The Applied Acoustics Laboratory performs acoustic and vibration testing, field measurements and simulations to international standards, for research and on behalf of companies, designers and public bodies.
We support clients from early material selection to final compliance checks. Every service below can be delivered as a test report, a design study or a consultancy project.
Request a quote: write to edoardo.piana@unibs.it.
We measure the normal-incidence sound absorption coefficient and surface impedance of porous materials, foams, fibres, granular media and metamaterials. The impedance tube is fast and needs only small samples, which makes it ideal for comparing prototypes early in development.
With the four-microphone set-up we also measure the transmission loss of material samples. Airflow resistivity and porosity measurements provide the input parameters for predictive models such as Johnson–Champoux–Allard.
Standards: ISO 10534-2 (absorption, transfer-function method) · ASTM E2611 (normal-incidence transmission loss) · ISO 9053-1 (airflow resistivity)
Deliverables: absorption coefficient and impedance in one-third-octave or narrow bands, transmission loss, flow resistivity, porosity, fitted model parameters.
Instrumentation: 2-, 3- and 4-microphone impedance tubes · ¼" measurement microphones · OROS OR36 multichannel analyser · Brüel & Kjær PULSE analyser · airflow resistivity test bench · porosity test bench · in-house post-processing software
Diffuse-field absorption (ISO 354) on large samples is carried out with partner laboratories.
We study the sound insulation of single, multilayer and sandwich structures, including novel and recycled materials. Hybrid methods combine vibration measurements with numerical models to predict the sound reduction index where simple empirical formulas fail.
From the same measurements we determine the critical frequency, loss factor and radiation efficiency, i.e. how effectively a structure radiates sound.
Deliverables: sound reduction index predictions, dynamic properties (stiffness, damping), radiation efficiency, design recommendations for insulating structures.
Instrumentation: sound intensity probe · single-axis accelerometers · laser vibrometer · PCB impact hammer · shaker and amplifier · impedance head · OROS OR36 analyser with sound intensity software · MATLAB · COMSOL Multiphysics
We verify the acoustic performance of buildings on site: airborne sound insulation between rooms, façade sound insulation and impact sound insulation of floors. Results are rated with single-number values and compared with the Italian passive acoustic requirements.
Standards: ISO 16283-1 (airborne) · ISO 16283-2 (impact) · ISO 16283-3 (façade) · ISO 717-1 and ISO 717-2 (rating) · DPCM 5 December 1997 · UNI 11367 (acoustic classification)
Deliverables: field test reports with DₙT,w, R′w, D₂m,nT,w and L′nT,w values, compliance assessment, remediation advice.
Instrumentation: Class 1 sound level meters · omnidirectional sound source · façade loudspeaker · tapping machine
We assess how well a room suits its purpose, from classrooms and offices to theatres, churches and archaeological sites. Impulse responses measured at defined positions give reverberation time, clarity, definition and speech intelligibility.
Calibrated simulation models let us predict the effect of a treatment before it is installed, or reconstruct the acoustics of historic spaces. Recent studies include the Roman theatre of Brescia, the Teatro Grande and the Old Cathedral.
Standards: ISO 3382-1 (performance spaces) · ISO 3382-2 (ordinary rooms) · ISO 3382-3 (open-plan offices)
Deliverables: measured and simulated acoustic parameters, sound pressure maps, treatment design, auralisations.
Instrumentation: Class 1 sound level meters · omnidirectional sound source · omnidirectional and figure-of-eight microphones · binaural recording system · ambisonics microphone · sound cards · Audacity with Aurora plug-ins · Ramsete and SoundPLAN · LiDAR scanner for 3D geometry
We measure noise levels indoors and outdoors to check compliance with legal limits, and build 3D propagation models from source sound power, terrain and buildings. The models predict noise at receivers and test mitigation options such as barriers and enclosures before construction.
Our ambisonics system localises the dominant sources and leakage paths in complex sites.
Standards: ISO 1996-1 and ISO 1996-2 (environmental noise) · ISO 9613-2 (outdoor propagation) · Law 447/1995 and DM 16 March 1998 (Italian framework and measurement methods)
Deliverables: measurement reports, noise maps, noise impact assessments, barrier and mitigation design.
Instrumentation: four Class 1 sound level meters · SoundPLAN · ambisonics source-localisation system
We determine the sound power level of machines, components and electrical equipment, in the laboratory or on site.
Standards: ISO 3744 and ISO 3746 (sound pressure methods) · ISO 9614-1, -2 and -3 (sound intensity methods)
Deliverables: A-weighted and band sound power levels, directivity, noise source ranking.
Instrumentation: Class 1 sound level meters · Brüel & Kjær sound intensity probe · OROS OR36 analyser with sound intensity software
We record and reproduce sound fields in three dimensions. Ambisonics and binaural techniques support source localisation, and VR auralisation lets clients, residents and decision-makers hear a noise barrier, a room treatment or a new building before it exists.
Instrumentation: ambisonics microphone and decoding software · binaural acquisition system · Meta Quest headset · Livox LiDAR scanner
The laboratory operates under an ISO 9001:2015 certified quality management system, and its head is a recognised Tecnico Competente in Acustica Ambientale (Regione Lombardia, national ENTECA register). All instruments are Class 1 and periodically calibrated by an accredited calibration centre.