47 national and regional acoustic standards govern building design across 195 countries, yet fewer than 12 are regularly referenced in international practice. An architect designing a hospital in Germany faces different acoustic obligations than one designing the same building type in Australia, and the differences are not trivial — DIN 18041:2016 requires frequency-dependent RT60 verification at six octave bands, while AS/NZS 2107:2016 specifies only a single mid-frequency value. A meeting room that passes ANSI S12.60-2010 in the United States may fail BB93:2015 in the United Kingdom because the British standard includes background noise level limits that the American standard does not apply to the same room category.
This guide consolidates every major acoustic standard used in architectural practice worldwide into a single reference. It covers room acoustic standards (reverberation, speech intelligibility), sound insulation standards (airborne and impact), noise control standards (background noise, environmental noise), and voluntary certification schemes (WELL, LEED, BREEAM, DGNB). For each standard, it identifies the scope, the key acoustic parameters regulated, the specific clause references, the room types covered, and the numerical targets.
Part 1: International Standards (ISO and IEC)
International standards form the measurement and methodology backbone upon which national standards build their specific performance requirements.
ISO 3382: Room Acoustics
The ISO 3382 series is the universal framework for measuring and evaluating room acoustic parameters.
ISO 3382-1:2009 — Measurement of Room Acoustic Parameters: Performance Spaces
Scope: Concert halls, theatres, opera houses, and other performance venues. Defines parameters including T30 (reverberation time from -5 to -35 dB decay), EDT (Early Decay Time, the RT60 equivalent of the first 10 dB of decay), C80 (clarity for music, the ratio of early to late energy with an 80 ms boundary), D50 (definition, early-to-total energy ratio with a 50 ms boundary), LF (Lateral Fraction, the proportion of sound arriving from the sides), and IACC (Inter-Aural Cross-Correlation, related to spatial impression).
Key clauses: §4 defines all parameters. §5 specifies measurement positions (minimum 3 source positions, 6 receiver positions per ISO 3382-1 §5.3). §6 covers measurement procedures using impulse response methods.
ISO 3382-2:2008 — Reverberation Time in Ordinary Rooms
Scope: All non-performance spaces — offices, classrooms, hospitals, residential. This is the standard most referenced by national building codes.
Key clauses: §3 defines RT60 (T20 and T30). Annex A provides the Sabine equation (§A.1) and the Eyring equation (§A.2) for calculating predicted reverberation time. §5 specifies minimum measurement positions (1 source, 3–6 receiver positions for engineering grade measurements; 2 sources, 12 receiver positions for precision grade).
ISO 3382-3:2012 — Open Plan Offices
Scope: Specifically addresses open-plan workspaces where the design goal is speech privacy rather than speech clarity.
Key parameters: D₂,S (spatial decay rate of speech, target ≥ 7 dB per distance doubling), Lp,A,S,4m (A-weighted speech level at 4 m, target ≤ 48 dBA), rD (distraction distance where STI drops below 0.50, target ≤ 5 m), rP (privacy distance where STI drops below 0.20).
IEC 60268-16:2020 — Speech Transmission Index
The definitive standard for measuring and calculating STI (Speech Transmission Index). STI quantifies the fidelity of speech transmission through a communication channel (which may be a room, an electroacoustic system, or both).
Key clauses: §4 defines full STI calculation using 14 modulation frequencies (0.63–12.5 Hz) across 7 octave bands (125–8000 Hz), producing a modulation transfer function (MTF) for each band-frequency combination (98 MTF values total). §5 defines STIPA (Speech Transmission Index for Public Address), a simplified 14-measurement version suitable for field testing. §6 covers CIS (Common Intelligibility Scale), which maps STI to expected word intelligibility percentages.
| STI Range | Quality | Word Intelligibility | Typical Room Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.00–0.30 | Bad | < 35% | Highly reverberant, high background noise |
| 0.30–0.45 | Poor | 35–65% | Reverberant gymnasium or swimming pool |
| 0.45–0.60 | Fair | 65–80% | Untreated lecture hall or open office |
| 0.60–0.75 | Good | 80–93% | Well-designed classroom or meeting room |
| 0.75–1.00 | Excellent | > 93% | Small room, close source, low noise |
ISO 354:2003 — Sound Absorption Coefficient
Defines the reverberation room method for measuring the random-incidence sound absorption coefficient of materials and objects. All published NRC and αw values derive from measurements made per this standard. Key requirement: test specimen area of 10–12 m² in a reverberation chamber of at least 150 m³ volume.
