1276 Sound Transmission

AS 1276—1979
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Australian Standard 
Methods for determination of

sound transmission class and
noise isolation class of building
partitions
The following scientific, industrial and governmental organizations and department
were officially represented on the committee entrusted with the preparation of this
standard:
Australian Acoustical Society

Confederation of Australian Industry
CSIRO, Division of Building Research
Environment Protection Authority, Victoria
Experimental Building Station
Institution of Engineers, Australia
Public Works Department, Western Australia
Royal Australian Institute of Architects
Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
Universities
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to periodic review and are kept up to date by the issue of amendments or new editions as necessary. It is
important therefore that Standards users ensure that they are in possession of the latest ed ition, and any
amendments thereto.
Full details of all Australian Standards and related publications will be found in the Standards Australia
Catalogue of Publications; this information is supplemented each month by the magazine ‘The Australian
Standard’, which subscribing members receive, and which gives details of new publications, new editions
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are welcomed. Notification of any inaccuracy or ambiguity found in an Australian Standard should be made
without delay in order that the matter may be investigated and appropriate action taken.
This standard was issued in draft form for public review as DR 72090.
AS 1276—1979
Australian Standard 
Methods for determination of

sound transmission class and
noise isolation class of building
partitions
First published . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1979
PUBLISHED BY STANDARDS AUSTRALIA

(STANDARDS ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA)
1 THE CRESCENT, HOMEBUSH, NSW 2140
ISBN 0 7262 1643 7
AS 1276—1979 2
PREFACE
This standard was prepared by the Association’s Committee on Architectural Acoustics
as one of a series dealing with the evaluation of sound-attenuating properties of
building elements. It provides a classification system based on single number indices
which are primarily intended for the initial comparison of th sound reduction properties
of partitions, including walls and floor-ceiling assemblies, used to divide spaces in
domestic and commercial buildings. Such single indices are in no way intended to
supplant the detailed sound transmission loss and noise reduction values obtained by
measurement for each frequency band.
In addition to the use of this classification system for the determination of sound
transmission class (STC), which applies to partitions whose transmission losses have
been measured in the laboratory, this system can be used to determine the field sound
transmission class (FSTC) for partitions and noise isolation class (NIC) between spaces
in buildings.
This standard is based on ASTM 413, Standard Classification for Determination
of Sound Transmission Class; it differs from it in its presentation but not in any
essential. Also, some use has been made in Australia of another classification system,
the single number rating of airborne sound insulation index (I a). The procedure for the
determination of this index is given in ISO R 717—1968, Rating of Sound Insulation
for Dwellings. Some information about this method is provided in th appendix to this
standard.
This standard may require reference to the following Australian and international
Standards:
AS 1191 Method for Laboratory Measurement of Airborne Sound
Transmission Loss of Building Partitions
AS 1633 Glossary of Acoustic Terms
AS 2253 Methods of Field Measurement of the Reduction of Airborne
Sound Transmission in Buildings
ISO R 717 Rating of Sound Insulation for Dwellings
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3 AS 1276—1979
CONTENTS
Page
1 SCOPE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
2 APPLICATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
3 DEFINITIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
4 PROCEDURE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
APPENDIX A A NOTE ON THE AIRBORNE S OUND INSULATION INDEX (Ia) . . . . . . 9

AS 1276—1979 4
STANDARDS ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA
Australian Standard
METHODS FOR DETERMINATION OF SOUND
TRANSMISSION CLASS AND NOISE ISOLATION
CLASS OF BUILDING PARTITIONS
1 SCOPE. This standard describes methods for the determination of the following
indices for rating the properties of partitions (including walls and floor-ceiling
assemblies used to divide spaces in domestic and commercial buildings) in reducing

the transmission of airborne sound:
(a) Sound transmission class (STC)
(b) Field sound transmission class (FSTC)
(c) Noise insolation class (NIC)
(d) Normalized noise isolation class (NNIC).
2. APPLICATION. The classification system described in this standard applies to the

