building.regulation.spain

Spanish building code CTE DB-HR: global indices and requirement checks.

The Documento Basico HR Proteccion frente al ruido of the Spanish Codigo Tecnico de la Edificacion states its requirements in A-weighted global quantities that are close relatives of, but not identical to, the ISO 717-1 weighted ratings: RA, RA,tr, DnT,A and D2m,nT,Atr.

The global index (Annex A, Formulae (A.5) to (A.7)). Instead of shifting a reference curve, DB-HR weights the measured one-third-octave insulation with a normalised A-weighted source spectrum and sums it energetically:

$$I_x=-10{\log }_{10}\sum _{i}10^{(L_{x,i}-X_i)/10}[\mathrm{dBA}]$$

where X_i is the band insulation (R, R', DnT, D2m,nT …) and L_x,i the normalised spectrum of the source. The sum runs over the eighteen one-third-octave bands 100 Hz to 5 kHz, two more than ISO 717-1’s sixteen: the 4 kHz and 5 kHz bands.

Which quantity a facade is assessed in (clause 3.1.3.4 point 1). The name of the global quantity depends on the dominant outdoor noise, and it is not a free choice:

• dominant railway noise (or railway stations) is assessed as D2m,nT,A through Formula (A.5), using the Table A.4 railway spectrum;
• dominant road traffic or aircraft noise is assessed as D2m,nT,Atr through Formula (A.6), using the Table A.3 road-traffic or the Table A.2 aircraft spectrum.

Table H.1 prints the same split. The railway spectrum of Table A.4 happens to be numerically identical to the road-traffic spectrum of Table A.3, so the two routes give the same number for a rail-dominant site; the name of the reported quantity still differs, which is why d2m_nt_a and d2m_nt_atr are separate entry points rather than one function with a spectrum switch.

Relationship with the ISO 717-1 route. DB-HR Annex H accepts DnT,w + C as an approximation of DnT,A (H.1), D2m,nT,w + C of D2m,nT,A for trains (H.2) and D2m,nT,w + Ctr of D2m,nT,Atr for road traffic (H.3), valid while the two routes differ by less than 1 dB. Annex H writes those terms as plain C and Ctr and refers their definition to UNE-EN ISO 717-1 without narrowing the frequency range; the reading that they must be the enlarged-range terms C100-5000 and Ctr,100-5000, because the DB-HR indices run to 5 kHz while the ISO 717-1 core range stops at 3150 Hz, is the one the Spanish literature makes explicit (Aviles Lopez & Perera Martin, note to expressions [7.15] and [7.16]). The library keeps both routes: this module implements the direct Formula (A.5)-(A.7) route, which is the normative one for DB-HR, and weighted_rating_extended supplies the ISO 717-1 route with the enlarged-range adaptation terms.

Rounding. DB-HR 3.1.3.1 point 4 requires the final values of the quantities that define the requirements to be expressed rounded to an integer, while intermediate values carry one decimal. The result objects therefore expose the exact value, the one-decimal intermediate and the integer used in the compliance check.

Requirements (Clause 2). Airborne insulation between rooms and against the outside (Table 2.1, keyed on the day noise index Ld of the site), impact sound pressure level, and reverberation time in classrooms, conference halls, dining rooms and restaurants.

Window size (Catalogo de Elementos Constructivos). Windows are tested on about 1,8 m2 specimens; larger windows insulate less, and the CEC corrects RA and RA,tr by 0 to -3 dB by total window area.

Note

"sanitary" does not mean the same thing here as in phonometry.environment.assessment.spain. In Table 2.1 of DB-HR it is the non-hospital ambulatory health use of footnote (1) (medical practices, consulting rooms), deliberately distinct from "hospital"; in the RD 1367/2007 tables it is the hospitalario use itself. Both names reach the top-level phonometry namespace.

Auto-generated from the source docstrings by scripts/generate_api_docs.py (make api-docs). Do not edit by hand.

assess_db_hr

assess_db_hr(
    items: Sequence[tuple[float, DbHrRequirement]],
) -> DbHrAssessment

Check a set of achieved values against their DB-HR requirements.

