Investigating the Level of Acoustic Comfort in Contemporary Apartments based on Standards and the Existing Situation (Case Study: Tabriz City)

The extant s tudy aimed to analyze the acous tic comfort situation in contemporary apartments based on urban spaces in Tabriz, Iran. This s tudy was conducted using a quantitative method within the field survey at two levels of the ques tionnaire (perceptual situation) and field measurements (acous tical condition). The researcher-made ques tionnaire was used to collect data in the firs t s tep. Architecture experts approved the validity of the ques tionnaire; its reliability was examined using Cronbach's alpha (0.926). All experiments associated with airborne noise field measurements (background sound and sound pressure level) were done using 2260Inves tigator. Firs t, background noise was measured in two open and closed windows inside the considered residential units. In the next s tep, sound pressure level (SPL) Figures were plotted using level rate and sound s tandard in different plan spaces. Ultimately, the authors assessed noise criteria and their difference with sound levels. The results indicated the undeniable effect of traffic, among other variables of acous tic comfort, on dissatisfaction caused by noise in urban areas of Tabriz. This effect was not only definite but also so significant that there was no change in patterns emerging in noise level, even based on the SPL measurements.