SIST EN ISO 12999-1:2021 PDF

Overview

EN ISO 12999-1:2020 - "Acoustics - Determination and application of measurement uncertainties in building acoustics - Part 1: Sound insulation" - specifies procedures to assess and apply measurement uncertainty for sound insulation in building acoustics. Published by CEN and identical to ISO 12999-1:2020, this second edition updates the earlier 2014 version and provides both procedural guidance and typical uncertainty values for common acoustic measurands.

Key topics

• Scope and purpose
  • Procedures for: a detailed uncertainty assessment, determination of uncertainties by inter‑laboratory tests, and practical application of uncertainties.
  • Typical uncertainties for quantities measured according to ISO 10140, ISO 16283 and ratings in ISO 717.
• Measurement concepts and definitions
  • Clear definitions for measurand, measurement result, uncertainty, standard uncertainty (u), combined standard uncertainty (uc), expanded uncertainty (U) and coverage factor (k).
• Uncertainty methods
  • Detailed uncertainty budgets (Clause 4 and Annex C) following the principles of ISO/IEC Guide 98‑3 where applicable.
  • Use of repeatability and reproducibility concepts and inter‑laboratory comparisons to determine method uncertainty (Clause 5).
  • Treatment and reporting of single‑number values and their uncertainties (Clause 6–7).
• Supporting material
  • Informative annexes with worked examples for handling uncertainties, example calculations for single-number values, and guidance on reproducibility limits for airborne sound insulation (Annexes A–D).

Practical applications

• Accurate reporting of test results: Laboratories use the standard to calculate and report measurement uncertainty with airborne and impact sound insulation results.
• Inter-laboratory validation: Standardizes procedures for round-robin tests to derive method uncertainty and identify outliers.
• Product development and comparison: Manufacturers and acoustic consultants use uncertainty assessments when comparing materials, assemblies or product performance.
• Regulatory compliance and contracts: Authorities, specifiers and clients rely on uncertainty-aware results for acceptance criteria, performance verification and building code compliance.
• Quality assurance: Establishing uncertainty budgets supports laboratory accreditation and consistent test outcomes.

Who should use this standard

• Acoustic testing laboratories and measurement technicians
• Manufacturers of building elements (walls, floors, windows, façades)
• Building acoustics consultants and façade designers
• Certification bodies, regulators and product specifiers
• Researchers working with ISO 10140 / ISO 16283 / ISO 717 test methods

Related standards

• ISO 10140 (laboratory measurements of sound insulation)
• ISO 16283 (field measurements of sound insulation)
• ISO 717 (rating of sound insulation)
• ISO/IEC Guide 98‑3 (GUM) and ISO 5725 (repeatability & reproducibility)

Using EN ISO 12999-1:2020 ensures measurement uncertainty is handled consistently across laboratories and applications, enabling reliable comparisons and defensible acoustic assessments.