Improvement of floor impact sound insulation using small specimens

In South Korea, where multi-family housing is prevalent, floor impact sound has become a significant social issue. According to statistics, more than 20 000 complaints related to floor impact sound are reported annually. In August 2022, amendments to the Housing Act in South Korea introduced stricter performance standards for floor impact sound insulation. Consequently, various floor structure developments are actively underway in the country. To improve the performance of floor impact sound insulation, it is common to conduct performance evaluations by applying various resilient materials and mortars either at construction sites or in laboratory settings. However, these methods have the disadvantage of being time-consuming and costly. This study investigates the potential of using small specimens to evaluate the reduction performance of floor impact sound. Specifically, specimens measuring 200 mm × 200 mm were used to analyze the impact force reduction, and their results were compared with those obtained from larger specimens measuring 3000 mm × 4000 mm. The comparison aimed to determine whether the performance of small specimens could be predictive of floor impact sound reduction. Furthermore, the study compares the results of large specimens with performance evaluations conducted on-site in laboratory settings to propose the scope and limitations of using small specimens for analyzing floor impact sound reduction.