ManuelRauber
2020-11-03 11:08:22
- #1
Hello!
I have to admit that this is not about construction, but rather about understanding/questioning an existing ventilation system. I hope someone can give me the right tips or search terms to find further information. The situation is as follows:
We, as tenants, moved into a multi-family house as first occupants. Each apartment has its own separate Helios continuous ventilation system (I can gladly find more detailed information if this is relevant to my request) in the bathroom for the exhaust air to prevent mold. In my opinion, however, I find this system quite loud/humming during normal operation. That the system runs at full power (about 46 dB) in "performance mode" (i.e., during/after showering) and is louder is understandable, since the moisture must be removed.
During normal operation, the system has a noise level of about 41.6 dB, measured 2.2 m line of sight inside the bathroom (see attachment). The craftsman who was at my place through my remark to the construction management told me that according to the standard (which one, unfortunately I don’t know, and he couldn’t tell me either) you are supposed to measure at a distance of 1.5 m and the system should not exceed 37 dB in normal operation. That would currently be the case.
Now, today someone from Helios was in the house, and this gentleman told me that I should not measure in the bathroom but in the room where I subjectively find it too loud. So I measured opposite, in the bedroom, with the bathroom and bedroom doors closed, and got a value of about 26 dB, which of course is within the standard again. Nevertheless, in the evening you can hear the annoying underlying humming/buzzing of the system. According to the standard, this is okay, so apparently the builder does not have to take any action here. (We are not the only ones in the house of 12 units who have complained about the noise of the system so far) Unfortunately, I am quite sensitive to sounds, so I really haven’t been sleeping well since moving in a month ago because I constantly hear this humming.
In the attachment, I also have a log of the measurement data, recorded over about 5 hours with nearly 100,000 data points. The outliers are leaving and entering the bathroom (once also in the middle to see if everything is being recorded). The reference line shows 37 dB. However, the recordings took place in the bathroom and not outside.
I hope, since I am an absolute layman and only a tenant, not the builder, that someone can give me a few valid data and statements on this topic. I tried to find the standard myself, but there are many, maybe I am just missing the correct terms.
My questions therefore are:
a) Where do I really have to measure to get reliable results?
b) Which standards must be complied with here and when does the builder have to take action?
c) If everything is correct, what options would I have to reduce the humming in the bedroom? (Material for the door for better sound insulation?)
I would be happy if someone here has more information and shares it with me.
If I can provide further information to better assess the situation, please let me know.
Thank you!
I have to admit that this is not about construction, but rather about understanding/questioning an existing ventilation system. I hope someone can give me the right tips or search terms to find further information. The situation is as follows:
We, as tenants, moved into a multi-family house as first occupants. Each apartment has its own separate Helios continuous ventilation system (I can gladly find more detailed information if this is relevant to my request) in the bathroom for the exhaust air to prevent mold. In my opinion, however, I find this system quite loud/humming during normal operation. That the system runs at full power (about 46 dB) in "performance mode" (i.e., during/after showering) and is louder is understandable, since the moisture must be removed.
During normal operation, the system has a noise level of about 41.6 dB, measured 2.2 m line of sight inside the bathroom (see attachment). The craftsman who was at my place through my remark to the construction management told me that according to the standard (which one, unfortunately I don’t know, and he couldn’t tell me either) you are supposed to measure at a distance of 1.5 m and the system should not exceed 37 dB in normal operation. That would currently be the case.
Now, today someone from Helios was in the house, and this gentleman told me that I should not measure in the bathroom but in the room where I subjectively find it too loud. So I measured opposite, in the bedroom, with the bathroom and bedroom doors closed, and got a value of about 26 dB, which of course is within the standard again. Nevertheless, in the evening you can hear the annoying underlying humming/buzzing of the system. According to the standard, this is okay, so apparently the builder does not have to take any action here. (We are not the only ones in the house of 12 units who have complained about the noise of the system so far) Unfortunately, I am quite sensitive to sounds, so I really haven’t been sleeping well since moving in a month ago because I constantly hear this humming.
In the attachment, I also have a log of the measurement data, recorded over about 5 hours with nearly 100,000 data points. The outliers are leaving and entering the bathroom (once also in the middle to see if everything is being recorded). The reference line shows 37 dB. However, the recordings took place in the bathroom and not outside.
I hope, since I am an absolute layman and only a tenant, not the builder, that someone can give me a few valid data and statements on this topic. I tried to find the standard myself, but there are many, maybe I am just missing the correct terms.
My questions therefore are:
a) Where do I really have to measure to get reliable results?
b) Which standards must be complied with here and when does the builder have to take action?
c) If everything is correct, what options would I have to reduce the humming in the bedroom? (Material for the door for better sound insulation?)
I would be happy if someone here has more information and shares it with me.
If I can provide further information to better assess the situation, please let me know.
Thank you!