Ilhuicamina Servin Rivas
Academia de Acustica, Escuela Superior de Ingenieria Mecanica y Electrica, Instituto Politecnico Nacional, Laboratoristas No. 8, Colonia Sifon, Delegacion Iztapalapa, Mexico 09400 D.F., Mexico
When treating the property of sound attenuation provided by partitions, different ways are found for its specification. In this paper most common descriptors employed to specify airborne and structureborne sound insulation are summarized and reviewed. Advantages and disadvantages of single-number specifications for sound insulation are commented upon. On the other hand, emphasis is made as to the importance and convenience of field measurements of sound insulation, even though they are time-consuming. Also included is a brief description of the situation prevailing in some countries, Mexico among them, regarding minimum sound insulation requirements between dwellings. Finally, reference is made to the use of acoustic intensity techniques for the measurement of sound insulation and the need of standardization on this type of evaluation.