Part F7 Sound transmission and insulation

The Objective of this Part is to safeguard occupants from illness or loss of amenity as a result of undue sound being transmitted—

1. between adjoining sole-occupancy units; and
2. from common spaces to sole-occupancy units; and
3. from parts of different classifications to sole-occupancy units.

A part of a building that separates—

1. sole-occupancy units; or
2. a sole-occupancy unit from a part of another classification in the building; or
3. a sole-occupancy unit from a common space,

is to be constructed to prevent undue sound transmission.

A floor separating sole-occupancy units or a sole-occupancy unit from a plant room, lift shaft, stairway, public corridor, public lobby, or the like, or parts of a different classification, must minimise the transmission of airborne and impact generated sound such that the separating floor, including the effect of services and their penetrations, has—

1. a weighted standardised level difference with spectrum adaptation term (D_nT,w + C_tr) not less than 45 for airborne sound; and
2. a weighted standardised impact sound pressure level (L_nT,w) not more than 62 for impact generated sound.

A wall, including services and their penetrations, must minimise the transmission of sound such that—

1. for airborne sound—
   1. a wall separating sole-occupancy units has a weighted standardised level difference with spectrum adaptation term (D_nT,w + C_tr) not less than 45; and
   2. a wall separating a sole-occupancy unit from a plant room, lift shaft, stairway, public corridor, public lobby, or the like, or parts of a different classification, has a weighted standardised level difference (D_nT,w) not less than 45; and
   3. any door assembly located in a wall that separates a sole-occupancy unit from a stairway, public corridor, public lobby, or the like, has a weighted standardised level difference (D_nT,w) not less than 25; and
2. for impact generated sound, a wall must have sufficient sound insulation to prevent illness or loss of amenity to the occupants if the wall separates—
   1. a bathroom, sanitary compartment, laundry or kitchen in one sole-occupancy unit from a habitable room (other than a kitchen) in an adjoining sole-occupancy unit; or
   2. a sole-occupancy unit from a plant room or lift shaft.

A floor separating sole-occupancy units must minimise the transmission of airborne and impact generated sound such that the separating floor, including the effect of services and their penetrations, has—

1. a weighted standardised level difference (D_nT,w) not less than 40 for airborne sound; and
2. a weighted standardised impact sound pressure level (L_nT,w) not more than 62 for impact generated sound.

(1) A wall separating sole-occupancy units, or a sole-occupancy unit from a kitchen, bathroom, sanitary compartment (not being an associated ensuite), laundry, plant room or utilities room, including the effect of services and their penetrations, must minimise the transmission of—

1. airborne sound such that the wall has a weighted standardised level difference (D_nT,w) not less than 40; and
2. impact generated sound, if the wall separates a sole-occupancy unit from a kitchen or laundry.

(2) Sound insulation required by (1) must be sufficient to prevent illness or loss of amenity to the occupants.

Compliance with F7P1 to avoid the transmission of airborne and impact generated sound through floors is verified when it is measured in-situ that the separating floor has—

1. airborne: a weighted standardised level difference with spectrum adaptation term (D_nT,w + C_tr) not less than 45 when determined under AS/NZS ISO 717.1; and
2. impact: a weighted standardised impact sound pressure level (L_nT,w) not more than 62 when determined under AS ISO 717.2.

Compliance with F7P2(a) to avoid the transmission of airborne sound through walls is verified when it is measured in-situ that—

1. a wall separating sole-occupancy units has a weighted standardised level difference with spectrum adaptation term (D_nT,w + C_tr) not less than 45 when determined under AS/NZS ISO 717.1; or
2. a wall separating a sole-occupancy unit from a plant room, lift shaft, stairway, public corridor, public lobby, or the like, or parts of a different classification, has a weighted standardised level difference (D_nT,w) not less than 45 when determined under AS/NZS ISO 717.1; or
3. any door assembly located in a wall that separates a sole-occupancy unit from a stairway, public corridor, public lobby, or the like, has a weighted standardised level difference (D_nT,w) not less than 25 when determined under AS/NZS ISO 717.1.

Compliance with F7P3 to avoid the transmission of airborne and impact generated sound through floors is verified when it is measured in-situ that the separating floor has—

1. airborne: a weighted standardised level difference (D_nT,w) not less than 40 when determined under AS/NZS ISO 717.1; and
2. impact: a weighted standardised impact sound pressure level (L_nT,w) not more than 62 when determined under AS ISO 717.2.

