511795 - BUILDING ACOUSTICS

courses

ID:

511795

Duration (hours):

29

CFU:

SSD:

FISICA TECNICA AMBIENTALE

Year:

2025

Date/time interval

Primo Semestre (29/09/2025 - 16/01/2026)

Course Objectives

The course aims to provide students with the skills needed to analyse and design the acoustic performance of buildings, with reference to passive acoustic requirements, sound insulation and indoor comfort.

At the end of the course, students will be able to:
Understand the physical principles of sound transmission through building partitions and construction materials.
Assess the acoustic insulation of building components (walls, floors, windows) in compliance with current regulations.
Apply design and verification criteria for passive acoustic requirements of buildings.
Use measurement and testing techniques on site, including the analysis of measurement uncertainty.
Evaluate the acoustic quality of indoor environments, with reference to reverberation time and other descriptors.
Propose and design noise mitigation interventions in building contexts.
Prepare technical reports on laboratory and field tests related to building acoustic requirements

Course Prerequisites

The knowledge acquired in the Acoustics module – 3 CFU is essential

Teaching Methods

Lectures introducing the fundamental theoretical concepts of building acoustics. Numerical exercises for the application of prediction methods and the analysis of building acoustic performance. Use of digital tools and software supporting design and simulation, including open-source applications and the Ramsete software. Group discussion and collective interpretation of calculation and simulation results to foster critical and applied learning.

Assessment Methods

Access to the final exam is subject to the submission of one or more assignments prepared during the course, which contributes to the determination of the final grade. The submission must be made, within the specified deadlines, by the end of the semester. The exam is conducted on a computer workstation and consists of three modules: theory questions, numerical exercises, and multiple-choice quizzes. The final grade is based on the overall written test, with an indicative weight of 25% for the quizzes, 45% for the numerical exercises, and 30% for the theory questions. To pass the exam, the theory section must independently achieve a sufficient score, regardless of the total grade. Normally, the written test must be confirmed by an oral examination, held the following day. At the instructor’s discretion, the grade of the written test may be directly recorded, up to a maximum of approximately 24/30.

Texts

Specific reference texts and supplementary materials will be indicated and made available on the KIRO platform. For applied study, reference will be made to technical manuals available online.

Building on the knowledge acquired in the Acoustics module, the course explores the principles of acoustics applied to buildings, with particular focus on sound transmission through structures and on national regulations concerning passive acoustic requirements. The topics addressed include sound insulation, sound reduction index and the mass law, together with issues related to flanking transmission and structural discontinuities. Design criteria and the acoustic behaviour of building materials are presented, with examples of solutions used to improve performance. Indoor acoustics is discussed in relation to sound absorption and reverberation time, with reference to the indicators that define the acoustic quality of enclosed spaces such as classrooms, offices and collective environments. Predictive methods for the evaluation of acoustic requirements are introduced, along with the main software tools supporting design activities. Measurement techniques in laboratory and on site are also illustrated, with particular attention to uncertainty analysis and testing procedures. The course concludes with applications to case studies, numerical exercises and practical verification activities, aimed at the correct interpretation of acoustic survey data and at the proposal of remediation and improvement measures.

Course Language

Italian

More information

The Building Acoustics module requires the knowledge acquired in the Acoustics module, which provides the fundamental basis for the learning activities. The two modules take place in the same semester and are delivered in sequence.