Sound Transmission Class (STC): applications, research insights, and comparative analysis in building acoustics

This paper aims to review the uses of Sound Transmission Class (STC) in building acoustics as well as its drawbacks. It discusses the application of STC in field measurements and data analysis and identifies the differences between the laboratory and the real world. The study also compares STC with other metrics such as ASTC and OITC and shows that it fails to give a realistic picture of the actual sound insulation and how it is perceived by human beings. Some of the unique uses in wood-frame construction and in new acoustic solutions are described. The research also discusses the importance of the need for better metrics that are more in line with real-world performance and human perception and points to future directions in the development of acoustic metrics that can adapt to future building technologies.