The American Wood Council (AWC) has released a new report on sound transmission, “Technical Report 15 (TR15), Calculation of Sound Transmission Parameters for Wood-Framed Assemblies.”
This first version of TR15 is applicable to wood-frame floor-ceiling assemblies. A free pdf copy of TR15 can be found on the AWC website at https://www.awc.org/codes-standards/publications/tr15.
The 2018 International Building Code specifies minimum values for two sound transmission parameters in order to establish minimum acoustical performance – Sound Transmission Class (STC) and Impact Insulation Class (IIC). Compliance may be demonstrated either through testing or through engineering analysis based on empirical test data from other similar assemblies. The TR15 shows how to use AWC’s new empirical model for analysis of wood-frame floor-ceiling assemblies to demonstrate compliance with the code-required STC and IIC sound transmission parameters.
AWC’s continuing goal is to make the job of code officials and building designers easier, this time by providing an empirical sound transmission model. As building codes require a separate evaluation of acoustical performance for each assembly, designers and their clients use of the TR15 modeling approach can provide significant savings over laboratory or field testing that would otherwise be required in the absence of a listed assembly.
While building codes stipulate minimum performance requirements for noise transmission through certain interior walls, partitions, and floor-ceiling assemblies, this initial version of TR15 summarizes information for wood-frame floor-ceiling assemblies, demonstrating how they can comply using a calculation-based analysis approach. Future versions are being developed to address interior walls and partitions.
To help ensure easy access and understanding of the new report, AWC recently held a webinar summarizing the code provisions relating to sound transmission, explaining the use of TR15, and sharing how compliance with these code provisions may be demonstrated. The webinar is available online and can be viewed as an e-Course to be completed at your own pace: https://www.awc.org/education/ecourses.
“Get the Facts on Fire Safety” Video
Prompted by competitor claims about the fire safety of lightweight wood construction, AWC has produced a new responsive video. “Get the Facts on Fire Safety” corrects the blatant misinformation being spread about wood product fire safety and provides the facts about wood construction and code requirements. Watch the video online and help us spread the word!