Comparison of laboratory building acoustics standards from ASTM International, Japanese Industrial Standards Committee, and the International Organization for Standardization

Testing standards are fundamental to the practice of building acoustics. To that end, ASTM International, the Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS) Committee, and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) all have standards that cover the laboratory measurement of airborne and impact sound transmission. These standards include ASTM E90 and E492, JIS A 1416, and A 1418 and ISO 10140. This paper will review the theory behind each methods and the derivation of the equations used. It will also discuss each of these standards in detail, including the relative strengths and weaknesses of each as well as the interoperability the resulting data. Previous research comparing the standards will also be reviewed. Finally, a brief overview of the repeatability and reproducibility of all building acoustics standards will be discussed.