Proposal for Weighting Index for Acoustic Comfort in Brazil

The relationship between comfort and acoustic performance is a critical issue for advancing research in building design. This study proposes weighting indexes for acoustic comfort in Brazil. The methodology comprised five stages: test–retest for reliability, nationwide questionnaires, statistical analyses, in-situ validation, and development of weighting factors. The survey used a mixed-method approach with 95% confidence and a 3% margin of error. Based on IBGE data for 215 million inhabitants, a minimum sample of 1068 respondents was required; 1417 Brazilians from all states participated. To validate results, the questionnaire was also applied in a multi-family residential building. Weightings were established for impact noise, airborne noise, building equipment, indoor and outdoor noise, noise from common areas, commercial activities, and noise sensitivity. Airborne (19.92%) and impact noise (19.86%) were identified as most disturbing, followed by outdoor noise. These findings provide preliminary indices to quantify acoustic discomfort in everyday environments.