🏗️ Field measurement of impact sound insulation of floors and stairs in buildings — tapping machine (L′n, L′nT in one-third-octave bands 100–3150 Hz, optionally 50–80 and 4000–5000 Hz) or rubber ball dropped from 100 cm (L′i,Fmax,V,T in bands 50–630 Hz), receiving rooms 10–250 m³, default procedure and low-frequency procedure for rooms below 25 m³, fixed, mechanically moved and manually scanned microphones, PN-EN ISO 16283-2

Construction PN-EN ISO 16283-2

Overview

WHAT THE STANDARD COVERS. Scope from the PKN catalogue card of PN-EN ISO 16283-2:2021-02, in full (our translation of the Polish card text): “This document specifies procedures to determine the impact sound insulation using sound pressure measurements with an impact source operating on a floor or stairs. These procedures are intended for room volumes in the range from 10 m3 to 250 m3 in the frequency range from 50 Hz to 5 000 Hz. The test results can be used to quantify, assess and compare the impact sound insulation in unfurnished or furnished rooms where the sound field may or may not approximate to a diffuse field.” We read the text of the standard in the preview of ISO 16283-2:2020 from the cover to clause 7.4.1 (mechanically moved microphone, page 9); we do not have the rest — clauses 7.4.2–7.8 (number of measurements with a moving microphone, manually scanned microphone, minimum distances, averaging times, calculations), Clauses 8–14 (low-frequency procedure, background noise, reverberation time, conversion to octaves, results, uncertainty, test report) and Annexes A–F (requirements for impact sources, loudspeakers, forms, examples of positions).

ACCORDING TO THE TEXT OF ISO 16283-2:2020 (foreword, introduction, Clauses 1–7.4.1). The standard was prepared by ISO/TC 43/SC 2 with CEN/TC 126. The third edition replaces the second (2018); changes: Note 3 in Clause 6 was deleted, in the helical path (7.5.5) the distance of the microphone from the ceiling was changed to at least 0,5 m, L′i,Fmax,V,T was added to the expression of results and to Figure C.3. Introduction: the ISO 16283 series replaced the withdrawn ISO 140-4, 140-5 and 140-7; unlike them it applies to rooms with diffuse and non-diffuse fields, explains measurement with a hand-held microphone and contains guidance from the former ISO 140-14; survey measurements are described in ISO 10052. The tapping machine represents light, hard impacts (footsteps in hard shoes, dropped objects) — its result is rated as a single number according to ISO 717-2 and is well suited to predictions according to ISO 12354-2; the rubber ball represents heavy, soft impacts (walking barefoot, children jumping), with the result as a maximum level with time weighting F. Normative references: ISO 3382-2, ISO 12999-1, ISO 18233, ISO/IEC 17025, IEC 60942, IEC 61183, IEC 61260, IEC 61672-1. Quantities (Clause 3): Li — energy-average level in the room with the tapping machine; Li,Corner and Li,LF — corner level and low-frequency level (bands 50, 63, 80 Hz); Li,Fmax — average maximum level with time weighting F with the ball; T — reverberation time; L′nT = Li − 10 lg(T/T0), T0 = 0,5 s for dwellings (in furnished dwellings the reverberation time is approximately independent of volume and frequency); A = 0,16 V/T (Sabine’s formula); L′n — Li corrected by 10 lg(A/A0), A0 = 10 m²; L′i,Fmax,V,T — Li,Fmax corrected for volume (V0 = 50 m³) and reverberation time (formulae 4–6). Instrumentation (Clause 4): meters and filters of class 0 or 1 according to IEC 61672-1 and IEC 61260, calibrator of class 0 or 1 according to IEC 60942; check with the calibrator at the beginning and end of every session and day, difference between two consecutive readings ≤ 0,5 dB, otherwise results since the previous check are discarded; recommended calibration of the calibrator every year and verification of the meter and filters every two years, in a laboratory according to ISO/IEC 17025. Frequency range (Clause 5): with the tapping machine at least one-third-octave bands 100–3150 Hz, optionally 50, 63, 80 Hz and 4000 and 5000 Hz; with the ball — one-third-octave bands 50–630 Hz (or octaves). Principles (Clause 6): in the receiving room the level with the source operating, the background noise with the source off and the reverberation time are measured; default procedure — in the central zone of the room; the low-frequency procedure (additional corner measurements) applies to the 50–80 Hz bands when the receiving room volume is less than 25 m³ — it is not used with the ball; the sound field is not altered for the test by additional furniture or diffusers; all measurement methods are equivalent, and in a dispute the reference result is the measurement without an operator in the receiving room. Source positions (7.2): tapping machine in at least four random positions, at least 0,5 m from the edges of the floor, on floors with beams the line of hammers at 45°; if the level changes after tapping starts, measurement begins once it has stabilized, and if it does not stabilize within 5 min — over a defined period which is stated in the report; the rubber ball is dropped freely from a height of 100 cm ± 1 cm at at least four positions (on a lightweight floor with beams one above a beam and one in the middle of the floor). Fixed microphones (7.3): without an operator or with the operator at least an arm’s length away; positions not on a regular grid; with four–five source positions at least two measurements per position, with six or more — at least one at a different point; averaging over tapping machine positions with formulae 7–8, over ball positions with formula 9. Mechanically moved microphone (7.4.1): radius at least 0,7 m, plane inclined at least 10° to every room surface, one traverse at least 15 s; this is where the part we read ends.

