Acoustical Testing

Testing Services

Our acoustical laboratory features nine full-scale, fully isolated independent test chambers complete with a control room so multiple tests can be completed concurrently. With all these resources, we can provide quick turnarounds at an overall low cost.

We also have 50+ pre-built, movable, floor-ceiling test assemblies and are continuously adding more custom assemblies. As of now, we do a majority of the industry’s floor-ceiling testing, and, of course, we do it fast.

TEST CAPABILITIES

Acoustic Test Standards

ANSI S12.51/ISO 3741 - To Determine Sound Power Levels of Broad-Band Noise Sources in Reverberation Rooms

Specifies method for determining the Sound Power Level or sound energy level of a noise source from the sound pressure levels measured in a Reverberation Test Chamber. Sound Pressure Levels and Reverberation Room Absorption are measured to calculate the Sound Power being emitted from an operating unit under test.

ASTM E90 - Measurement of Airborne Sound Transmission Loss of Building Partitions and Elements

Measures the airborne sound attenuating characteristics of Partitions, Floor-Ceiling assemblies, Windows, Doors, or Barrier Materials. This Transmission Loss data is used to establish the Sound Transmission Class (STC) rating of the unit being tested.

ASTM E492 - Test for Impact Sound Transmission through Floor-Ceiling Assemblies using the Tapping Machine

This method outlines a procedure to measure the ability of a Floor-Ceiling system to attenuate impact and vibrational transmission from an upper room to a lower room. It measures sound levels of this transmission in the lower room as a function of 1/3 Octave frequencies. A Standard Tapping Machine is used to provide the impact stimulation.

ASTM E989 - For Determination of Impact Transmission Class (IIC)

Using the 1/3 Octave measured data as per ASTM E492, this method identifies the procedure to use to calculate the single-number rating of Impact Insulation Class (IIC).

ASTM E1111 - Measurement of the Interzone Attenuation of Open Office Components

This method is intended to objectively measure the effectiveness that ceiling panels, wall panels, or office furniture units have on Speech Privacy when they are introduced into an Open Office environment. The data measured is used to calculate the Articulation Class (AC) as per ASTM E1110.

ASTM E1332 - Standard Classification for Determination of Outdoor-Indoor Sound Attenuation (OITC)

Defines a method to calculate OITC single-number ratings which evaluate the attenuation provided by Building Walls, Windows, Doors to exterior airborne sound.

ASTM E2179 - Test for the Effectiveness of Floor Coverings in Reducing Impact Sound Transmission through Concrete Floors

This method measures the attenuation provided by floor covering(s) on a standard 6-inch concrete floor. As it does for ASTM E492, the impacts are created by a Standard Tapping Machine. A single number rating, Delta IIC, is calculated using this measured data adjusted for levels measured for the Reference concrete floor.

ASTM E3222 - Standard Classification for Determination of High-Frequency Impact Sound Ratings

This classification provides methods for calculating single-number ratings of “high-frequency” impact sound transmission using the 1/3 octave bands from 400 to 3150 HZ, generated as per ASTM E492 and ASTM E2179.

ISO 10140-2 - Laboratory Measurement of Airborne Sound Insulation of Building Elements

Specifies a laboratory method for measuring the airborne sound insulation of building products, such as walls, floors, doors, windows, shutters, façade elements, and glazing.

ASTM C423 - Sound Absorption and Sound Absorption Coefficients by the Reverberation Room Method

This method measures the sound absorption that materials, such as ceiling panels, office screens, unit absorbers, curtains have. The measurements are made in a 10,000 ft3 Reverberation Room by measuring the decay rate both with and without a sample present. This data is used to calculate the Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC) and Sound Absorption Average (SAA) of a test specimen.

ASTM E413 - Classification of Rating Sound Insulation (STC)

Defines the method of calculating the single-number rating of STC using measured 1/3 Octave Band measurements of a unit’s sound attenuation properties as per ASTM E90.

ASTM E795 - Standard Practices for Mounting Test Specimens During Sound Absorption Tests

Identifies the test specimen mountings that are to be used to perform Sound Absorption tests per ASTM C423. The intent of these mountings is to replicate as closely as possible the application of the materials being tested to their field application.

ASTM E1110 - For Determination of Articulation Class (AC)

Method to calculate the single-number AC rating on the effectiveness of Open Office components for Speech Privacy. This method uses Interzone Attenuation data measured as per ASTM E1111.

ASTM E1222 - Test for the Insertion Loss of Pipe-Lagging Systems

For this test, a source generates a high sound level within a pipe. Measurements are made outside the pipe when it is bare and then when that pipe is lagged with a material/system. The Insertion Loss is calculated when these levels are compared.

ASTM E1414 - Standard test for Airborne Sound Attenuation Between Rooms Sharing a Common Ceiling Plenum (CAC)

This method measures the effectiveness of ceiling panels attenuating airborne sound between two adjacent rooms having a common open plenum between them. This standard can also be used to evaluate the effects that plenum barriers, ventilating systems and luminaires may have when introduced into the ceiling system.

ASTM E3133 - Laboratory Measurement of Floor Impact Sound Radiation

This method measures the airborne Sound Power Levels being radiated from a Standard Tapping Machine operating on a floor structure. These measurements can be conducted on floor structures of all kinds and framing, including floating floors with any type floor surfacing or floor covering materials.

ISO 354 - Acoustics/Measurement of Sound Absorption in a Reverberation Room

Measures the sound absorption that materials, such as ceiling panels, office screens, unit absorbers, curtains have. The measurements are made in a 10,000 ft3 Reverberation Room by measuring the decay rate both with and without a sample present. This data is used to calculate the Sound Absorption of a test specimen.

SAE J1400 - Automotive Barriers

Test procedure for determining the airborne sound insulation performance of materials and composite layers of materials commonly found in mobility, industrial and commercial products.

RESOURCE

Take a Closer Look at our Acoustical Testing Complex

Our acoustical laboratory has been engineered to complete full-scale tests on a wide range of products. Download this map of our acoustical laboratory testing complex to take a closer look at our available facilities.

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OUR FACILITIES

Acoustical Testing Facilities

Partition Sound Transmission Loss Chambers

Sound Transmission Class (STC).

For evaluating:

Partitions
Building walls
Doors
Windows
Barriers

Ceiling Attenuation Chambers

Ceiling Attenuation Class (CAC).

For evaluating:

Ceiling tile
Suspended-ceiling systems

Sound Absorption Chamber

Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC).

For evaluating:

Finishes
Ceiling tile
Insulation
Office screens
Space absorbers
Baffles
Curtains

Sound Transmission Chamber

Insertion loss of mechanical insulation products and sound transmission of smaller-scale test specimens.

For evaluating:

Pipe lagging systems
Smaller-scale sound transmission tests
Automotive barriers

Floor-Ceiling Chambers

Sound Transmission Class (STC), Impact Insulation Class (IIC) and Reduction in Impact Sound Transmission (Delta IIC).

Multiple test frame and overhead crane capabilities for evaluating:

Floor-Ceiling assemblies

Hemi-Anechoic Test Chamber

Articulation Class (AC) for Open Office Components, Specialty Acoustic Measurements.

For evaluating:

Ceiling tile and systems
Wall treatments
Open office furniture/dividers

Miscellaneous

Additional facilities for developing custom test programs to evaluate acoustical performance of a wide range of products.

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The NGC Testing Services team has decades of experience providing efficient and cost-effective solutions for full-scale fire, acoustical, structural/building envelope, and analytical testing. Stay up to date with our recent blog articles and sign up for our quarterly newsletter.

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