On-Site Acoustic Testing - Building Acoustics, ICD 705, Noise, and Vibration testing nationwide and worldwide

Testing Services: Building Acoustics, Noise, Vibration, Air Quality

On-Site Acoustic Testing provides expert acoustic consulting services nationwide and world wide. Our acoustic consultants have the expertise to provide accurate and incisive measurements for your most critical field testing requirements.

We are pleased to offer a wide variety of acoustic field testing protocols and consulting services nationwide and worldwide.

Click on any of the below links for more information on acoustical consulting services that we provide:

Please contact us about your specific requirements for your SCIF or SAPF, commercial space, or residential field testing acoustical consulting problem.

FIIC / AIIC – Field Impact Insulation Class Testing Services / Apparent Impact Insulation Class E1007 – 14

Field Impact Insulation Class (now known as Apparent Impact Insulation Class) measures a floor/ceiling assembly’s resistance to the transmission of structure-borne or impact noise. Virtually all states and municipalities have set guidelines for the minimum FIIC (AIIC) test rating that a building may have, and it’s not at all uncommon to find minimum FIIC (AIIC) ratings inserted into requests for proposals from architects and other designers.

Performing an FIIC (AIIC) test requires a specialized piece of equipment called a floor tapper. This machine can be likened to an internal combustion engine that features exposed pistons which are mounted in a manner in which they strike the floor in a repetitive sequence. The specifications for this machine are contained in the ISO 140 and ASTM E 413, E 492 and E 1007 – 14 specifications. This machine generates a controlled amount of impact noise which is then measured in the room below the room in which the tapping machine is operated.

On-Site Acoustic testing utilizes the Bruel & Kjaer Type 3207 Tapping Machine in conjunction with a Bruel & Kjaer 2260 and 2270 sound level/analyzer meters running the most recent Building Acoustics software.

We are able to provide commercial and residential tenants, building managers, architects, contractors, insurance companies, and governmental agencies FIIC (AIIC) ratings for any building. Call us today to talk about your impact sound problem, whether it involves air handling equipment or upstairs neighbors that tap dance even whilst asleep!

On-Site Acoustic Testing provides FIIC (AIIC) Testing services in all parts of the United States according to ASTM guidelines, and tests through much of the rest of the world to ISO standards.

Indoor Air Quality Testing

Indoor air quality is one of those things that people just don’t spend very much time thinking about…at least until their family or employees start getting sick. While there is more awareness in the manufacturing/industrial world, it’s our opinion that there is still a lack of awareness concerning this important issue. That said, the problems are many times magnified when talking about multi-unit dwellings!

On-Site Acoustic testing can provide indoor air quality testing services for the following agents (and to ASTM/ISO/ANSI standards)

Temperature
Humidity
Carbon Dioxide
Carbon Monoxide
Mold and other bacteria
Particulate Matter and other dust
Pharmaceutical agents
Organic chemicals
NH3
CO
HCN
H2S
NO
NO2
SO2
Chrome
Lead
Phthalates
Silica
Stainless Steel
Iron
Mild Steels
Solvents

Our expert engineers will develop an individualized profile to first and foremost make sure that the problem is fully diagnosed. Often this can be accomplished relatively quickly via a single day broad spectrum sampling session, followed by submission to one of the regional ISO certified labs we utilize for sample analysis. In other cases, a more detailed approach may be necessary, which could include partial wall dis-assembly, robotic sample collection (for inaccessible duct work), and flooring removal.

After the analysis has been completed, we will develop a treatment protocol that will neutralize the contamination issues and render the treated areas much less susceptible to future recurrence of contamination.

FSTC / ASTC Field Sound Transmission Class testing services / Apparent Sound Transmission Class – ASTM E336 – 14

FSTC (ASTC) Testing Services –Field / Apparent Sound Transmission Class Tests

FSTC (ASTC), or as it’s formally known Field / Apparent Sound Transmission Class is a double digit number that refers to the sound transmission properties of a wall structure. It may also be applied to measure the sound transmission properties of a window or door unit. Virtually all states and municipalities have set guidelines for the minimum FSTC / ASTC test rating that a building may have, and it’s a vital part of the International Building Code. It’s not at all uncommon to find well-above-minimum FSTC / ASTC test (and related FIIC / AIIC) ratings inserted into requests for proposals from architects and other designers especially for luxury housing. The most common standards for testing in the United States include the ASTM E90, ASTM E336 and ASTM E413 standards, while in European Union countries the ISO 140 and ISO 717 standards are used.

