Prévisol
An Excel spreadsheet : prediction of the acoustic insulation between dwellings, taking flanking transmission into account
 Ó Tisseyre & Associé 1997

Two major notions - Prévisol : calculation - measurement comparison

The Prévisol spreadsheet calculates insulation between rooms or dwellings, by octave as well as global value (dBA).

TWO MAJOR NOTIONS

  • Continuous wall : flanking wall (or ceiling or floor) running from one room to the other and perpendicular to the party wall.
  • Partition : a lightwall, excluding the party wall, attached to the party wall or to a continuous wall

Any part of the envelope of the receiving room is therefore either party wall, continuous or " partition ". The calculation is based on an inclusive account taking of the junction surfaces for the flanking transmissions. Then no technical information other than the dimensions and the R's of the various elements is required.

Inputs

  • dimensions of the receiving room,
  • sound reduction index (R) of the party wall and the continuous walls,
  • thickness of the continuous walls,
  • radiation coefficient of the partitions (provided by the data bank).
Standard sound reduction indices, as well as standard radiation coefficients, are integrated in the spreadsheet (data bank)..

Outputs

The spreadsheet yields four acoustic insulation values :

  • due to the party wall alone,
  • due to the continuous walls alone,
  • due to the partitions alone,
  • complete, due to all the acoustic paths.

A graph displays the acoustic insulation as a function of the octave band, from 125 to 4000 Hz.

It is possible to add the measured insulation values, whenever these are available (see figure below).

PREVISOL : CALCULATION - MEASUREMENT COMPARISON

Compilation of several examples of constructions, typical of all the common construction systems encountered: concrete, gypsum board, gypsum blocks, bricks, wood...

Comparison between calculation and measurement of the R'w in a German laboratory (I.B.P.) (measurement of the R of the party wall and of the flanking wall)

Microsoft Excel version 3 or higher is required.