European standard EN 15657, which specifies methods for measuring the structure-borne sound characteristics of building service equipment, has recently been revised in order to include equipment installed in lightweight constructions. According to the new standard, the source characteristics (i.e. equivalent blocked force, free velocity and mobility) can be measured in the laboratory by means of direct or indirect methods. Alternatively, the standard also allows an on-site characterization by means of a power substitution method. The measured characteristics can then be used as input data in the EN 12354-5 prediction model (also under revision) to obtain the sound pressure level in any building situation. This study aims at predicting the structure-borne sound produced in situ by a motorized garage door. Since the equipment dimensions are too large to allow its installation on the laboratory test rig specified in the standard, the on-site characterization method is applied. The garage door being connected to three different building elements, three source characteristics are determined. This set of data is then used to estimate the equipment noise level in a room located above the garage, according to EN 12354-5. Experimental and predicted results are presented and discussed.
