The development of a new technical regulation on acoustics in buildings in Croatia

Even though Croatia gained its independence 32 years ago, up till now its legislation has not regulated the requirements that concern the acoustics in buildings. Instead, the regulations inherited from the former state of Yugoslavia were left in effect and have remained in use even after they were officially withdrawn, as no new regulations were adopted to replace them. To address this issue, a committee has been formed of experts affiliated with relevant governmental and professional organizations, and representing their respective fields of expertise, with the task of developing the new Technical Regulation on Acoustics in Buildings in Croatia. This document is to set detailed technical requirements on sound insulation as the means of protection from outdoor and indoor noise, the maximum permissible levels of indoor noise caused by service equipment, and the room acoustics design criteria for achieving optimal acoustics and/or as a noise reduction measure, to be partly or fully applied to a wide range of public and privately-owned buildings, with exceptions such as dedicated performance venues like concert halls or theatres. This paper presents the motivation for creating this document, its scope, and key aspects, as well as a brief overview of similar endeavors in the past.