ISO 10140-5:2021

Overview

ISO 10140-5:2021 - "Acoustics - Laboratory measurement of sound insulation of building elements - Part 5" defines the requirements for test facilities and equipment used in laboratory measurement of sound insulation. The standard covers facilities for testing components, building elements, small technical elements and sound-insulation improvement systems under controlled laboratory conditions where flanking radiation is suppressed and structural isolation exists between source and receiving rooms. It also specifies qualification procedures for commissioning new test facilities and for periodic re‑verification of equipment and room performance.

Key topics and technical requirements

ISO 10140-5:2021 addresses the design and qualification of laboratory measurement setups, including:

• Test rooms and room acoustics
  • Room volumes, diffusion requirements and acceptable reverberation time ranges
  • Background noise limits for accurate airborne and impact sound measurements
• Suppression of flanking transmission
  • Criteria for ensuring minimal energy transfer via adjacent structures so measured results reflect the test specimen
• Test openings and specimen mounting
  • Definitions and requirements for full‑size, reduced‑size and small/specific test openings (walls, floors, doors, windows, technical elements)
• Measurement equipment and sources
  • Loudspeaker arrangements, positions and qualification procedures (see normative Annex D)
  • Impact sources and tapping machine specification (Annex E), plus alternative impact sources (Annex F)
  • Measurement systems, calibration and instrumentation consistent with IEC sound level meter and filter standards
• Reference constructions and accessory fixtures
  • Standard basic elements and mock‑ups for assessing improvement by linings and floor coverings (Annexes B, C, G)
• Facility qualification procedures
  • Commissioning tests and periodic checks to assure ongoing conformance and maximum measurable sound reduction estimation (Annex A)

Practical applications and who uses it

ISO 10140-5 is essential for:

• Acoustics laboratories setting up or validating test facilities for airborne and impact sound insulation
• Product manufacturers of walls, floors, doors, windows, linings and isolation systems seeking repeatable laboratory performance data
• Test engineers and consultants who perform or interpret laboratory sound insulation measurements
• Regulatory bodies and certification organizations that rely on harmonized test methods for compliance and product comparison

Using ISO 10140-5 helps ensure reliable, repeatable laboratory measurements that support product development, quality control, certification and acoustic performance claims.

Related standards

Key related documents referenced in ISO 10140-5:

• ISO 10140-1, ISO 10140-2, ISO 10140-3, ISO 10140-4 (other parts of the ISO 10140 series)
• ISO 3382-2 (reverberation time)
• IEC standards for electroacoustics and sound level meters (IEC 60942, IEC 61260-1, IEC 61672 series)

Keywords: ISO 10140-5:2021, sound insulation, laboratory measurement, acoustics standard, test facilities, flanking transmission, tapping machine, reverberation time, loudspeaker qualification.