Parameters

Name	Description
items	(value, requirement) pairs.

Returns: A DbHrAssessment.

Raises

Exception	When
ValueError	If items is empty or a value is not finite.

check_db_hr_requirement

check_db_hr_requirement(
    value: float,
    requirement: DbHrRequirement,
) -> DbHrCheck

Check an achieved value against a DB-HR requirement.

The achieved value is first rounded as DB-HR prescribes for the quantity (an integer for the dB quantities that define the requirements, one decimal for a reverberation time), and the rounded value is compared with the limit.

Parameters

Name	Description
value	The achieved value, in the requirement’s unit.
requirement	The DbHrRequirement to check against.

Returns: A DbHrCheck.

Raises

Exception	When
ValueError	If value is not finite.

d2m_nt_a

d2m_nt_a(
    level_difference: Sequence[float] | np.ndarray,
    *,
    frequencies: Sequence[float] | np.ndarray | None = None,
    spectrum: str = 'pink',
) -> DbHrGlobalIndexResult

A-weighted facade level difference D2m,nT,A (Formula (A.5)).

The pink-noise global quantity of a facade, a roof or a floor in contact with the outside air. Clause 3.1.3.4 point 1 makes this the quantity a railway-dominant site is assessed in, evaluated through Formula (A.5) with the Table A.4 railway spectrum; Table H.1 prints the same split and Annex H (H.2) gives D2m,nT,w + C as its ISO 717-1 approximation.

For a road-traffic or aircraft dominant site the quantity is D2m,nT,Atr instead: use d2m_nt_atr.

Parameters

Name	Description
level_difference	Band standardized facade level difference D2m,nT, in dB.
frequencies	Band centre frequencies, in Hz (optional).
spectrum	"pink" (default, Table A.5) or "railway" (Table A.4), per the dominant outdoor noise.

Returns: A DbHrGlobalIndexResult named "D2m,nT,A".

Raises

Exception	When
ValueError	For a spectrum Formula (A.5) does not cover.

d2m_nt_atr

d2m_nt_atr(
    level_difference: Sequence[float] | np.ndarray,
    *,
    frequencies: Sequence[float] | np.ndarray | None = None,
    spectrum: str = 'traffic',
) -> DbHrGlobalIndexResult

A-weighted facade level difference D2m,nT,Atr (Formula (A.6)).

The road-traffic global quantity of a facade, a roof or a floor in contact with the outside air. Clause 3.1.3.4 point 1 makes this the quantity a road-traffic or aircraft dominant site is assessed in, the aircraft case evaluated through the same Formula (A.6) with the Table A.2 aircraft spectrum.

A railway-dominant site is assessed as D2m,nT,A through Formula (A.5) instead: use d2m_nt_a. The railway spectrum of Table A.4 is numerically identical to the road-traffic spectrum of Table A.3, so the two give the same number, but the quantity that the requirement and the report are stated in is not the same.

Parameters

Name	Description
level_difference	Band standardized facade level difference D2m,nT, in dB.
frequencies	Band centre frequencies, in Hz (optional).
spectrum	"traffic" (default, Table A.3) or "aircraft" (Table A.2), per the dominant outdoor noise.

Returns: A DbHrGlobalIndexResult named _D2M_NT_ATR.

Raises

Exception	When
ValueError	For a spectrum Formula (A.6) does not cover.

db_hr_airborne_requirement

db_hr_airborne_requirement(
    receiving_room: str,
    source_room: str,
    *,
    shared_opening: bool = False,
) -> tuple[DbHrRequirement, ...]

Airborne insulation requirements between two rooms (DB-HR 2.1.1).

A protected room is a habitable room of special protection (bedrooms, living areas, classrooms, reading rooms, offices); a habitable room is any other occupied room. The source can be another room of the same use unit ("same_unit", which puts the requirement on the partition RA), a room of a different use unit ("other_unit"), or a services or activity room ("installations" / "activity").

When the two rooms share a door or window the DB-HR replaces the level-difference requirement with a pair of RA requirements on the opening and on the surrounding enclosure; shared_opening=True returns those instead.

