Noise from neighbors’ bathrooms comes from the operation of plumbing fixtures, such as toilets and showers, and can be annoying, especially if it exceeds acoustic standards. To assess the noise level, it is worth ordering measurements from specialized laboratories, which, in accordance with Polish standards, will assess the acoustic insulation and noise level in the rooms.
Noise coming from bathrooms of neighboring premises is most often generated by water flowing in the sewage system, toilet flushes, turning on water in sinks, showers and bathtubs, as well as the operation of rain showers and hydromassage systems. In most cases, noise measurements from neighboring bathrooms are used to assess the level of sounds generated by these installations and the sound insulation of the walls between apartments, which allows you to check whether the noise level is within the permissible acoustic standards.
Noise measurements from bathrooms of neighboring premises are carried out when the noise becomes annoying and exceeds comfortable levels. Thanks to professional measurements, it is possible to check whether the noise exceeds the permissible standards, which allows residents to claim and obtain compensation in the event of a violation of the regulations. Additionally, it is worth assessing the sound insulation of the walls to ensure that they meet building standards for noise protection.
Noise and insulation measurements of bathrooms are best outsourced to accredited laboratories, which guarantees precise and reliable results. Due to the peculiarities of each apartment, the measurements must be properly adapted to the conditions of the premises. Thanks to the experience of specialists, the measurements are carried out in accordance with the highest standards, and accreditation ensures that the measurement report can be used in legal proceedings, which gives confidence in the correctness of the process.To reduce the level of noise from roads, highways and railroads, upgrades and renovations are often necessary. Noise barriers are also a very good tool for combating traffic noise. All of these solutions do not guarantee total noise reduction. It is often necessary to act on many levels. The starting point for any work is acoustic maps of areas. To be able to win the battle against noise, we must first identify the noise.
While the EU’s Environmental Noise Directive provides a framework for assessing and managing environmental noise, specific permissible noise levels and sound insulation requirements are determined by individual Member States. These national regulations often reference international guidelines, such as those from the WHO, to define acceptable noise levels in various environments, including residential buildings.
For example, in Poland, in case of noise coming from a neighbor’s bathroom, the insulation of the wall between the apartments is considered, for which it is required to achieve the R’A1 index (a single-digit index of the approximate proper acoustic insulation, taking into account the spectral adaptive index C) greater than or equal to 50 dB.
In addition, the sound level in the receiving room is analyzed in parallel in accordance with PN-B-02151-2 “Building acoustics. Protection against noise in buildings. Permissible sound levels in rooms.” These levels vary between 25 to 30 dB for the night time and 35 to 40 dB for the day time.
Measuring noise from neighbors’ bathrooms involves assessing airborne sound insulation between rooms and evaluating noise levels from building service equipment. To assess the sound insulation between a neighbor’s bathroom and receiving room, the methodology of ISO 16283-1:2014 is used. This standard specifies procedures for measuring airborne sound insulation between two rooms in a building using sound pressure measurements. The test results can quantify, assess, and compare airborne sound insulation in both furnished and unfurnished rooms, regardless of whether the sound field approximates a diffuse field.
Measurement Procedure:
Sound Source Placement: A calibrated sound source, such as a loudspeaker, is placed in the source room (neighbor’s bathroom) to generate a consistent noise signal.
Sound Pressure Level Measurement: In the receiving room (your room), sound pressure levels are measured at multiple positions using a Class 1 sound level meter. Measurements can be taken using fixed microphone positions or by manually scanning the room with the microphone.
Data Analysis: The difference in sound pressure levels between the source and receiving rooms is calculated to determine the sound insulation performance.
During measurements all doors and windows are closed to simulate typical living conditions and prevent external noise interference.
Measurements of noise generated by neighboring bathrooms are quite time-consuming. For a complete picture of the noise, it is necessary to perform two measurement procedures – one for insulation and the other for measuring the noise in the room. The measurements themselves can take from several to several dozen hours, but this time must be added to the time needed for a site visit, equipment preparation, or the development of measurement results along with an estimate of measurement uncertainty.
Polish standards require the use of first class measuring equipment. The most commonly used are integrating meters. Remember to make sure that the meter has a current calibration certificate and is calibrated before and after the measurement. These requirements also apply to the calibrator used for calibration. For insulation measurements, a knock, a speaker set or an insulation measurement probe are also used.
