ISO 16251-1:2014 specifies a laboratory measurement method to determine the improvement of impact sound insulation by a floor covering when laid on a standard concrete floor mock-up and excited by a standard tapping machine. The method is restricted to soft, flexible floor coverings, which transmit impact sound mainly "locally" into the floor, i.e. through the area close to the points of excitation, so that the size of the flooring specimen does not have an influence on the results. Examples of such floor coverings are carpets, PVC, and linoleum. These floor coverings correspond to ISO 10140‑1:2010, Annex H, category I.

The results only provide information about the noise radiated. A subjective classification of the quality of the floor coverings is not intended.

ISO 16251-1:2014 provides the measurement method. Product test codes can contain further requirements concerning the specimens, such as temperature range, the number of test specimens or special mounting conditions.