Standardization News

A new standard developed by building and environmental acoustics committee (E33) establishes an evaluation metric for low-frequency impact noise. Specifically, it allows for evaluation of thudding from footfalls in buildings.

The standard (E3207) provides designers a new evaluation tool for assessing thudding in buildings from heavy footfalls. When used in conjunction with the high-frequency impact ratings published under the ASTM standard E3222, designers, testing agencies, developers, and homeowners have improved tools for evaluating noise from footsteps within buildings.

“When one is inside a wood-frame or other lightweight building, one can hear heavy footsteps from other occupants within the building, which is usually described as thudding,” said Samantha Rawlings, associate principal at Veneklasen Associates. “Using this new standard opens a door of design and evaluation capability that has not existed in more than 60 years of evaluating impact noise from footfalls in buildings.”

According to Rawlings, the classification will be useful throughout the building industry, aiding developers, engineers, architects, contractors, laboratories, as well as regulatory bodies and sustainable rating system entities.

The World Health Organization has identified excessive noise within residential housing as having negative health effects. This new standard promotes public health by providing additional design tools for designers to create quiet living that will benefit communities worldwide. JOIN ASTM.