5 100 2 5 1000 2 1 1 5 10000 51 100 2
5 1000 2 r 5 10000
FREQUENCY, HERTZ (CYCLES PER SECOND) FREQUENCY, HERTZ (CYCLES PER SECOND)
80 70
70 60
/STC Contour
I (ASTM E413)
60
m 50
...........„. "" t 1 N S(ASTM E413)
• 50zz 40 / --Measured
0
gi // cn
9 ,
N
z 40 --Measured 30
cc I
U 1-
o
f z I
z▪ 30 0 20
o_
1-
ca
z Test No.76-104
N 20 . 10
STC = 56
Test No. 76-73 125 200 315 500 800 125 200 315 500
10 STC = 57 0 1 1 1 1� 1 160 1260,i 4100 I e3o 1 i 1 160 1250 41 I , ,,,1
5 100 2 5 1000 2 r 5 10000
125 200 315 500 800 125 200 315 500 FREQUENCY, HERTZ (CYCLES PER SECOND)
0 I ,,,I i 116o 1 250/1 400 I 6r 1, 1 i 116o 1250 1 400 I , ,
1
5 100 2 5 ' 1000 2 5 10000
FREQUENCY, HERTZ (CYCLES PER SECOND)
Portland Cement Florida Mining & Materials Corp. Rinker Portland Cement Corporation
Association Member Giant Portland & Masonry Cement Rochester Portland Cement
Company Corporation
Companies Gifford-Hill Portland Cement Santee Portland Cement Corporation
(as of April 1980) Company (a subsidiary of Gifford-Hill The South Dakota Cement Plant
& Company, Inc.) Southwestern Portland Cement
Ideal Basic Industries, Cement Division Company
United States Independent Cement Corporation Wyandotte Cement Incorporated
Aetna Cement Corporation Kaiser Cement Corporation
Alamo Cement Company Lehigh Portland Cement Company
Arkansas Cement Corporation Lone Star Industries, Inc.
Ash Grove Cement Company Louisville Cement Company Canada
Atlantic Cement Company, Inc. Marquette Company Canada Cement Lafarge Ltd.
California Portland Cement Company Martin Marietta Cement Ciment Quebec, Inc.
Capitol Aggregates, Inc. (Capitol The Monarch Cement Company Federal White Cement Ltd.
Cement Division) Monolith Portland Cement Company Genstar Limited
Centex/Nevada/Texas National Gypsum Company Lake Ontario Cement Limited
Citadel Cement Corporation Northwestern States Portland Miron Inc.
Copley Cement Company Cement Co. North Star Cement Limited
Cyprus Hawaiian Cement Corporation OKC Corp. St. Lawrence Cement Co.
Flintkote Cement Company Oregon Portland Cement Company St. Marys Cement Limited
This publication is based on the facts,tests,and authorities stated herein.It is
intended for the use of professional personnel competent to evaluate the sig-
nificance and limitations of the reported findings and who will accept respon-
sibility for the application of the material it contains.Obviously,the Portland
Cement Association disclaims any and all responsibility forapplication of the
stated principles or for the accuracy of any of the sources other than work per-
formed or information developed by the Association.
1
KEYWORDS: acoustic insulation,acoustic properties, building codes, concrete
panels,furring,masonry walls,noise reduction,residential buildings,sound trans-
mission,wallboards,walls.
ABSTRACT: Many building codes require minimum sound transmission loss
values,expressed as sound transmission class (STC),of 45 to 50. Tests of sound
transmission loss were made on 8-in.-thick(203-mm)concrete masonry walls and on
6-and 8-in.-thick(152-and 203-mm)cast concrete walls finished with materials in-
tended to increase sound transmission loss. Using furring,acoustic insulation,and
wallboard attachments,STC values up to 59 and 63 were obtained for the masonry
and cast concrete walls,respectively.Selected STC values,reported by other investi-
gators,for a variety of walls are included for reference.
REFERENCE:Litvin,Albert,and Belliston,Harold W.,Sound Transmission Loss
Through Concrete and Concrete Masonry Walls(RD066.01 M),Portland Cement
Association, 1980. Reprinted from ACI Journal, December 1978.
PORTLAND CEMENT I CO ASSOCIATION
An organization of cement manufacturers to improve and extend the uses of portland cement and concrete through scientific research,engineering field work,and market development.
5420 Old Orchard Road, Skokie, Illinois 60077
Printed in U.S.A. RD066.01 M