Strengthening Standards for Noise Between Floors in Apartment Buildings... Daytime Standard Reduced from 43dB to 39dB

[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporter Dongwoo Lee] The standards for noise between floors in apartment buildings will be strengthened by ‘4dB’ this year.

On the 1st, the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced that they have revised the ‘Regulations on the Scope and Standards of Noise Between Floors in Apartment Buildings’ and will enforce them starting from the 2nd.

According to the revised regulations, the equivalent noise level for one minute caused by direct impact noise such as jumping or walking will be lowered to 39dB during the day and 34dB at night. The previous standards were 43dB during the day and 38dB at night.

However, the current standards for the maximum noise level of direct impact noise and airborne noise (equivalent noise level for five minutes) will be maintained. The maximum noise level will remain at 57dB during the day and 52dB at night, and airborne noise will be maintained at 45dB during the day and 40dB at night.

For old apartment buildings approved before June 2005, the current correction value of 5dB will be gradually strengthened to 2dB starting from 2025. This year, it will be 44dB (39+5dB), and in 2025, it will be 41dB (39+2dB).

When the strengthened noise standards between floors are applied, the level of daily life annoyance from the current daytime noise standard (equivalent noise level for one minute at 43dB) will decrease from 30% to 13%. Also, when disputes over noise between floors occur, the likelihood of being recognized as a victim during the dispute resolution process through the noise dispute mediation agency will increase.