Compliance with F7P4(1)(a) and (2) to avoid the transmission of airborne sound through walls is verified when it is measured in-situ that—

1. a wall separating sole-occupancy units has a weighted standardised level difference (D_nT,w) not less than 40 when determined under AS/NZS ISO 717.1; or
2. a wall separating a sole-occupancy unit from a kitchen, bathroom, sanitary compartment (not being an associated ensuite), laundry, plant room or utilities room has a weighted standardised level difference (D_nT,w) not less than 40 when determined under AS/NZS ISO 717.1.

(1) Where a Deemed-to-Satisfy Solution is proposed, Performance Requirements F7P1 to F7P4 are satisfied by complying with F7D2 to F7D8.

(2) Where a Performance Solution is proposed, the relevant Performance Requirements must be determined in accordance with A2G2(3) and A2G4(3) as applicable.

The Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions of this Part apply to Class 2 and 3 buildings and Class 9c buildings.

A form of construction required to have an airborne sound insulation rating must—

1. have the required value for weighted sound reduction index (R_w) or weighted sound reduction index with spectrum adaptation term (R_w + C_tr) determined in accordance with AS/NZS ISO 717.1 using results from laboratory measurements; or
2. comply with Specification 28.

(1) A floor in a building required to have an impact sound insulation rating must—

1. have the required value for weighted normalised impact sound pressure level (L_n,w) determined in accordance with AS ISO 717.2 using results from laboratory measurements; or
2. comply with Specification 28.

(2) A wall in a building required to have an impact sound insulation rating must—

1. for a Class 2 or 3 building be of discontinuous construction and
2. for a Class 9c building, must—
   1. for other than masonry, be two or more separate leaves without rigid mechanical connection except at the periphery; or
   2. be identical with a prototype that is no less resistant to the transmission of impact sound when tested in accordance with Specification 29 than a wall listed in S28C4 to S28C7.

(3) For the purposes of this Part, discontinuous construction means a wall having a minimum 20 mm cavity between 2 separate leaves, and—

1. for masonry, where wall ties are required to connect leaves, the ties are of the resilient type; and
2. for other than masonry, there is no mechanical linkage between leaves except at the periphery.

(1) A floor in a Class 2 or 3 building must have an R_w + C_tr (airborne) not less than 50 and an L_n,w (impact) not more than 62 if it separates—

1. sole-occupancy units; or
2. a sole-occupancy unit from a plant room, lift shaft, stairway, public corridor, public lobby or the like, or parts of a different classification.

(2) A floor in a Class 9c building separating sole-occupancy units must have an R_w not less than 45.

(1) A wall in a Class 2 or 3 building must—

1. have an R_w + C_tr (airborne) not less than 50, if it separates sole-occupancy units; and
2. have an R_w (airborne) not less than 50, if it separates a sole-occupancy unit from a plant room, lift shaft, stairway, public corridor, public lobby or the like, or parts of a different classification; and
3. comply with F7D4(2) if it separates—
   1. a bathroom, sanitary compartment, laundry or kitchen in one sole-occupancy unit from a habitable room (other than a kitchen) in an adjoining unit; or
   2. a sole-occupancy unit from a plant room or lift shaft.

(2) A door may be incorporated in a wall in a Class 2 or 3 building that separates a sole-occupancy unit from a stairway, public corridor, public lobby or the like, provided the door assembly has an R_w not less than 30.

(3) A wall in a Class 9c building must have an R_w not less than 45 if it separates—

1. sole-occupancy units; or
2. a sole-occupancy unit from a kitchen, bathroom, sanitary compartment (not being an associated ensuite), laundry, plant room or utilities room.

(4) In addition to (3), a wall separating a sole-occupancy unit in a Class 9c building from a kitchen or laundry must comply with F7D4(2).

(5) Where a wall required to have sound insulation has a floor above, the wall must continue to—

1. the underside of the floor above; or
2. a ceiling that provides the sound insulation required for the wall.

(6) Where a wall required to have sound insulation has a roof above, the wall must continue to—

1. the underside of the roof above; or
2. a ceiling that provides the sound insulation required for the wall.

(1) If a duct or soil, waste or water supply pipe, including a duct or pipe that is located in a wall or floor cavity, serves or passes through more than one sole-occupancy unit, the duct or pipe must be separated from the rooms of any sole-occupancy unit by construction with an R_w + C_tr (airborne) not less than—

1. 40 if the adjacent room is a habitable room (other than a kitchen); or
2. 25 if the adjacent room is a kitchen or non-habitable room.

(2) If a stormwater pipe passes through a sole-occupancy unit, it must be separated in accordance with (1)(a) and (b).

A flexible coupling must be used at the point of connection between the service pipes in a building and any circulating or other pump.