Acoustic Testing

Sound Insulation testing to Part E
In July 2003 the Approved Document E – “Resistance to the passage of sound” came into force. This requires that at least 10% of all new residential properties are tested to demonstrate that the levels of sound insulation provided between dwellings are in compliance with the Building Regulations.

Alternatively

The amendments to Approved document E, which came into effect in July 2004, allowed the builder “to opt to use design details approved by Robust Details Ltd …”

Acoustic testing and certification is a more quantifiable and approved means of compliance.

The requirement of Approved Document E can be summarised as follows:

The type of tests required will depend on the type of dwelling. If there are both party walls and floors, a ‘set’ would involve six separate tests to establish the airborne wall performance between two pairs of rooms and both airborne and impact performance of the floors between two pairs of rooms. The selection of rooms to test would be at the discretion of Building Control.

The regulations require a sample of 10% of the properties in each development to be tested, but this is to be sub-grouped according to construction type. 10% of each type of dwelling on each site should be tested to demonstrate compliance, or otherwise, to Building Control.

The exact requirements for testing on each site will be at the discretion of Building Control, who will be expected to select which plots are to be tested. In reality this is likely to result in more than 10% testing, as many sites comprise less than 10 houses.

If there are any test failures, then a higher proportion will need to be tested.

For testing to take place:

• We require a complete set of GA drawings including details of construction
• The building needs to be completed with windows, doors etc. fitted
• Tests should be conducted in completed but unfurnished, uncarpeted rooms
• Doors and windows should be closed and any kitchen units, cupboards etc on all walls should be empty and their door open
• Only “quiet” trades can continue to work in the building during testing
• Each set of tests takes approximately 2 hours
• The test equipment is powered using a standard 240V power supply, which must be available for use on the test site
• The client may wish to provide a suitable responsible person to witness the test