Tougher standards for inter-floor noise in multi-family homes and officetels; floor impact noise capped at 49 dB

[Financial News] The government is tightening standards to prevent inter-floor noise in multi-family homes, multi-unit residential buildings with fewer than 30 households, and officetels. The plan is to raise the floor impact noise insulation standard to 49 dB or less for both heavy- and light-impact noise.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said on the 5th that it would issue an advance administrative notice from the 6th to the 26th on a partial revision of the “Standards for Floor Impact Noise Insulation Structures between Floors to Prevent Noise.”
The revision raises the floor impact noise insulation performance standards for buildings governed by the Building Act, which were relatively less stringent than those for multi-unit housing governed by the Housing Act. The current limit of 50 dB or less for heavy-impact noise and 58 dB or less for light-impact noise will each be tightened to 49 dB or less.
Heavy-impact noise refers to sounds caused by heavy, soft impacts, while light-impact noise refers to sounds caused by relatively light, hard impacts.
A new standard floor structure will also be introduced to meet the enhanced performance requirements. Quality standards for cushioning materials installed on top of the floor structure to absorb impact noise will be revised, and construction management standards will also be strengthened.
However, the current system, under which building owners can choose between a recognized floor structure and a standard floor structure taking into account the burden on building owners and the circumstances of each building, will remain in place. A recognized floor structure is one whose performance has been approved through testing or other means, while a standard floor structure can be used without separate performance testing if it meets published standards.
Lee Jin-cheol, director general for building policy, said, “This revision could improve living conditions in multi-family homes and officetels, which have been relatively vulnerable to floor impact noise.” He added, “We will continue to improve relevant systems to create a pleasant living environment that people can truly experience.”
[email protected] Choi Ga-young Reporter