derivation of a single number to denote the sound attenuation properties of walls,
floors and ceilings used to divide spaces within commercial and domestic buildings.
An order of rank is required for these partitions to correlate with the subjective
impressions of the reduction of many household and commercial sounds which have
most of their energy in the mid-frequency range and relatively less in the higher and
lower frequencies.
The classification system described in this standard does not apply to conditions
in which the sound spectra differ markedly from those of household and commercial
sounds, especially in cases where low and/or high frequency components predominate.
These include the sounds produced by motor vehicles, most forms of industrial
machinery, and power transformers.
NOTE: Some details of sound spectra of standard household sound are given in Paragraph A2 and Fig. A1
of Appendix A.
3 DEFINITIONS. For the purpose of this standard the following definitions apply:
3.1 Sound transmission class (STC)-a single number evaluation of the property of
a partition to attenuate household and office sounds, derived in accordance with the
procedure prescribed in Clause 4 of this standard from laboratory measurements of
sound transmission loss in accordance with AS 1191.
3.2 Field sound transmission class (FSTC)-a single number evaluation of the
property of a building partition to attenuate household and office sounds derived in
accordance with the procedure in Clause 4 of this standard from measurements of field
transmission loss in accordance with AS 2253.
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5 AS 1276—1979
3.3 Noise isolation class (NIC) a single number evaluation of the reduction in
airborne sound between two adjoining enclosed spaces derived in accordance with the
procedure prescribed in Clause 4 of this standard from field measurements of noise
reduction made in accordance with AS 2253.
3.4 Normalized noise isolation class (NNIC) a single number evaluation of the
reduction in airborne sound between two adjoining enclosed spaces derived in
accordance with the procedure prescribed in Clause 4 of this standard from
measurements of noise reduction made in accordance with AS 2253, and normalized
to a standard reverberation time in the receiving space.
NOTES:
1. For definitions of other acoustic terms, see AS 1633.
2. For the definition of airborne sound transmission loss (STL), see Clause 1.3.4 of AS 1191.
3. For definitions of field transmission loss (FTL) and noise reduction (NRf), see Clause 1.3.4 and 1.3.5
of AS 2253.
4 PROCEDURE.
4.1 General.
4.1.1 Sound transmission class (STC). The data for the derivation of the sound
transmission class shall be the airborne sound transmission losses of the partition
measured for all the one-third octave bands from 125 Hz to 4000 Hz inclusive, in
accordance with AS 1191.
4.1.2 Field sound transmission class (FSTC). The data for the derivation of field
sound transmission class (FSTC) shall be the field transmission losses of the partition
measured for all the one-third octave bands from 125 Hz to 4000 Hz inclusive, in
accordance with Section 2 of AS 2253.
4.1.3 Noise isolation class (NIC). The data for the derivation of noise isolation
class shall be the noise reductions between two adjoining enclosed spaces measured
for all the one-third octave bands from 125 Hz to 4000 Hz inclusive, in accordance
with Section 3 of AS 2253.
4.1.4 Normalized noise isolation class (NNIC). The data for the derivation of the
normalized noise isolation class shall be the noise reductions between two adjoining
enclosed spaces measured for all the one-third octave bands from 125 Hz to 4000 Hz
inclusive, in accordance with Section 3 of AS 2253, and normalized to a reverberation
time of 0.5 s by the following equation:
NNIC = NR f + 10 log T 10 log 0.5
where
NR f = noise reduction
T = measured or calculated reverberation time in receiving space, in seconds
0.5 = reference reverberation time of 0.5 s
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AS 1276—1979 6
4.2 Method for Derivation of the Class Numbers. Class numbers shall be derived
as follows:
(a) The data determined in accordance with Class 4.1 shall be compared with the
rows of values listed in Table 1 to obtain the row with the highest reference
values for which the following conditions are met:
(i) The sum of the deficiencies of the measurement values below the reference
values in the 16 columns shall not exceed 32 dB.
(ii) The maximum deficiency of any single measured value below its
corresponding reference value shall not exceed 8 dB.
(b) The transmission class or isolation class shall be determined as being the
reference value at 500 Hz in the row of values selected according to

