Significance and implications of airborne sound insulation criteria in building elements for traffic noise abatement

The paper extensively reviews the airborne sound insulation criteria followed in Europe and the sound descriptors used. The work focuses on significance and need of having modified sound insulation criteria in Indian dwellings for harmonization of sound descriptors with that followed in other countries for controlling the ever increasing traffic noise. Sound regulations in terms of prescriptive and verification criteria are proposed referring to regulations adopted in Europe and recent studies conducted by Rasmussen et al. [1] and Scholl et al. [6]. Practical implications of these regulations particularly related to material aspects w.r.t minimum and comfort class is also discussed. A study of laboratory sound transmission characteristics of dry wall constructions and massive concrete constructions to ascertain whether these criteria could be fulfilled easily or not reveals that the drywall constructions in conjunction with massive concrete constructions are suitable for achieving acoustic comfort in dwellings. It is envisaged that a clear definition, understanding and practical implementation of sound regulations criteria can be pivotal in controlling the outside traffic noise.