What is PD CEN/TS 16272-5 - 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. PD CEN/TS 16272-5 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.
PD CEN/TS 16272-5 is the fifth part of the acoustic performance test methods multi-series for railway track applications. PD CEN/TS 16272-5 describes a test method for measuring a quantity representative of the intrinsic characteristics of sound reflection from railway noise barriers: the reflection index.
The test method is intended for the following applications:
- Determination of the intrinsic characteristics of sound reflection 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 sound reflection of noise barriers and claddings 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 and claddings (with a repeated application of the method)
Results are expressed as a function of frequency, in one-third octave bands between 100 Hz and 5 kHz.
Note 1: The test method is not intended for determination of the intrinsic characteristics of sound reflection of noise-reducing devices to be installed in reverberant conditions, e.g. inside tunnels or deep trenches.
Note 2: All noise reducing devices different from noise barriers and related devices acting on airborne sound propagation, e.g., devices for attenuation of ground-borne vibration and onboard devices are out of the scope of PD CEN/TS 16272-5.
Who is PD CEN/TS 16272-5 - railway sound barrier testing for?
PD CEN/TS 16272-5 on railway sound barrier testing is relevant to manufacturers and suppliers of noise barriers to the railway authorities for installation. PD CEN/TS 16272-5 is specifically useful to their design and product innovation teams for testing the effectiveness of new products that they design. PD CEN/TS 16272-5 is useful for:
- Manufacturers and suppliers of noise barriers
- Product development / innovation teams
- Quality control teams
- Contractors
- Construction / civil engineers
- Railway maintenance authorities
- Health and safety inspection authorities
- Mechanical engineers
Why should you use PD CEN/TS 16272-5 - 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.
PD CEN/TS 16272-5 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. 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.
For the purpose of PD CEN/TS 16272-5, reverberant conditions are defined based on the geometric envelope, i.e., across the rail formed by the barriers, trench sides, or buildings.
PD CEN/TS 16272-5 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.
The test method described in PD CEN/TS 16272-5 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 adoption of PD CEN/TS 16272-5 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.  Effective noise barriers contribute to quality of life by mitigating hearing loss risks for those living or working around railway tracks.