ISO 11654:1997 — Weighted Sound Absorption Coefficient
Defines the method for calculating the single-number weighted absorption coefficient αw from third-octave band absorption data measured per ISO 354. Includes shape indicators: L (excess absorption at low frequencies), M (mid), H (high) relative to the reference curve.
ISO 717: Sound Insulation Rating
ISO 717-1:2013 defines Rw (weighted sound reduction index for airborne sound) and spectrum adaptation terms C and Ctr. Rw is the international equivalent of STC (Sound Transmission Class) used in North America, though the calculation methods differ. ISO 717-2:2013 defines Ln,w (weighted normalised impact sound pressure level). Both are referenced by virtually every national sound insulation standard.
Part 2: United Kingdom
The UK has one of the most comprehensive acoustic regulatory frameworks in the world, with distinct standards for different building types.
BS 8233:2014 — Sound Insulation and Noise Reduction for Buildings
The primary UK guidance document for acoustic design in all building types. Table 4 provides recommended indoor ambient noise levels; Table 2 provides RT60 guidance.
| Room Type | Indoor Ambient Noise (dBA) | Recommended RT60 (s) |
|---|---|---|
| Open-plan office | 45–50 | 0.5–0.8 |
| Private office | 35–40 | 0.6–0.8 |
| Meeting/conference room | 35–40 | 0.5–0.8 |
| Classroom (primary) | 30–35 | 0.6 |
| Hospital ward | 30–40 (night: 30) | 0.5–1.0 |
| Hotel bedroom | 30–35 (night: 30) | — |
| Restaurant/dining | 40–50 | — |
| Residential living room | 30–40 | — |
BB93:2015 — Acoustic Design of Schools
Mandatory for all new and refurbished schools in England and Wales under Building Regulations Approved Document E. The most detailed school acoustics standard globally, covering 14 room types with RT60 targets, background noise limits (IANL), and sound insulation requirements (DnT,w + Ctr). See §2.3 for ceiling specifications, §3.4 for sound insulation, Table 1.2 for all RT60 limits.
Approved Document E (ADE) — Resistance to Sound
Part of the Building Regulations for England and Wales. Sets minimum airborne and impact sound insulation between dwellings: DnT,w + Ctr ≥ 45 dB (airborne), L'nT,w ≤ 62 dB (impact). Pre-completion testing (PCT) is required for all new-build dwellings unless Robust Details approved constructions are used.
HTM 08-01 — Acoustics for Healthcare Premises
Health Technical Memorandum 08-01 provides acoustic performance standards for NHS hospitals. Specifies RT60 targets (0.5–1.0 s for wards, ≤ 0.8 s for consulting rooms), background noise limits (NR 30–40), and sound insulation requirements (DnT,w 43–55 dB depending on room pairing). References ISO 3382-2 for measurement methodology.
Part 3: Germany
Germany maintains separate standards for room acoustics and sound insulation, both mandatory via state building codes (Landesbauordnungen).
DIN 18041:2016 — Acoustic Quality in Rooms
Covers room acoustic design for all communication rooms. Classifies spaces into Group A (high speech quality demands — classrooms, lecture halls, meeting rooms) and Group B (acceptable speech quality — corridors, sports halls, canteens). Group A rooms require RT60 verification at six octave bands (125–4000 Hz) with frequency-dependent targets; Group B rooms require only mid-frequency compliance.
Key innovation: DIN 18041 specifies a minimum STI of 0.60 for Group A rooms (§4.4), making it one of the few mandatory standards that includes speech intelligibility as a design target. It also limits the bass ratio T(125 Hz)/T(500 Hz) to ≤ 1.2 for Group A rooms, addressing the low-frequency reverberation problem that BS 8233 and ANSI S12.60 do not regulate.
