What is BS EN 16272-6 - Railway sound barrier testing about?  
Rail traffic noise is one of the main causes of environmental pollution generated by the railway system. One solution is noise barriers that block the direct path of sound waves from surrounding areas.
BS EN 16272-6 covers technical specifications for the determination of airborne sound insulation under direct sound field conditions in noise barriers, ensuring barrier performance and noise reduction in railway applications.
BS EN 16272-6 is the sixth part of the ‘noise barriers for railway applications – test methods’ multi-series that describes a test method for measuring the acoustic performance of sound barriers. The test measurement uses a quantity representative of the intrinsic characteristics of airborne sound insulation for railway noise barriers: the sound insulation index.
The test method is intended for the following applications:
- Determination of the intrinsic characteristics of airborne sound insulation of noise barriers to be installed along railways, to be measured either on typical installations alongside railways or on a relevant sample section
- Determination of the in situ intrinsic characteristics of airborne sound insulation of noise barriers in actual use
- Comparison of design specifications with actual performance data after the completion of the construction work
- Verification of the long-term performance of noise barriers (with a repeated application of the method)
- Interactive design process of new products, including the formulation of installation manuals
Note: The test method is not intended for the following applications:
- Determination of the intrinsic characteristics of airborne sound insulation of noise barriers to be installed in reverberant conditions, e.g., inside tunnels or deep trenches or under covers
Who is BS EN 16272-6 - Railway sound barrier testing for? 
BS EN 16272-6 on railway sound barrier testing is relevant to manufacturers and suppliers noise barriers to the railway authorities for installation. BS EN 16272-6 is specifically useful to their design and product innovation teams for testing the effectiveness of new products that they design. BS EN 16272-6 is useful for:
- Manufacturers and suppliers of noise barriers
- Product development/innovation teams
- Quality control teams
- Contractors, construction, and civil engineers
- Railway maintenance authorities
- Health and safety inspection authorities
- Mechanical engineers
Why should you use BS EN 16272-6 - Railway sound barrier testing?  
Noise barriers installed along railways need to provide adequate sound insulation so that sound transmitted directly through the device is not significant compared to the sound diffracted over the top. BS EN 16272-6 specifies a test method for assessing the airborne sound insulation performance of noise barriers and related devices acting on airborne sound propagation designed for railways in non-reverberant conditions (a measure of intrinsic performance). The test is most effective when applied in situ, i.e., where the noise barriers are installed. The method can be applied without damaging the surface.
The test method described in BS EN 16272-6 can be used to qualify products to be installed along railways as well as to verify the compliance of installed noise barriers to design specifications. Regular application of the method can be used to verify the long-term performance of noise barriers.
The method requires the averaging of results of measurements taken at different points behind the device under test. The method is able to investigate flat and non-flat products.
For the purpose of BS EN 16272-6, reverberant conditions are defined based on the geometric envelope, e, across the rail formed by the barriers, trench sides, or buildings.
BS EN 16272-6 introduces a specific quantity, called sound insulation index, to define the airborne sound insulation of a noise barrier. This method may be used to qualify noise barriers for other applications, e.g. to be installed along roads or nearby industrial sites.
Effective noise barriers contribute to the quality of life by mitigating hearing loss risks for those living or working around railway tracks. The adoption of BS EN 16272-6 helps to minimize risk to adjacent premises, or to rail users in confined corridors, ensuring the quality, performance, and longevity of noise barriers and related devices in railway applications. 