Parameters

Name	Description
receiving_room	"protected" or "habitable".
source_room	"same_unit", "other_unit", "installations" or "activity".
shared_opening	The two rooms share a door or window.

Returns: A tuple of DbHrRequirement, of length one in the general case and two when shared_opening applies.

Raises

Exception	When
ValueError	For an unknown combination, or for shared_opening in a case DB-HR does not contemplate (a protected room against a services or activity room, and any "same_unit" case).

db_hr_facade_requirement

db_hr_facade_requirement(
    ld: float,
    building_use: str,
    room_type: str,
    *,
    dominant_noise: str = 'road',
    quiet_facade: bool = False,
) -> DbHrRequirement

Required facade insulation D2m,nT,Atr (DB-HR Table 2.1).

The requirement is keyed on the day noise index Ld of the site (Annex I of RD 1513/2005) and on the building use and room type. Two rules modify it: a facade not directly exposed to the dominant noise (an enclosed courtyard, a quiet surrounding) is assessed with Ld reduced by 10 dBA, and where aircraft noise dominates the table value is increased by 4 dBA.

When no official Ld is available, DB-HR prescribes 60 dBA for residential acoustic areas.

Parameters

Name	Description
ld	Day noise index Ld of the site, in dBA.
building_use	"residential", "hospital", "cultural", "sanitary" (non-hospital health premises), "educational" or "administrative".
room_type	"bedrooms", "living" (living areas) or "classrooms", per the columns of Table 2.1.
dominant_noise	"road" (default), "railway" or "aircraft". This selects the quantity the requirement is stated in as well as the aircraft increment: "railway" gives a D2m,nT,A requirement (Formula (A.5)) and the other two a D2m,nT,Atr one (Formula (A.6)), per clause 3.1.3.4 point 1.
quiet_facade	Assess with Ld reduced by 10 dBA.

Returns: The DbHrRequirement, on D2m,nT,Atr or, for a railway-dominant site, on D2m,nT,A.

Raises

Exception	When
ValueError	For an unknown use/room combination, an unknown dominant noise, or a non-finite Ld.

DB_HR_FREQUENCIES

Constant (tuple).

DB_HR_FREQUENCIES = (100.0, 125.0, 160.0, 200.0, 250.0, 315.0, 400.0, 500.0, 630.0, 800.0, 1000.0, 1250.0, 1600.0, 2000.0, 2500.0, 3150.0, 4000.0, 5000.0)

db_hr_global_index

db_hr_global_index(
    band_values: Sequence[float] | np.ndarray,
    spectrum: str = 'pink',
    *,
    frequencies: Sequence[float] | np.ndarray | None = None,
    name: str | None = None,
) -> DbHrGlobalIndexResult

A-weighted global insulation index per DB-HR Annex A.

$I_x=-10{\log }_{10}{\sum }_{i}10^{(L_{x,i}-X_i)/10}$ over the eighteen one-third-octave bands 100 Hz to 5 kHz (Formulae (A.5) to (A.7)).

Parameters

Name	Description
band_values	The band insulation X_i, in dB. Either exactly the eighteen DB-HR bands, or a longer spectrum together with frequencies, from which the eighteen bands are selected.
spectrum	Normalised spectrum key: "pink" (default), "traffic", "railway" or "aircraft".
frequencies	Band centre frequencies, in Hz, one per value. None assumes exactly the eighteen DB-HR bands in order.
name	Optional index name carried on the result (e.g. "R'A").

Returns: A DbHrGlobalIndexResult.

Raises

Exception	When
ValueError	For an unknown spectrum, a wrong band count, or non-finite values.

db_hr_impact_requirement

db_hr_impact_requirement(
    receiving_room: str,
    source_room: str,
) -> DbHrRequirement

Impact sound requirement L'nT,w (DB-HR 2.1.2).

The standardized impact sound pressure level in a protected room adjacent to a room of another use unit must not exceed 65 dB; against a services or activity room the limit is 60 dB, and 60 dB also applies to a habitable room against those. The requirement does not apply to a protected room horizontally adjacent to a staircase.

Parameters

Name	Description
receiving_room	"protected" or "habitable".
source_room	"other_unit", "installations" or "activity".