| Room Classification | RT60 Target (500 Hz) | STI Minimum | Bass Ratio Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group A: Classrooms | 0.4–0.6 s (volume-dependent) | ≥ 0.60 | T₁₂₅/T₅₀₀ ≤ 1.2 |
| Group A: Lecture halls | 0.5–0.8 s | ≥ 0.60 | T₁₂₅/T₅₀₀ ≤ 1.2 |
| Group A: Meeting rooms | 0.5–0.7 s | ≥ 0.60 | T₁₂₅/T₅₀₀ ≤ 1.2 |
| Group A+: Inclusive rooms | 0.3–0.5 s | ≥ 0.65 | T₁₂₅/T₅₀₀ ≤ 1.1 |
| Group B: Sports halls | ≤ 2.0 s | Not specified | Not specified |
| Group B: Dining halls | ≤ 1.0 s | Not specified | Not specified |
| Group B: Corridors | ≤ 1.5 s | Not specified | Not specified |
DIN 4109:2018 — Sound Insulation in Buildings
Sets minimum sound insulation requirements between different usage units (dwellings, offices, commercial premises). Distinguishes between minimum requirements (Mindestanforderungen) in Part 1 and increased requirements (erhöhter Schallschutz) in Part 5 (formerly Supplement 2). The increased requirements are frequently specified in tender documents even though they exceed the statutory minimum.
| Construction Element | DIN 4109 Minimum (R'w) | DIN 4109 Increased (R'w) |
|---|---|---|
| Party wall between dwellings | ≥ 53 dB | ≥ 56 dB |
| Floor between dwellings (airborne) | ≥ 54 dB | ≥ 57 dB |
| Floor between dwellings (impact, L'n,w) | ≤ 53 dB | ≤ 46 dB |
| Door to corridor | ≥ 27 dB | ≥ 37 dB |
| External wall (depends on noise zone) | ≥ 30–50 dB | — |
VDI 2569:2019 — Sound Protection and Acoustic Design in Offices
The Verein Deutscher Ingenieure guideline specifically for office acoustics. Specifies RT60 ≤ 0.6 s for cellular offices, ≤ 0.5 s for meeting rooms, and D₂,S ≥ 7 dB/dd for open-plan offices (referencing ISO 3382-3). Also sets background noise limits: ≤ 35 dBA for individual offices, ≤ 40 dBA for open-plan.
Part 4: France
NRA 2000 — Nouvelle Réglementation Acoustique
The French acoustic regulation for residential buildings, implemented via arrêté of 30 June 1999. Specifies minimum airborne sound insulation (DnT,A ≥ 53 dB between dwellings), maximum impact sound level (L'nT,w ≤ 58 dB), maximum noise from building equipment (LnAT ≤ 30 dBA in living rooms from individual equipment, ≤ 35 dBA from collective equipment), and external sound insulation (DnT,A,tr dependent on noise exposure classification).
RT 2012 / RE 2020 — Thermal Regulations
While primarily thermal regulations, RT 2012 (and its successor RE 2020) affect acoustic design through requirements for natural ventilation openings and window specifications that must balance thermal performance with sound insulation. The drive toward airtight, highly insulated buildings has generally improved acoustic performance as a co-benefit.
Part 5: United States
ANSI S12.60-2010 — Classroom Acoustics
The American National Standard for acoustical performance in classrooms. Part 1 covers permanent schools; Part 2 covers relocatable (modular) classrooms.
Key requirements for core learning spaces with volume ≤ 283 m³ (10,000 ft³): RT60 ≤ 0.6 seconds (average of 500, 1000, 2000 Hz); background noise ≤ 35 dBA (one-hour Leq). For larger volumes (283–566 m³): RT60 ≤ 0.7 seconds. ANSI S12.60 applies only to core learning spaces — it does not set targets for gymnasiums, cafeterias, corridors, or administrative offices.
IBC 2021 — International Building Code
Chapter 1207 of the IBC sets minimum sound insulation between dwelling units: STC ≥ 50 (airborne, laboratory rating); STCR ≥ 45 (field rating). IIC ≥ 50 (impact, laboratory); IICR ≥ 45 (field). These apply to walls, floor-ceiling assemblies, and penetrations between dwelling units. The IBC does not set room acoustic targets (RT60, STI) for any building type.
ASHRAE Handbook — HVAC Noise
The ASHRAE Applications Handbook (Chapter 48: Noise and Vibration Control) provides design criteria for background noise from mechanical systems. Uses NC (Noise Criteria) curves and RC (Room Criteria) methodology. While not a building standard, ASHRAE noise criteria are routinely specified in mechanical engineering documents.
