An experimental approach to the evaluation of acoustic behaviour of beam and clay block floors

The estimation of acoustical performance of horizontal partitions fom the performance of elements and components using EN 12354 Standard do not actually provides satisfactory results when applied to beam and clay block floors. Over the last years many comparisons between in situ measurements and empirical estimations have been made, and results show indisputably great differences between the results obtained through estimation models and measured data for this type of floor. In this work an experimental approach to this problem is presented and a reference curve of impact sound pressure level for beam and block floor mad by hollow clay blocks is proposed in order to provide representative field values for resilient flooring starting from reduction of impact sound pressure level measured in the laboratory on a homogeneous isotropic concrete slab floor.