Performing a FSTC / ASTC test requires some specialized equipment, the first being an omni-directional sound source. This just means a sound source (speaker) that radiates sound in all directions equally, quite unlike a typical speaker which radiates most of its sound to the front. This ensures that the room is equally driven by sound pressure in all directions. Typically this is achieved by utilizing a multi-driver speaker systems that resembles a large soccer ball…think of each of the black sections as a speaker! The Bruel & Kjaer 4292 speaker is probably the best known of the current crop of omni-directional sound sources, and our personal reference unit. This unit is placed in what is called the sending room and then switched on, in order to excite the wall structure (and other structures that comprise the room) so that the resultant noise may be measured on the other side.

Secondarily, a sound level analyzer is required to accurately measure the sound in the room on the other side, which is named the receiving room. We utilize a Bruel & Kjaer 2260 and 2270 sound level/analyzer meters running building acoustics software BZ 7204 and BZ 7229 which is capable of providing results compliant with ASTM, ISO, DIN, BS, and NBE among others.

We provide commercial and residential tenants, building managers, architects, contractors, insurance companies, and governmental agencies STC testing services and ratings for any building. Call us today to talk about your noise transmission sound problems.

Building Acoustics Testing Services – ASTC, AIIC, OITC, and RT

We offer a full variety of building acoustics field testing services that are geared towards military and commercial clients.

Using the most current ASTM (and/or ISO) standards, as well as industry leading equipment, we perform building acoustics measurements throughout the United States and world.

We work with all four branches of the military, federal, state, and local governments, as well as with builders, developers, and architects to verify that building partitions meet their required field tested values.

While our services are geared towards governmental and commercial clients, we do work with homeowners and condominium owners to provide testing services, most often of flooring installations.

The most common building acoustics testing services that we offer are:

ASTC – Apparent Sound Transmission Class – which is used to determine the airborne sound transmission values of wall and floor partitions. This testing has implications for secure (SCIF and SAPF) areas, as well as for general residential or commercial use buildings.

AIIC – Apparent Impact Insulation Class – which is used to determine the structure borne (impact sound) transmission of floor partitions. This testing is most often performed in a residential setting.

OITC – Outdoor Indoor Transmission Class – which is used to determine the airborne sound transmission of the exterior facade of building elements, such as walls, windows, and roof partitions. This testing is often performed on buildings that must be proven to be secures (such as SCIF and SAPF) areas, as well as general residential or commercial use buildings.

RT- Reverberation Time – which is used to determine the length of time that sound takes to decay within an enclosed space. This testing is always performed in conjunction with ASTC, AIIC, and OITC testing, as it is an integral part of the calculation when performing those testing protocols. It can also be performed to determine the suitability of a room for a particular task. Long reverberation times are pleasing in a concert hall (for example) but harmful to speech intelligibility in a classroom or subway tunnel.

Modeling of walls, floors, and windows

Sometimes you start out with the best of intentions, a veritable roadmap to success…but someone, somewhere along the way drops the ball.

That’s where we come in (along with our modeling software) assessing what you already have in situ, and determining what will be necessary for fulfillment of your mission.

We can model virtually any wall, ceiling, floor, window or HVAC structure in order to determine the correct remediation to bring your building partition into compliance.

Spectrum Analysis

Sure, you can measure noise (of all kinds) with your iPhone or Android phone. That may (or may not) tell you something regarding the noise level in your facility or area. Truth is, though, that’s not the whole picture.

What is really important is the actual distribution of the frequencies.

That’s where spectral/spectrum analysis comes into play.

We can measure in 1/1 or 1/3 octaves the actual noise levels from 8 Hz on to the 20 kHz band. If necessary we can actually perform subsonic, or ultrasonic measurements to determine the actual noise emissions in situ.