| Room Type | ASHRAE NC Target | ASHRAE RC Target |
|---|---|---|
| Private office | NC 25–30 | RC 25–30(N) |
| Open-plan office | NC 35–40 | RC 35–40(N) |
| Conference room | NC 25–30 | RC 25–30(N) |
| Classroom | NC 25–30 | RC 25–30(N) |
| Hospital private room | NC 25–30 | RC 25–30(N) |
| Restaurant | NC 40–45 | RC 40–45(N) |
| Concert hall | NC 15–20 | RC 15–20(N) |
Part 6: Australia and New Zealand
AS/NZS 2107:2016 — Acoustics — Recommended Design Sound Levels
The primary Australian/New Zealand standard for recommended indoor design sound levels and reverberation times. Unlike BS 8233, AS/NZS 2107 provides two values — a "satisfactory" level and a "maximum" level — for each room type.
| Room Type | Satisfactory (dBA) | Maximum (dBA) | Recommended RT60 (s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open-plan office | 40 | 45 | 0.4–0.6 |
| Private office | 35 | 40 | 0.4–0.6 |
| Meeting room | 35 | 40 | 0.4–0.6 |
| Classroom (primary) | 35 | 40 | 0.4–0.5 |
| Hospital ward | 35 | 40 | 0.5–0.8 |
| Concert hall | 25 | 30 | 1.5–2.5 |
| Restaurant | 40 | 50 | 0.6–0.8 |
NCC 2022 — National Construction Code (Volume 1, Part F5)
The NCC sets minimum sound insulation requirements for residential buildings in Australia. Part F5 Performance Requirements specify Rw + Ctr ≥ 50 dB (airborne, walls between dwellings), Ln,w ≤ 62 dB (impact, floors between dwellings in Class 2–9 buildings). Deemed-to-Satisfy solutions are provided in Specification F5.2. The NCC does not set room acoustic targets.
Green Star — Rating System
Green Star (administered by the Green Building Council of Australia) includes an Indoor Environment Quality credit for acoustics. The IEQ-9 credit requires compliance with AS/NZS 2107 design sound levels and reverberation time targets across all regularly occupied spaces. Green Star also references the Sound Insulation credit (IEQ-10) for minimum Rw + Ctr performance.
Part 7: Other Notable National Standards
Scandinavia — SS 25268 (Sweden), NS 8175 (Norway), DS 490 (Denmark)
The Nordic countries have among the world's most stringent acoustic standards, driven by strong cultural emphasis on building quality and occupant wellbeing.
Sweden — SS 25268:2007 (Acoustics in Buildings — Sound Classification) establishes four sound classes (A through D), with Class A representing the highest acoustic quality. Class B is the standard for new residential construction. Sound insulation requirements are aggressive: Class B requires R'w ≥ 55 dB (airborne) and L'n,w ≤ 52 dB (impact) between dwellings — approximately 5 dB stricter than DIN 4109 minimum. Room acoustic targets: RT60 ≤ 0.5 s for classrooms (Class B), ≤ 0.6 s for offices. The classification system allows projects to specify higher acoustic quality through Class A targets.
Norway — NS 8175:2019 (Sound Conditions in Buildings — Sound Classification) follows a similar A–D classification. Norwegian requirements are notable for including low-frequency sound insulation criteria (C50-3150 spectrum adaptation term), addressing the bass-frequency problem that standard Rw values miss. For residential Class B: R'w + C50-3150 ≥ 50 dB.
Denmark — DS 490:2018 (Sound Classification of Dwellings) specifies sound classes compatible with the Nordic classification system. Denmark also publishes DS/CEN/CR 12223 for room acoustic conditions in schools, referencing ISO 3382-2 and IEC 60268-16.
| Parameter | Sweden (Class B) | Norway (Class B) | Denmark (Class B) | Germany (DIN 4109 min) | UK (ADE) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airborne insulation (R'w) | ≥ 55 dB | ≥ 55 dB | ≥ 55 dB | ≥ 53 dB | DnT,w ≥ 45 dB |
| Impact sound (L'n,w) | ≤ 52 dB | ≤ 53 dB | ≤ 53 dB | ≤ 53 dB | ≤ 62 dB |
| Low-frequency criterion | Not explicit | C50-3150 | Not explicit | Not explicit | Not explicit |
Japan — JIS A 1419 (Sound Insulation) and AIJ Guideline
JIS A 1419 defines D-value (sound insulation grade) and L-value (floor impact sound level grade) used in Japanese building practice. Japan uses a unique D-number system (D-30 through D-65) rather than Rw/STC. The D-value grades are measured in-situ and include flanking transmission, making them functionally equivalent to field measurements rather than laboratory ratings.
