Overview
EN ISO 12999-1:2020 - "Acoustics - Determination and application of measurement uncertainties in building acoustics - Part 1: Sound insulation" - specifies procedures to assess and apply measurement uncertainty for sound insulation in building acoustics. Published by CEN and identical to ISO 12999-1:2020, this second edition updates the earlier 2014 version and provides both procedural guidance and typical uncertainty values for common acoustic measurands.
Key topics
- Scope and purpose
- Procedures for: a detailed uncertainty assessment, determination of uncertainties by inter‑laboratory tests, and practical application of uncertainties.
- Typical uncertainties for quantities measured according to ISO 10140, ISO 16283 and ratings in ISO 717.
- Measurement concepts and definitions
- Clear definitions for measurand, measurement result, uncertainty, standard uncertainty (u), combined standard uncertainty (uc), expanded uncertainty (U) and coverage factor (k).
- Uncertainty methods
- Detailed uncertainty budgets (Clause 4 and Annex C) following the principles of ISO/IEC Guide 98‑3 where applicable.
- Use of repeatability and reproducibility concepts and inter‑laboratory comparisons to determine method uncertainty (Clause 5).
- Treatment and reporting of single‑number values and their uncertainties (Clause 6–7).
- Supporting material
- Informative annexes with worked examples for handling uncertainties, example calculations for single-number values, and guidance on reproducibility limits for airborne sound insulation (Annexes A–D).
Practical applications
- Accurate reporting of test results: Laboratories use the standard to calculate and report measurement uncertainty with airborne and impact sound insulation results.
- Inter-laboratory validation: Standardizes procedures for round-robin tests to derive method uncertainty and identify outliers.
- Product development and comparison: Manufacturers and acoustic consultants use uncertainty assessments when comparing materials, assemblies or product performance.
- Regulatory compliance and contracts: Authorities, specifiers and clients rely on uncertainty-aware results for acceptance criteria, performance verification and building code compliance.
- Quality assurance: Establishing uncertainty budgets supports laboratory accreditation and consistent test outcomes.
Who should use this standard
- Acoustic testing laboratories and measurement technicians
- Manufacturers of building elements (walls, floors, windows, façades)
- Building acoustics consultants and façade designers
- Certification bodies, regulators and product specifiers
- Researchers working with ISO 10140 / ISO 16283 / ISO 717 test methods
Related standards
- ISO 10140 (laboratory measurements of sound insulation)
- ISO 16283 (field measurements of sound insulation)
- ISO 717 (rating of sound insulation)
- ISO/IEC Guide 98‑3 (GUM) and ISO 5725 (repeatability & reproducibility)
Using EN ISO 12999-1:2020 ensures measurement uncertainty is handled consistently across laboratories and applications, enabling reliable comparisons and defensible acoustic assessments.