Sound Intensity Testing

On-Site Acoustic Testing, LLC offers sound intensity testing of machinery of all types and sizes for a variety of mission requirements.

While sound intensity testing is a requirement for ISO noise declaration documents (in order to determine sound power) it can also be incredibly useful in determining the radiating pattern of equipment. Using our sound intensity test equipment, we are able to provide a visual representation showing the exact radiating pattern both by intensity as well as by frequency.

This process can also be used for leak detection, in order to determine where (a door, for example) is leaking around a seal. Often this can be the most effective way to diagnose a visually correct, but failing wall, window, or door partition.

A brief overview…

On-Site Acoustic Testing provides nationwide acoustic, vibration, indoor air quality, light intensity, thermal and spectrum testing to military, commercial, and residential clients.

We are proud to offer testing of SCIF and SAPF areas to ensure compliance with ICD 705 standards, and have conducted testing for all four branches of the United States Military. We have also conducted testing for the United States Nuclear Regulatory Agency, The Office of the Inspector General, as well as many other state and municipal governmental agencies.

Our noise testing services include: noise surveys for neighborhoods, municipalities, state and federal agencies to assure compliance to community standards. We provide ASTC and AIIC testing services to architects, construction firms, property management companies, and individual residential users. We can furnish ISO noise declarations for manufacturers for use in machinery destined for EU community installation.

We provide OSHA compliance testing (including noise dosimeter testing for employees), as well as general shop floor, and machine/machine room noise level and indoor air quality testing for our commercial and industrial clients.

We can provide testing to ASTM, ISO, and ANSI standards for many applications, testing your product at your location, our location, or an end user’s location.

We offer indoor air quality testing for a wide spectrum of contaminants ranging from common molds to compounds generated during the manufacturing process.

Testing is only the first step, we offer noise abatement services as well. We work with leading isolation materials manufacturers to custom tailor their products to your application, with an eye towards minimizing costly downtime and maximizing results.

Email us at: project@osatusa.com

Talk to us toll free: 1-800-665-0080

Acoustic testing, sound and noise level measurement, design, noise abatement, OSHA compliance for commercial, military, retail, house of worship, and residential customers throughout the United States.

ICD 705 Acoustical Testing Considerations for SCIF and SAPF areas

ICD 705 is a wide ranging document that concerns itself with all aspects of site security for secure facilities. Our focus is to provide acoustical testing of SCIF and SAPF areas to satisfy the acoustical testing requirements.

We have provided ICD 705 compliant testing in SCIF and SAPF secure facilities at United States Military and governmental agencies around the world.

From Guantanamo Bay to Bahrain, to Weisbaden, Germany, all around the CONUS (and Pearl Harbor as well) we have worked with contractors of all sizes, as well as directly with governmental agencies to ensure that secure facilities perform according to specification.

We can also provide assistance during the design and construction phase, as well as provide information and design for remediation of SCIF and SAPF areas through field testing and computer based modeling of wall, floor, and ceiling assemblies.

The following parameters as detailed in ICD 705 Version 1.4:

A. Overview

1. This establishes DNI guidelines to protect classified conversations from being inadvertently overheard outside a SCIF.

2. This is not intended to protect against deliberate technical interception of audio emanations.

B. Sound Group Ratings

The ability of a SCIF structure to retain sound within the perimeter is rated using a descriptive value, the Sound Transmission Class (STC). To satisfy the normal security standards of SCIFs, the following transmission attenuation groups have been established:

Sound Group 3 – STC 45 or better. Loud speech from within the SCIF can be faintly heard but not understood outside of the SCIF. Normal speech is unintelligible with the unaided human ear.

Sound Group 4 – STC 50 or better. Very loud sounds within the SCIF, such as loud singing, brass music, or a radio at full volume, can be heard with the human ear faintly or not at all outside of the SCIF.

C. Acoustic Testing

1. Audio tests shall be conducted to verify standards are met. Tests may be instrumental or non instrumental as approved by the AO. Test method used shall be detailed in the CSP.

