Use Case Management

Filter Filter Close

Indoor acoustic comfort calculator

Use Case Description

The use case presented is a tool to assess the indoor acoustic performance on both room and building scale. The methodology makes use of BIM model and the outdoor noise level to provide the acoustic class of a single room or of the whole building. Theoretical basis and standards used to predict the indoor sound pressure level and the method to assign the acoustic class are explained. The tool can be used to also predict the post renovation acoustic comfort performance and to provide a classification of the renovation scenarios suggested.


Purpose and scope

The ‘Indoor acoustic comfort calculator’ implemented as part of BIM-SPEED project is developed with the need for the objectives set by the BIM-SPEED Project. The indoor acoustic comfort calculator allows to assess the acoustic comfort inside each room of a building and to determine also the global acoustic comfort Key Performance Indicator (KPI) of the entire building with the scope of providing support to the residential renovation project. The main purpose of the use case is to provide:

  • Methodology and tools for the building acoustic comfort performance assessment
  • A framework to implement possible renovation strategies and to compare building acoustic performance before and after renovation
  • A dashboard for KPI review to support the design team, stakeholders and inhabitants to select the most optimal renovation solution.

Life Cycle Stages

ISO 22263

BIM objectives / benefits

The application of the indoor acoustic comfort calculator will boost the reduction of time & cost of a renovation project by adapting a workflow that assesses and validates design strategies for acoustic comfort in a renovation project.

Delimitation

The limitation of the calculator is that it needs as input the external noise level. This level is generally known if a strategic noise mapping of the area where the building is located is available. Otherwise, a direct measurement of the external noise level is required. Even though is preferable to use the strategic noise mapping, when available, the uncertainty on the estimation of the indoor sound pressure level from the external noise level provided by the map is very high. Therefore, a direct assessment of the external noise levels measured in front of the façade of the building under investigation is beneficial to improve the confidence on the acoustic KPI estimation.

Prerequisite / framework conditions

  • ISO 12354-3:2017 Building acoustics — Estimation of acoustic performance of buildings from the performance of elements — Part 3: Airborne sound insulation against outdoor sound
  • Claudi, M. Arnesano, P. Chiariotti, G. Battista and G. M. Revel, A Soft-Sensing Approach for the Evaluation of the Acoustic Comfort Due to Building Envelope Protection against External Noise. Measurement, vol. 146, 2019, pp. 675–88., https://doi.org/10.1016/j.measurement.2019.07.003

Abbreviations

Strategic noise mapping: map of the average outdoor noise level provided by local administrations for different urban areas.

Rw: Sound Reduction Index

BIM: Building Information Modelling

IEQ: Indoor Environmental Quality

IFC: International Foundation Class

KPI: Key Performance Indicator

SPL: Sound Pressure Level

Project Group

  • Milena Martarelli, m.martarelli@staff.univpm.it
  • Gianmarco Battista, g.battista@staff.univpm.it
  • Gian Marco Revel, gm.revel@staff.univpm.it
  • Marco Arnesano, marco.arnesano@uniecampus.it
  • Serena Serroni,s.serroni@pm.univpm.it

Copyright

All dokuments are licensed as a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License
(Attribution-Non-Commercial-ShareAlike 4.0). Further information can be found at

creativecommons

Handling

The documents reflect the current best practice and do not claim to be complete. They should not to be understood in the sense of a generally valid recommendation or guideline from a legal point of view. The documents are intended to support appointing and appointed parties in the application of the BIM method. The documents must be adapted to the specific project requirements in each case. The examples listed do not claim to be complete. Its information is based on findings from practical experience and is accordingly to be understood as best practice and not universally applicable. Since we are in a phase in which definitions are only emerging, the publisher cannot guarantee the correctness of individual contents.

Logo
  • Document Type : Use Case
  • GUID : F78822DB-45EA-444C-9498-03B44BC7C5DF
  • Identifier : BIMSpeed_UC15_UNIVPM
  • Life Cycle Stage : ISO 22263
  • Revision : -
  • Project Status : Approved
  • Maturity level : Proven
  • Published on: Feb 20, 2023
  • Last change: Feb 20, 2023
  • Publisher: BIM Speed
  • Author: (UNIVPM), Milena

Not registered yet?

Register for the Use Case Management Service for free to access the entire document.

Registered users can use the download area and the comment functions.