SV 977D sound and vibration meter
All-in-one solution for building acoustics measurements
The SV 977D from Svantek is a powerful class 1 sound and vibration meter, designed specifically for applications in building acoustics, environmental noise and workplace measurements. Thanks to its wide measuring range, optional STIPA and RT60 functionality and real-time octave analysis, this instrument is extremely well suited to sound insulation surveys, reverberation time measurements and speech intelligibility tests in accordance with ISO 16283, for example.
Professional Building Acoustics Measurement – Sales & Rental
In a building where different activities come together, such as living, working, education and relaxation, good building acoustics determine comfort and calm. But what exactly does building acoustics involve? Which rules apply? And how can you measure (building) acoustics reliably and effectively?
At Basystemen we believe that making well-informed choices starts with the right knowledge. That is why we share clear, practical insight here into:
- What building acoustics involves and why it is so important for every building user
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The current regulations and standards, so you always know where you stand
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The measuring instruments that are suitable for accurately measuring (building) acoustics, so that you make the right decisions based on reliable data
What does Dutch law say?
In the Netherlands there are rules to prevent noise nuisance in buildings. These rules ensure that you can live or work in peace in a home, classroom or office, without too much disturbance from sound coming from other rooms or from outside. The rules are set out in the Environment and Buildings Decree (Bbl) and refer to NEN 5077 (for sound insulation).
What does that building acoustics legislation mean, put simply?
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Walls and floors must block sound well, so that sound does not simply travel through the building.
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In corridors and halls, enough sound must be “absorbed” to prevent reverberation.
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Clear dB values have been laid down for airborne sound and impact sound between rooms.
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There are rules for temporary buildings too, but these are somewhat more lenient.
If you are building or renovating, it is important to take these requirements into account as early as the design stage and to measure (building) acoustics on completion.
Would you like to know exactly what the law says? Then you can consult:
- Environment and Buildings Decree – § 4.3.3. Limitation of reverberation: articles 4.111 to 4.116
The Building Decree only sets the acoustic requirements. Measuring and calculating acoustics must be carried out in accordance with:
Measuring reverberation: indispensable in building acoustics
Sometimes a room does not feel pleasant without you immediately knowing why. It sounds hollow, it is hard to understand one another, or it seems as if every sound keeps ringing around. There is a good chance that the reverberation time in that room is too long.
The reverberation time is the time sound needs to die away after the sound has stopped. In simple terms: how long it keeps “echoing” in a room. And that has far more influence than you might think. In classrooms and meeting rooms, too much reverberation means people cannot understand each other properly. In a day nursery it can cause restlessness. And in care institutions or offices it makes the space tiring to spend time in.
That is why measuring reverberation is an important part of every good building acoustics survey and a key pillar of acoustic measurement. By mapping the reverberation time you can determine precisely whether a room meets the standards, and whether it sounds and feels pleasant for users.
With modern measuring equipment you can do this quickly and accurately. And on the basis of those measurements you can easily determine whether acoustic adjustments are needed, such as fitting sound-absorbing panels or ceiling systems.
➜ In our blog about measuring reverberation we explain step by step how such a measurement works, what the standards are, and how you can use it to greatly improve the acoustics in your building.
Measuring speech intelligibility: for spaces where communication is central
In many buildings, being able to communicate well is very important. Think of classrooms, meeting rooms, hospitals, waiting areas, reception desks or sports halls. In all those situations you have to be able to understand each other clearly: without having to concentrate extremely hard to follow what someone is saying. Measuring acoustics helps with that.
The acoustics in a room have an enormous influence on speech intelligibility. It is not only about the volume of someone's voice, but above all about how clearly and distinctly that voice comes across to the other person. Reverberation, background noise and the shape or finish of a room can all disturb this.
With a speech intelligibility measurement (often carried out using the STIPA method) you get a clear score for how well speech is transmitted in a room. That score helps in assessing the room, for example in a school building, care institution or public building where minimum legal requirements have to be met.
With modern equipment for measuring (building) acoustics, speech intelligibility is often included. That way you know exactly where you stand and whether adjustments are needed, such as extra absorption material, different ceiling systems or adjusting the sound level of ambient sources.
➜ Curious what such a measurement looks like or what counts as a good score? Read all about it in our blog about measuring speech intelligibility.
Measuring building acoustics yourself? Here is what you need:
The Svantek SV 977D is a versatile sound and vibration meter that fits well with all kinds of building acoustics measurements. Think of measuring sound insulation, reverberation time or speech intelligibility in buildings. Thanks to its high accuracy and wide measuring range, you can use the instrument both in quiet environments and in situations with higher sound levels.
What makes this meter special is that it is suitable for several applications at once. With the same instrument you can measure airborne sound, but also measure vibration if you connect it to a vibration sensor. It also supports functions such as STIPA (speech intelligibility) and RT60 (reverberation time), which makes it suitable for schools, care institutions or offices, for example.
The Svantek SV 971A is a compact and user-friendly class 1 sound level meter that is highly suitable for building acoustics measurements. With its high accuracy and wide frequency range, you can use this meter to measure sound levels in and around buildings, for example, or to assess background noise and disturbing sources.
Thanks to its simple operation and lightweight design, the SV 971A is ideal for everyday measurements, such as sound insulation surveys or recording environmental noise during a construction project. It supports handy functions such as real-time frequency analysis, RT60 (reverberation time) and STIPA (speech intelligibility), which makes it broadly deployable. Please note, the SV 971A measures sound only and not vibration, unlike the SV 977D.
Who is this equipment suitable for?
- Noise consultants and acoustic advisers
- Environmental scientists and environmental experts
- Construction companies and architects
- Occupational safety professionals
Request more information about our building acoustics measuring equipment
Wondering which measuring instruments best suit your building acoustics survey? Whether you want to measure reverberation, assess speech intelligibility or test sound insulation, we are happy to help you with reliable and user-friendly equipment.
At Basystemen we think along with you and make it as easy as possible to get started. You can buy or rent our equipment, exactly as it suits your project.
📞 Need advice right away? Call us on +31 50 571 2124 or fill in the contact form below. One of our experts will be glad to help you further with personal advice or a quote without obligation.