paragraph (a).
NOTE: Table 1 gives the reference values corresponding to a range of STC contours. It may be extended
upwards or downwards if required by adding or subtracting amounts of 1 dB to the values in each column.
4.3 Graphical Method for Determination of Class Numbers. Class numbers may
be determined graphically as follow:
(a) The values obtained in accordance with Clause 4.1 are plotted on a graph and
a transparent overlay, on which the sound transmission class (STC) reference
contour is drawn to the same scale, is then placed over it. The overlay is moved
up or down relative to the curve of the test results.
NOTE: The shape of the sound transmission class (STC) reference contour is given in Fig. 1.
(b) When in accordance with conditions (i) and (ii) of Clause 4.2(a) the contour is
adjusted to the position of the highest reference values in the sound transmission
class (STC), field sound transmission class (FSTC), noise isolation class (NIC),
or normalized noise isolation class (NNIC) for the specimen, the class number
is numerically that corresponding to the value of the reference contour at
500 Hz.
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7 AS 1276—1979
TABLE 1
VALUES FOR SOUND TRANSMISSION CLASSES (STC AND FSTC)
AND NOISE ISOLATION CLASSES (NIC AND NNIC)
NOTE: A particular class is identiifed by the values of sound transmission loss or noise reduction in the
one-third octave band centred on 500 Hz.
One-third octave bands for determining sound transmission classes (STC and FSTC) and noise isolation
classes (NIC and NNIC), Hz
125 160 200 250 315 400 500 630 800 1000 1250 1600 2000 2500 3150 4000
44 47 50 53 56 59 60 61 62 63 64 64 64 64 64 64
Reference values of sound transmission loss or noise reduction, dB
43 46 49 52 55 58 59 60 61 62 63 63 63 63 63 63
42 45 48 51 54 57 58 59 60 61 62 62 62 62 62 62
41 44 47 50 53 56 57 58 59 60 61 61 61 61 61 61
40 43 46 49 52 55 56 57 58 59 60 60 60 60 60 60
39 42 45 48 51 54 55 56 57 58 59 59 59 59 59 59
38 41 44 47 50 53 54 55 56 57 58 58 58 58 58 58
37 40 43 46 49 52 53 54 55 56 57 57 57 57 57 57
36 39 42 45 48 51 52 53 54 55 56 56 56 56 56 56
35 38 41 44 47 50 51 52 53 54 55 55 55 55 55 55
34 37 40 43 46 49 50 51 52 53 54 54 54 54 54 54
33 36 39 42 45 48 49 50 51 52 53 53 53 53 53 53
32 35 38 41 44 47 48 49 50 51 52 52 52 52 52 52
31 34 37 40 43 46 47 48 49 50 51 51 51 51 51 51
30 33 36 39 42 45 46 47 48 49 50 50 50 50 50 50
29 32 35 38 41 44 45 46 47 48 49 49 49 49 49 39
28 31 34 37 40 43 44 45 46 47 48 48 48 48 48 38
27 30 33 36 39 42 43 44 45 46 47 47 47 47 47 37
26 29 32 35 38 41 42 43 44 45 46 46 46 46 46 36
25 28 31 34 37 40 41 42 43 44 45 45 45 45 45 35
24 27 30 33 36 39 40 41 42 43 44 44 44 44 44 44
23 26 29 32 35 38 39 40 41 42 43 43 43 43 43 43
22 25 28 31 34 37 38 39 40 41 42 42 42 42 42 42
21 24 27 30 33 36 37 38 39 40 41 41 41 41 41 41
20 23 26 29 32 35 36 37 38 39 40 40 40 40 40 40
19 22 25 28 31 34 35 36 37 38 39 39 39 39 39 39
18 21 24 27 30 33 34 35 36 37 38 38 38 38 38 38
17 20 23 26 29 32 33 34 35 36 37 37 37 37 37 37
16 19 22 25 28 31 32 33 34 35 36 36 36 36 36 36
15 18 21 24 27 30 31 32 33 34 35 35 35 35 35 35
14 17 20 23 26 29 30 31 32 33 34 34 34 34 34 34
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AS 1276—1979
8
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Fig. 1. SHAPE OF REFERENCE CONTOUR
CENTRE FREQUENCY OF ONE-THIRD OCTAVE BAND, Hz
9 AS 1276—1979
APPENDIX A
A NOTE ON THE AIRBORNE SOUND INSULATION INDEX (Ia)
A1 GENERAL. ISO/R 717 describes a classification system very similar to that given
in this standard for the derivation of a single number index for rating of walls. The
index so obtained is known as the ’airborne sound insulation index’ (I a).
The procedure for derivation of the airborne sound insulation index differs from
the procedure described in this standard only in that the transmission loss values used
are those measured for the one-third octave bands with centre frequencies in the range
100 Hz to 3150 Hz inclusive.
If required, I a can be determined from Table A1 in accordance with the procedure