2. Instrumental Acoustic Tests:

a) Only those with training on audio testing techniques shall conduct instrumental acoustic tests

b) With all SCIF doors closed, all perimeter walls and openings (e.g., air returns, doors, windows, etc.) shall be tested along multiple points to ensure that either Sound Group 3 or 4 is met.

c) Audio test sources shall have a variable sound level output.

d) The output frequency range shall include normal speech.

e) Test speakers shall be placed six feet from the test wall and 4 feet off the floor.

f) Audio gain of the test source shall produce “loud or very loud speech” as defined by Sound Group 3 and 4 levels respectively.

g) As an alternative, instrumented testing may be performed to Noise Isolation Class (NIC) standards. Results shall comply with NIC 40 for Sound Group 3 and NIC 45 or Sound Group 4

You can reach us at 1-800-665-0080 or feel free to email us at project@osatusa.com

Noise Control Consultants

We provide noise and sound mitigation consulting services.

Our experienced technicians (in conjunction with consulting professional engineers, architects, and other consultants) can work with your organization to provide relief for many common issues such as:

Open floorplan noise in call centers
Unwanted sound transmission in medical and dental offices
Noise and vibration emanating from Crossfit and other gym and workout facilities
HVAC and other building equipment whether on the ground or roof-mounted
Unpleasant room acoustics in restaurants, nightclubs, and auditoriums
Machine noise in factories, distribution centers, and retail establishments
Noise from playgrounds and recreational areas

Contact us today at project@osatusa.com (or call us toll-free at 800-665-0080) to find out how we can provide the solutions for your noise and sound issues.

Noise and Sound Mitigation Consulting

While we are well known for providing noise, vibration, air-quality, and other environmental testing, you may not realize that we also provide noise and sound mitigation consulting services. Our experienced technicians (in conjunction with consulting professional engineers and other consultants) can work with your organization to provide relief for many common issues such as:

Open floorplan noise in call centers
Unwanted sound transmission in medical and dental offices
Noise and vibration emanating from Crossfit and other gym and workout facilities
HVAC and other building equipment whether on the ground or roof-mounted
Unpleasant room acoustics in restaurants, nightclubs, and auditoriums
Machine noise in factories, distribution centers, and retail establishments
Noise from playgrounds and recreational areas

Contact us today at project@osatusa.com (or call us toll-free at 800-665-0080) to find out how we can provide the solutions for your noise and sound issues.

HIPAA and your practice….

As you probably already know, T\the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 was enacted by the United States Congress and signed by President Bill Clinton in 1996.

Title II of HIPAA, known as the Administrative Simplification (AS) provisions, requires the establishment of national standards for electronic health care transactions and national identifiers for providers, health insurance plans, and employers.

What does this mean for your practice?

Whether you are a medical doctor, dentist, mental health professional, or other health care provider it means that you are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your patient’s records.

You’ve probably already paid close attention to your record keeping, billing, and client contact protocol, but have you given thought to maintaining the privacy of your clients while they are in your office?

Many office suites were designed and built prior to the implementation of the HIPAA Act and even offices constructed long after the start of the HIPAA Act may not have been constructed in a way that ensures the privacy of your patients.

Sound transmission between examination rooms is a common issue in many offices. It’s simply unacceptable for one patient to be able to overhear the private conversation between you and your staff with another patient.

We can provide testing to determine the Sound Transmission Class (STC) and the Speech Intelligibility Index (STI) of the examination rooms, private offices, and other areas of your facility to determine whether unwanted sound transmission between spaces is present.

Should testing disclose a problem, or if you’re already aware that your office has a problem, we can assist you in determining the correct materials that will be necessary to fix the problem.

Logistics Center Testing

Let’s face it, loading docks are hot, noisy, and subject to carbon monoxide emissions from even the cleanest running rigs.

While most packaged products are (mostly) insensitive to noise, light, and air quality issues, the same cannot be said for the people working on the loading docks.

That’s where On-Site Acoustic Testing comes in. We can provide the testing that you need to make sure that your employees are safe.

Whether you are in need of noise level testing, air quality testing, or light quality (or level) testing, we can get you the information you need to ensure OSHA compliance.

Or call us (toll-free) at 1-800-665-0080