Returns: The DbHrRequirement on L'nT,w.

Raises

Exception	When
ValueError	For a combination DB-HR states no impact limit for.

DB_HR_NORMALISED_SPECTRA

Constant (mappingproxy).

DB_HR_NORMALISED_SPECTRA = {'pink': (-30.1, -27.1, -24.4, -21.9, -19.6, -17.6, -15.8, -14.2, -12.9, -11.8, -11.0, -10.4, -10.0, -9.8, -9.7, -9.8, -10.0, -10.5), 'traffic': (-20.0, -20.0, -18.0, -16.0, -15.0, -14.0, -13.0, -12.0, -11.0, -9.0, -8.0, -9.0, -10.0, -11.0, -13.0, -15.0, -16.0, -18.0), 'railway': (-20.0, -20.0, -18.0, -16.0, -15.0, -14.0, -13.0, -12.0, -11.0, -9.0, -8.0, -9.0, -10.0, -11.0, -13.0, -15.0, -16.0, -18.0), 'aircraft': (-23.8, -20.2, -15.4, -13.1, -12.6, -10.4, -9.8, -9.5, -8.7, -9.5, -10.5, -11.0, -12.5, -14.9, -15.9, -18.6, -23.3, -29.9)}

db_hr_party_wall_requirement

db_hr_party_wall_requirement(
    quantity: str = 'D2m,nT,Atr',
) -> DbHrRequirement

Airborne requirement on a party wall between two buildings (DB-HR 2.1.1 c).

For a habitable or protected room against a medianeria, DB-HR offers two alternative routes: either each of the two enclosing leaves reaches D2m,nT,Atr of at least 40 dBA, or the two leaves taken together reach DnT,A of at least 50 dBA. They are alternatives, not cumulative requirements, so this function returns the one route asked for.

Parameters

Name	Description
quantity	_D2M_NT_ATR (default, the per-leaf route) or _DNT_A (the combined route).

Returns: The DbHrRequirement of the chosen route.

Raises

Exception	When
ValueError	For an unknown quantity.

db_hr_reverberation_requirement

db_hr_reverberation_requirement(
    room_use: str,
    *,
    furnished: bool = False,
) -> DbHrRequirement

Reverberation or absorption requirement (DB-HR 2.2).

Classrooms and conference halls under 350 m3 must not exceed 0,7 s empty (0,5 s with the seating installed); restaurants and dining rooms 0,9 s. Common areas of residential-public, educational and hospital buildings that share doors with protected rooms must provide an equivalent absorption area of at least 0,2 m2 per cubic metre of room volume.

Parameters

Name	Description
room_use	"classroom" (or "conference_hall"), "restaurant" (or "dining_room") or "common_area".
furnished	For a classroom or conference hall, include the seating (the 0,5 s limit).

Returns: The DbHrRequirement.

Raises

Exception	When
ValueError	For an unknown room use.

DbHrAssessment

DbHrAssessment(checks: tuple[DbHrCheck, ...])

A set of DB-HR requirement checks.

Attributes

Name	Description
checks	The individual DbHrCheck results.

DbHrAssessment.complies

property

Whether every check is met.

DbHrAssessment.plot()

DbHrAssessment.plot(
    ax: Axes | None = None,
    *,
    language: str = 'en',
    **kwargs: Any,
) -> Axes

Plot the achieved values against their DB-HR limits.

DbHrCheck

DbHrCheck(
    requirement: DbHrRequirement,
    value: float,
    reported: float,
    margin: float,
    complies: bool,
)

A DB-HR requirement checked against an achieved value.

Attributes

Name	Description
requirement	The DbHrRequirement checked.
value	The achieved value, unrounded.
reported	The achieved value rounded as DB-HR prescribes.
margin	reported - limit for a "min" requirement and limit - reported for a "max" one; non-negative when compliant.
complies	Whether the requirement is met.

DbHrGlobalIndexResult

DbHrGlobalIndexResult(
    value: float,
    intermediate: float,
    reported: int,
    name: str,
    spectrum: str,
    frequencies: np.ndarray,
    band_values: np.ndarray,
    spectrum_levels: np.ndarray,
    band_contributions: np.ndarray,
    reference: str,
)

A DB-HR A-weighted global insulation index.