The Architectural Institute of Japan (AIJ) publishes comprehensive recommended RT60 targets by room type, typically 0.3–0.5 s for offices and 0.5–0.6 s for classrooms — tighter than most Western standards. Japanese practice also emphasises impact sound insulation more heavily than European standards, with the "Heavy-weight impact" L-value (LH) addressing bare-foot walking noise on concrete floors — a concern specific to Japanese residential culture where shoes are removed indoors.
| Room Type | AIJ RT60 Target (s) | Western Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Private office | 0.3–0.4 | BS 8233: 0.4–0.6 |
| Open office | 0.4–0.5 | BS 8233: 0.5–0.8 |
| Classroom | 0.5–0.6 | BB93: ≤ 0.6 |
| Concert hall | 1.5–2.0 | ISO 3382-1: 1.8–2.2 |
South Korea — KS F 2810 / KS F 2862
South Korea has invested significantly in building acoustics standards, particularly for residential apartment buildings (the dominant housing type). KS F 2810 (Field measurement of impact sound insulation) and KS F 2862 (Floor impact sound classification) establish strict limits for both lightweight impact (tapping machine) and heavyweight impact (standard impact ball). The heavyweight impact standard addresses the culturally specific problem of children running on upper floors — a major source of neighbour disputes in Korean apartment buildings.
Korean apartment construction now routinely includes 200–250 mm concrete slabs with 40 mm resilient underlay and floating screed, achieving floor impact performance significantly exceeding European standards.
Singapore — SS 553:2016
The Singapore Standard SS 553:2016 (Air-Conditioning and Mechanical Ventilation in Buildings) includes noise criteria for HVAC systems. Building acoustic requirements are regulated through the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) Green Mark scheme, which references ISO 3382-2 for RT60 verification. Singapore's tropical climate requires continuous mechanical ventilation, making HVAC noise a primary acoustic challenge. The BCA Green Mark Platinum level requires NC 30 for offices — comparable to WELL v2 requirements.
India — NBC 2016 (National Building Code)
Part 8 (Building Services) Section 5 covers acoustic requirements. Specifies NR curves for background noise in different room types and recommends RT60 ranges. Enforcement is limited but awareness is growing rapidly with the expansion of IGBC (Indian Green Building Council) certification. The Indian market is increasingly specifying to WELL v2 and LEED standards for premium commercial buildings, effectively adopting international acoustic performance targets.
Middle East — Estidama (Abu Dhabi), GSO Standards
The Estidama Pearl Rating System in Abu Dhabi includes acoustic requirements similar to WELL v2, referencing ASHRAE noise criteria. Gulf Standards Organization (GSO) standards are harmonised with ISO standards for measurement methodology. The UAE's building boom has driven adoption of international standards; most premium developments in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Riyadh now specify to WELL v2 or LEED acoustic performance levels.
China — GB 50118:2010
The Chinese national standard GB 50118:2010 (Design Standards for Sound Insulation of Civil Buildings) covers room acoustics and sound insulation for residential, educational, medical, and office buildings. RT60 targets are volume-dependent and broadly align with ISO practice: classrooms 0.5–0.7 s, offices 0.5–0.8 s, hospital wards 0.6–1.0 s. Sound insulation requirements for residential buildings (Rw ≥ 45 dB for party walls) are less stringent than European standards but enforcement is improving. China's rapid urbanisation and the resulting noise complaint culture have driven increasingly strict local standards in major cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen).
Part 8: Voluntary Certification Schemes
Voluntary certification schemes — particularly WELL v2 Feature 74 — have become the de facto acoustic performance standards for premium commercial buildings worldwide, often imposing stricter requirements than mandatory national codes.
WELL v2 Feature 74: Sound
The most comprehensive voluntary acoustic framework. Three preconditions (mandatory for all certification levels) and eight optimisations (selectable for higher point achievement).
Precondition 1 — Sound Mapping: Background noise levels must meet performance thresholds per ASHRAE or AS/NZS 2107 in regularly occupied spaces. Precondition 2 — Sound Barriers: Minimum STC 40 for enclosed office partitions reaching the deck. Precondition 3 — Sound Absorption: RT60 ≤ 0.60 s for enclosed rooms ≤ 566 m³.
Optimisation L07 — Sound Masking: If masking is provided, it must produce uniform spectrum between 40–48 dBA per ASTM E1573.
LEED v4.1 BD+C: EQ Credit — Acoustic Performance
LEED awards 1–2 points for acoustic performance. Requirements vary by building type: schools must meet ANSI S12.60 for RT60 and background noise; healthcare must meet FGI Guidelines (STC 45 minimum between patient rooms). LEED does not set its own acoustic targets — it references existing standards.
