On the Threshold Level of Rattling Fittings Due to Low Frequency Sound Pressure Level

Abstract

Half of the complaints against low frequency sound are structural one, such as rattling doors or windows. This paper describes about the laboratory experiments concerning rattling of doors or windows generated by infra and low frequency sound. The results are shown as follows.
(1) The threshold sound pressure levels of rattling doors and windows (hereinafter called TSR) are varying widely,
(2) TSR are determined by many factors; frequency of infra and low frequency sound, mass of the door or the window, type or variety of them, clearance between the door and the frame, and so on. But, the most important factor is the shutting condition of the door or the window,
(3) The “average-S.D.” of TSR on each frequency for all data; (L_{rat, ave-S.D.}) were calculated, L_{rat, ave-S.D.} showed a good correlation with “rattling threshold”, proposed in 1977, between 10 to 30Hz,
(4) By comparing the results of field measurements and the experimental level (L_{rat, ave-S.D.}), it became clear that the most of all sound pressure levels where structural complaints occurred, distributed above L_{rat, ave-S.D.}.