Soundproofist’s list of building and construction standards
Looking for environmental building and noise codes for your area? Some of these documents might help. Contact Soundproofist if you’ve got additional links to guidelines and standards for your region.
| Country | City | Agency | Description | Year | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | All | National Research Council Canada | The National Building Code of Canada releases standards for building construction, including acoustics. Section 5.8 is about sound transmission. | 2020 | See the PDF |
| European Union | Multiple countries | "ACOUSTIC REGULATIONS IN EUROPEAN UNION COUNTRIES" by A. P. Oliveira Carvalho and J. Amorim Faria | An outline of noise measurements used in different EU countries for airborne and impact noise, as well as soundproofing and insulation requirements by country | 1998 | Read the paper |
| Ireland | Multiple | Sound and Building Regulations | Walls, floors, cavity spaces, and various materials | 2014 | Read the PDF |
| Multiple | multiple | LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) | "LEED v4 for Building Design and Construction" includes guidelines for buildings in proximity to airports or superhighways. | 2019 | Download the PDF |
| United Kingdom | All | Resistance to the Passage of Sound: Approved Document E | Requirements for walls and floors in residential dwellings and acoustical requirements for schools | 2004, amended in 2010 | See the PDF |
| United Kingdom | London | London Good Practice Guide: Noise & Vibration Control for Demolition and Construction | These are standards to minimize noise and vibration during construction (not specifications for the insulation and soundproofing requirements for the completed structures) | See the guidelines | |
| United States | All | International Building Codes (IBC), through the International Code Council (ICC) | The IBC is a document sold by the ICC, and lists residential building (and hotel) codes -- including STC -- for construction. | 2021 | See the list of IBC documents |
| United States | All | International Code Council (ICC) | The ICC G2-2010 is an additional guideline for building acoustics | 2010 | Read the guidelines |
| United States | All | Acoustical Society for America | Acoustical standards for schools - three booklets to choose from | Multiple | Choose a PDF |
| United States | California | California Residential Code, Title 24, Part 2.5, supplement | Sound transmission mitigation requirements for residential dwellings, including airborne noise and structure-borne noise | supplement: 2021 Title 24 was created originally in 1978, and went into effect in 2008 | See the requirements |
| United States | California | List of California Standards Building codes from different years -- available to buy from this site | All California building codes from 2013-2022, not just acoustical ones. | 2013, 2016, 2019, 2022 | learn more |
| United States | New York City | Energy Conservation Code (New York City) | Not acoustical, but "energy conservation" code, which includes thermal insulation. Does not cover noise control. | 2011, 2014, 2016, 2020 | See the codes |
| United States | San Francisco | AB-026 Noise Insulation Enforcement Procedures | STC requirements and some construction assembly requirements for multi-unit dwellings | 1984 | see the code |