What is ISO 13472‑1 - Sound absorption properties of road surfaces about?  
Noise pollution from road traffic is one of the most harmful environmental stressors in Europe. ISO 13472‑1 discusses the sound absorption properties of road surfaces in situ.
ISO 13472‑1 is the first part of the ISO 13472 multi-series and describes a test method for measuring in situ the sound absorption coefficient of road surfaces as a function of frequency in the range from 250 Hz to 4 kHz.
Normal incidence is assumed. However, the test method can be applied at oblique incidence although with some limitations. The test method is intended for the following applications:
- Determination of the sound absorption properties of road surfaces in actual use
- Comparison of sound absorption design specifications of road surfaces with actual performance data of the surface after completion of the construction work
The complex reflection factor can also be determined by this method.
Who is ISO 13472‑1 - Sound absorption properties of road surfaces for? 
ISO 13472‑1 on sound absorption properties of road surfaces is useful for: 
- Relevant municipal / government authorities
- Roadway/highway authorities
- Project managers
- Builders
- Construction companies
- Civil engineers
- Acoustic engineers
Why should you use ISO 13472‑1 - Sound absorption properties of road surfaces?  
Acoustics is the science concerned with the production, control, transmission, reception, and effects of sound.
ISO 13472‑1 describes a test method for measuring, in situ, the sound absorption coefficient of road surfaces as a function of frequency under normal incidence.
This method provides a means of evaluating the sound absorption characteristics of a road surface without damaging the surface. ISO 13472‑1 is intended to be used during road construction, road maintenance, and other traffic noise studies. ISO 13472‑1 may also be used to qualify the absorption characteristics of road surfaces used for vehicle and tyre testing.
This method is based on free-field propagation of the test signal from the source to the road surface and back to the receiver.
ISO 13472‑1 contributes towards efforts for reduction of noise pollution, and improving quality of life in that aspect.
What’s changed since the last update?
BS ISO 13472‑1:2022 supersedes BS ISO 13472‑1:2002, which is withdrawn. BS ISO 13472‑1:2022 includes some technical changes with respect to BS ISO 13472‑1:2002. These include: 
- Reference to ISO 18233 has been added, in order to have a standardized description of MLS and ESS signals. Two references on ESS have been added to the Bibliography
- Requirements of precision of ±0,005 m on the source-microphone distance have been released to ±0,01 m due to the correcting capability offered by the accurate alignment procedure in the new Annex F
- A procedure, taken from ISO 11819‑2, to check the road surface dryness has been specified in 8.1
- Specifications of the time window have been improved
- Former Annex G on correction of small-time shifts has been replaced with the new Annex F, specifying an accurate alignment procedure; Annex F is now normative