STATUS (cards as of 02.10.2026). The cards of PN-EN ISO 16283-2:2021-02 in the English version (published 04-02-2021, 58 pages) and the Polish version (published 07-02-2025, 56 pages) do not carry the heading “Wycofana” (withdrawn): price group U, Building and Construction Sector, KT 253 Architectural Acoustics, ICS 91.120.20 and 91.060.30, “Introduces: EN ISO 16283-2:2020 [IDT], ISO 16283-2:2020 [IDT]”, “Replaces: PN-EN ISO 16283-2:2018-09 – English version”. PN-EN ISO 16283-2:2018-09 (introduced ISO 16283-2:2018) — withdrawn 04-02-2021; it had itself replaced PN-EN ISO 16283-2:2016-02. The PKN search for “PN-EN ISO 16283-2” (02.10.2026) shows the cards 2016-02, 2018-09 and 2021-02 (English and Polish).

HOW MANY LABORATORIES AND IN WHAT FORM (copy of the accreditation scope database, load up to 17.09.2026, read on 02.10.2026). The number 16283-2 appears in 10 records at 8 laboratories: AB 838 (2), AB 1924 (2), AB 796, AB 818, AB 869, AB 1162, AB 1271, AB 1391 (1 each). In the current scopes on the PCA website (read on 02.10.2026, issues from 07.02.2025 to 28.07.2026) the number appears at all 8, everywhere next to PN-EN ISO 140-7:2000 (at AB 1162 also PN-EN ISO 140-14:2006): seven laboratories cite the 2021-02 edition, AB 1391 — 2016-02 “excluding clauses 7.4 and 7.5”. Exclusions with the 2021-02 edition: “cl. 7.2.3 and cl. 7.4” (AB 796, AB 869, AB 1162, AB 1924), “clauses 7.2.3 and, 7.4 and 13” (AB 838), “clause 7.2.3” (AB 1271); without exclusions — AB 818. No row is set in bold italics. The “Laboratories” tab searches for entries STARTING WITH “PN-EN ISO 16283-2” and shows 7 laboratories and 9 items — checked with the tab query on the labcoda.pl production server on 02.10.2026; AB 1391 is not visible, because in its record the number stands after PN-EN ISO 140-7:2000 in the same field.

WHAT THE LABORATORIES TEST (items in the PCA scopes). Buildings and building elements, floors — normalized impact sound pressure level L′n and standardized level L′nT in one-third-octave bands (at AB 1391 — sound pressure level in bands 50–5000 Hz, at AB 818 — 100–5000 Hz), at AB 796 and AB 1924 an “approximate” impact sound level, also in octave bands; alongside, weighted indices by calculation (PN-EN ISO 717-2) and airborne sound insulation.

