Impact Noise in Ceramic Floors: A Statistical Analysis of the Acoustic Performance of Bare and Covered Slabs

Impulsive noise is harmful to human health, and floor impact noise fits into this category. The Brazilian building performance standard sets a minimum requirement of 80 dB for the standardized impact sound pressure level. However, even if an apartment delivered to the user meets this criterion, many occupants choose to install ceramic flooring, which can worsen performance by supposedly amplifying medium- and high-frequency noise. This study presents statistical results from various field tests comparing bare slabs and slabs covered with ceramic flooring. The findings indicate that floor systems with ceramic coverings and no acoustic treatment tend to perform worse than bare slabs.