Attributes

Name	Description
value	The index, in dBA, unrounded.
intermediate	The index rounded to one decimal, the form DB-HR prescribes for intermediate quantities and for product specifications.
reported	The index rounded to an integer, the form DB-HR requires for the quantities that define the requirements (3.1.3.1 point 4).
name	The index name, e.g. "RA" or _D2M_NT_ATR.
spectrum	Key of the normalised spectrum used.
frequencies	Band centre frequencies, in Hz.
band_values	The band insulation values X_i, in dB.
spectrum_levels	The normalised spectrum L_x,i, in dBA.
band_contributions	Per-band transmitted level L_x,i - X_i, in dBA; the index is minus their energy sum.
reference	The DB-HR Annex A table the normalised spectrum was read from.

DbHrGlobalIndexResult.plot()

DbHrGlobalIndexResult.plot(
    ax: Axes | None = None,
    *,
    language: str = 'en',
    **kwargs: Any,
) -> Axes

Plot the band insulation with the weighted per-band contributions.

DbHrRequirement

DbHrRequirement(
    quantity: str,
    limit: float,
    direction: str,
    unit: str,
    decimals: int,
    reference: str,
    description: str,
)

A single DB-HR performance requirement.

Attributes

Name	Description
quantity	The quantity the requirement is stated in, e.g. _DNT_A, "L'nT,w", "RA", "T" or "A/V".
limit	The limit value, in the quantity’s own unit.
direction	"min" when the quantity must be at least the limit, "max" when it must be at most the limit.
unit	The unit the limit is expressed in.
decimals	Decimal places the achieved value is rounded to before the comparison (DB-HR 3.1.3.1 point 4 for the dB quantities, 3.2.1 for the reverberation time).
reference	The DB-HR clause the requirement comes from.
description	The case it applies to, in plain words.

dnt_a

dnt_a(
    level_difference: Sequence[float] | np.ndarray,
    *,
    frequencies: Sequence[float] | np.ndarray | None = None,
) -> DbHrGlobalIndexResult

A-weighted standardized level difference DnT,A (Formula (A.7)).

Parameters

Name	Description
level_difference	Band standardized level difference DnT, in dB.
frequencies	Band centre frequencies, in Hz (optional).

Returns: A DbHrGlobalIndexResult named _DNT_A.

ra

ra(
    reduction_index: Sequence[float] | np.ndarray,
    *,
    frequencies: Sequence[float] | np.ndarray | None = None,
) -> DbHrGlobalIndexResult

A-weighted global sound reduction index RA for pink noise.

Parameters

Name	Description
reduction_index	Band sound reduction index R (or R'), in dB.
frequencies	Band centre frequencies, in Hz (optional).

Returns: A DbHrGlobalIndexResult named "RA".

ra_tr

ra_tr(
    reduction_index: Sequence[float] | np.ndarray,
    *,
    frequencies: Sequence[float] | np.ndarray | None = None,
) -> DbHrGlobalIndexResult

A-weighted global sound reduction index RA,tr for road-traffic noise.

Parameters

Name	Description
reduction_index	Band sound reduction index R (or R'), in dB.
frequencies	Band centre frequencies, in Hz (optional).

Returns: A DbHrGlobalIndexResult named "RA,tr".

window_size_correction

window_size_correction(area: float) -> int

Window-size correction of RA / RA,tr, in dB (CTE CEC).

Windows are tested on specimens of about 1,8 m2; a larger window insulates less. The Catalogo de Elementos Constructivos of the CTE corrects the catalogue value by 0 dB up to 2,7 m2, -1 dB over 2,7 to 3,6 m2, -2 dB over 3,6 to 4,6 m2 and -3 dB above 4,6 m2.

Parameters

Name	Description
area	Total window area, in m2 (positive).

Returns: The correction, in dB (0, -1, -2 or -3), to be added to the catalogue RA or RA,tr.

Raises

Exception	When
ValueError	If area is not positive and finite.