WHERE A SEEMINGLY CORRECT RESULT IS EASY TO GET. Source: seven of the eight laboratories exclude clause 7.2.3, i.e. the rubber ball test — their result concerns only the tapping machine (light, hard impacts) and says nothing about heavy, soft impacts. Small rooms: below 25 m³ the low-frequency procedure with corner measurements applies to the 50–80 Hz bands; omitting it underestimates the result where the sound field is most uneven. Calibration: a difference of more than 0,5 dB between two consecutive calibrator checks invalidates the results since the previous check. Non-homogeneous floors: beams and ribs require more tapping machine positions and the line of hammers at 45°. Quantity: L′nT (T0 = 0,5 s) and L′n (A0 = 10 m²) are different quantities — a result without the name of the quantity is not comparable. Reference: a scope with the 2016-02 edition (AB 1391) refers to an edition two revisions old; PN-EN ISO 140-7:2000 cited alongside in the scopes is a withdrawn standard (PKN card: withdrawn 18-06-2019, replaced by PN-EN ISO 16283-1:2014-05 — as stated on the card; in the additional information the card also states that the standard was withdrawn on 2014-05-06 and restored to current status on 2015-09-09 by Communication No. 1/2015 of the President of PKN).

WHAT WE DO NOT GIVE. We do not have clauses from 7.4.2 onwards, Clauses 8–14 or Annexes A–F — so we do not give averaging times, minimum microphone distances, the background noise correction, the method of measuring reverberation time, the requirements for the tapping machine and ball (Annex A) or the rules for expressing uncertainty.

Method principle

In the receiving room below the floor or next to the stairs on which the impact source operates, the energy-average sound pressure level (tapping machine, at least four positions) or the average maximum level with time weighting F (rubber ball dropped from 100 cm) is measured, together with the background noise and the reverberation time; the level is corrected for reverberation time (L′nT, T0 = 0,5 s) or absorption area (L′n, A0 = 10 m²), and with the ball — for volume and reverberation time (L′i,Fmax,V,T).

Applications

• Floors and stairs in residential and public buildings — acceptance measurements of impact sound insulation (8 laboratories)
• Rooms of 10–250 m³, furnished and unfurnished, with diffuse and non-diffuse fields; for rooms below 25 m³ — low-frequency procedure 50–80 Hz
• Single-number rating according to PN-EN ISO 717-2 based on tapping machine results

Key parameters

Standard

Standard number

PN-EN ISO 16283-2:2021-02 (wersje angielska i polska; EN ISO 16283-2:2020 IDT, ISO 16283-2:2020 IDT)

Title (PL)

Akustyka — Pomiary terenowe izolacyjności akustycznej w budynkach i izolacyjności akustycznej elementów budowlanych — Część 2: Izolacyjność od dźwięków uderzeniowych

Title (EN)

Acoustics — Field measurement of sound insulation in buildings and of building elements — Part 2: Impact sound insulation

Step-by-step procedure

1. Preparation

   Selection of the receiving room and the element; check of the measurement chain with the calibrator; establishing whether the volume is < 25 m³ (low-frequency procedure). PN-EN ISO 16283-2:2021-02 current (cards as of 02.10.2026).

2. Excitation

   Tapping machine in at least four random positions (≥ 0,5 m from the edges, at 45° to beams) or rubber ball from a height of 100 cm at at least four positions.

3. Level measurement

   In the central zone of the receiving room with a fixed, moving or manually scanned microphone; number of measurements according to 7.3.2; for rooms < 25 m³ additionally corners in the 50–80 Hz bands.

4. Background noise and reverberation time

   Measurement of background noise with the source off and of reverberation time (ISO 3382-2) — details of the correction and methods (Clauses 9–10) NOT GIVEN.

5. Calculation and report

   L′nT or L′n for each tapping machine position and averaging with formulae 7–8; with the ball Li,Fmax (formula 9) and L′i,Fmax,V,T; rules for expressing results and uncertainty — NOT GIVEN.

Required equipment and apparatus

Health and safety (OHS)

• Measurements in buildings under acceptance — construction site rules; noise of the tapping machine in the source room — hearing protection for the operator; the part of the standard we read contains no safety warnings
• SUBSTANTIVE NOTE: seven of the eight laboratories exclude clause 7.2.3 (rubber ball) — their result concerns only light, hard impacts; L′nT and L′n are different quantities

Frequently asked questions