BREEAM International New Construction
The Hea 05 (Acoustic Conditions) credit awards up to 4 credits for achieving acoustic comfort. It requires a qualified acoustician to prepare a design report demonstrating compliance with "appropriate local standards" for room acoustics and sound insulation. BREEAM does not specify its own numerical targets but requires evidence of compliance with the applicable national standard.
DGNB (German Sustainable Building Council)
SOC1.1 (Acoustic Comfort) evaluates thermal and acoustic comfort. It awards points for exceeding DIN 18041 and DIN 4109 requirements, particularly the enhanced sound insulation levels in DIN 4109 Part 5. Up to 10% of total DGNB points can be earned through acoustic performance.
Part 9: Worked Example — Multi-Standard Compliance for a Global Office Project
A multinational company is building a 5,000 m² regional headquarters in London with branch offices planned for Frankfurt and Sydney. The design team needs to identify the applicable acoustic standards and harmonise the design specification across all three locations.
Room: Executive conference room, 15 m × 8 m × 3.0 m (V = 360 m³)
| Parameter | London (BS 8233) | Frankfurt (DIN 18041) | Sydney (AS/NZS 2107) | WELL v2 F74 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RT60 target | ≤ 0.8 s | 0.5–0.7 s (Group A) | 0.4–0.6 s | ≤ 0.60 s |
| Background noise | 35–40 dBA | ≤ 35 dBA (VDI 2569) | 35–40 dBA | Per ASHRAE: NC 25–30 |
| STI minimum | Not specified | ≥ 0.60 | Not specified | Not explicitly required |
| Bass ratio | Not specified | T₁₂₅/T₅₀₀ ≤ 1.2 | Not specified | Not specified |
Harmonised design target: RT60 ≤ 0.55 s (satisfies all four frameworks), background noise ≤ 35 dBA (NC 30), STI ≥ 0.60. The most restrictive requirement at each parameter comes from different standards — RT60 from AS/NZS 2107, STI from DIN 18041, background noise from VDI 2569.
Calculating required absorption (using the Sabine equation per ISO 3382-2 Annex A §A.1):
A = 0.161 × V / RT60 = 0.161 × 360 / 0.55 = 105.4 m² Sabine at 500 Hz
The untreated room (plasterboard walls, concrete soffit, carpet floor) provides approximately 35 m² Sabine. The 70 m² deficit requires a Class A absorptive ceiling (120 m² × 0.90 = 108 m² Sabine net, well exceeding the target) and 15 m² of fabric-wrapped wall panels on the rear wall for STI optimisation.
Final predicted RT60: 0.161 × 360 / (35 + 108 + 13.5) = 0.37 seconds — comfortably meeting all four standards and providing headroom for the DIN 18041 bass ratio requirement (thicker ceiling panels will control the 125 Hz RT60).
Part 10: Quick Reference — Which Standard for Which Project?
| Building Type | UK | Germany | France | USA | Australia | International |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Office (room acoustics) | BS 8233 | DIN 18041, VDI 2569 | NRA (limited) | ASHRAE | AS/NZS 2107 | WELL v2 F74 |
| Office (sound insulation) | ADE (dwellings only) | DIN 4109 | NRA 2000 | IBC §1207 (dwellings) | NCC Part F5 | — |
| School | BB93 | DIN 18041 | NRA (limited) | ANSI S12.60 | AS/NZS 2107 | — |
| Hospital | HTM 08-01 | DIN 18041 + VDI 2081 | NRA (limited) | FGI Guidelines | AS/NZS 2107 | WELL v2 F74 |
| Residential (insulation) | ADE | DIN 4109 | NRA 2000 | IBC §1207 | NCC Part F5 | — |
| Concert hall | BS 8233 (limited) | DIN 18041 | — | — | — | ISO 3382-1 |
| Open-plan office | ISO 3382-3 ref'd by BS 8233 | VDI 2569, ISO 3382-3 | — | ISO 3382-3 | ISO 3382-3 | WELL v2 F74 |
Related Reading:
- DIN 18041 vs BS 8233 vs ISO 3382 for Classrooms — a head-to-head comparison of three classroom standards
- Every Green Building Acoustic Certification Compared — WELL, LEED, BREEAM, DGNB, Green Star side by side
- Acoustic Design for Schools: BB93, DIN 18041, and ANSI S12.60 — comprehensive guide to school acoustics