How building technology in Italy and Spain can be improved after the experience of COST Action TU0901 and the discussion on going on the new descriptors

COST Action TU0901 ended at the beginning of 2014 with the involvement of many European Countries. The materials collected during the project and the content of the e-book [1] open up very interesting discussions on the potential effects on each single country. Partitions typically used in southern European countries are quite different from those built in northern countries because of their greater surface mass. This can have an important influence on their acoustic performance when evaluated also at lower frequencies, where light partitions usually show a drop in insulation. The aim of the paper is also to discuss the effect of the introduction of new descriptors described by ISO CD 16717-1 on building acoustics. Considering that during the last meeting of the ISO TC 43/SC2 held in Berlin, the agreement to stop the development of ISO 16717, parts 1 and 2, was taken, might give the impression that the topic is no longer relevant. However, as also stated by ISO TC 43/SC2, there is a need for more research in the area of low frequency sound insulation and therefore any experience with new descriptors which take into account the evaluation of acoustic performance of partitions from 50 Hz is relevant. Therefore, the paper focuses on the application of classical and new descriptors measured on a number of partitions in real buildings in Italy and Spain and on the possible changes in the technology to improve the results. Moreover, the article points out possible consequences of the application of a new classification scheme for dwellings proposed by COST Action TU0901 and by Technical Committee 43 - SC 2 of ISO to typical building technologies in Italy and Spain