given in Clause 4.2.
Fig. 1 could also be adapted for this purpose. The reference contour in Fig. 1 is
altered by deletion of that part of the curve above 3150 Hz and by extrapolation below
the 125 Hz band to the band centred on 100 Hz. The transmission loss value for the
100 Hz band is 3 dB lower than the transmission loss value for the band centred on
125 Hz.
A2 SOUND SPECTRA. Sound transmission class, noise isolation class, and airborne
sound insulation index have application to sounds with spectra similar to that of
’standard’ household sound shown in Fig. A1. The ’standard’ household sound is
intended as an approximation of maximum sound levels that commonly occur in
dwellings.
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AS 1276—1979 10
TABLE A1
VALUES FOR DERIVATION OF SOUND INSULATION INDEX (I a )
NOTE: A particular sound insulation index is identiifed by the value of sound transmission loss in the
one-third octave band centred on 500 Hz.
One-third octave bands for determining sound insulation index (I a ), Hz

100 125 160 200 250 315 400 500 630 800 1000 1250 1600 2000 2500 3150
41 44 47 50 53 56 59 60 61 62 63 64 64 64 64 64
40 43 46 49 52 55 58 59 60 61 62 63 63 63 63 63
39 42 45 48 51 54 57 58 59 60 61 62 62 62 62 62
38 41 44 47 50 53 56 57 58 59 60 61 61 61 61 61
37 40 43 46 49 52 55 56 57 58 59 60 60 60 60 60
Reference values of field sound transmission loss, dB
36 39 42 45 48 51 54 55 56 57 58 59 59 59 59 59
35 38 41 44 47 50 53 54 55 56 57 58 58 58 58 58
34 37 40 43 46 49 52 53 54 55 56 57 57 57 57 57
33 36 39 42 45 48 51 52 53 54 55 56 56 56 56 56
32 35 38 41 44 47 50 51 52 53 54 55 55 55 55 55
31 34 37 40 43 46 49 50 51 52 53 54 54 54 54 54
30 33 36 39 42 45 48 49 50 51 52 53 53 53 53 53
29 32 35 38 41 44 47 48 49 50 51 52 52 52 52 52
28 31 34 37 40 43 46 47 48 49 50 51 51 51 51 51
27 30 33 36 39 42 45 46 47 48 49 50 50 50 50 50
26 29 32 35 38 41 44 45 46 47 48 49 49 49 49 49
25 28 31 34 37 40 43 44 45 46 47 48 48 48 48 48
24 27 30 33 36 39 42 43 44 45 46 47 47 47 47 47
23 26 29 32 35 38 41 42 43 44 45 46 46 46 46 46
22 25 28 31 34 37 40 41 42 43 44 45 45 45 45 45
21 24 27 30 33 36 39 40 41 42 43 44 44 44 44 44
20 23 26 29 32 35 38 39 40 41 42 43 43 43 43 43
19 22 25 28 31 34 37 38 39 40 41 42 42 42 42 42
18 21 24 27 30 33 36 37 38 39 40 41 41 41 41 41
17 20 23 26 29 32 35 36 37 38 39 40 40 40 40 40
16 19 22 25 28 31 34 35 36 37 38 39 39 39 39 39
15 18 21 24 27 30 33 34 35 36 37 38 38 38 38 38
14 17 20 23 26 29 32 33 34 35 36 37 37 37 37 37
13 16 19 22 25 28 31 32 33 34 35 36 36 36 36 36
12 15 18 21 24 27 30 31 32 33 34 35 35 35 35 35
11 14 17 20 23 26 29 30 31 32 33 34 34 34 34 34
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11
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Fig. A1. ‘STANDARD’ HOUSEHOLD SOUND SPECTRUM
AS 1276—1979
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AS 1276—1979

Methods for determination of

Australian Acoustical Society

Methods for determination of

First published . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1979

PUBLISHED BY STANDARDS AUSTRALIA

 Copyright STANDARDS AUSTRALIA

APPENDIX A A NOTE ON THE AIRBORNE S OUND INSULATION INDEX (Ia) . . . . . . 9

STANDARDS ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA

assemblies used to divide spaces in domestic and commercial buildings) in reducing

2. APPLICATION. The classification system described in this standard applies to the

reference value at 500 Hz in the row of values selected according to

Reference values of sound transmission loss or noise reduction, dB

A NOTE ON THE AIRBORNE SOUND INSULATION INDEX (Ia)

If required, I a can be determined from Table A1 in accordance with the procedure

One-third octave bands for determining sound insulation index (I a ), Hz

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